Description

A fresh, festive holiday salad made with baby spinach, dried cranberries, crisp apples, creamy goat cheese, and candied pecans, tossed in a tangy balsamic vinaigrette.

Ingredients

6 cups baby spinach

1 large Honeycrisp or Gala apple, thinly sliced

½ cup dried cranberries

½ cup candied pecans (or toasted walnuts)

¼ cup crumbled goat cheese

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

1. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey or maple syrup. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

2. In a large salad bowl, layer the spinach, sliced apples, dried cranberries, and pecans.

3. Sprinkle goat cheese crumbles evenly over the top.

4. Just before serving, drizzle the balsamic vinaigrette over the salad.

5. Gently toss to combine and serve immediately.

Notes

You can prep the dressing and ingredients ahead of time and store separately until ready to serve.

Try substituting pears for apples or blue cheese for goat cheese.

Pairs well with roasted meats or as part of a vegetarian holiday spread.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American