Spinach and Berry Salad Bowl (Printable Version)

Tender spinach tossed with fresh berries, goat cheese, and toasted nuts in a tangy balsamic vinaigrette.

# What You Need:

→ Salad

01 - 5 oz fresh baby spinach
02 - 3.5 oz mixed fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
03 - 2 oz goat cheese, crumbled
04 - 1.75 oz toasted walnuts or pecans, roughly chopped
05 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced (optional)

→ Vinaigrette

06 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
07 - 1.5 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
08 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How To Make:

01 - Wash and dry the spinach leaves and berries thoroughly.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine the spinach, berries, goat cheese, nuts, and red onion if using.
03 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
04 - Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad just before serving.
05 - Toss gently to combine and serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's ready in 15 minutes, which means you can make it while your coffee is still hot on a busy morning.
  • The sweet-tart vinaigrette is so addictive you'll find yourself making extra to pour over everything.
  • It tastes like summer no matter what season it actually is outside your kitchen.
02 -
  • If you dress the salad more than five minutes before eating, the spinach will wilt and lose its fresh crunch—this taught me to always dress at the last possible second.
  • The honey in the vinaigrette needs to be whisked directly into the oil and vinegar or it'll sit at the bottom like a stubborn deposit, so make sure you're mixing it in properly rather than just stirring.
03 -
  • Make your vinaigrette in a small jar in the morning and shake it up right before serving—the flavors will have time to meld and get even more delicious.
  • If your berries are very large, cut them in half so they distribute better throughout the salad and break down slightly to release their juices.
Return