Description
A vibrant and refreshing spinach salad featuring a sweet and tangy balsamic honey dressing, topped with fresh blueberries, strawberries, mandarin oranges, creamy feta cheese, and crunchy honey roasted peanuts. Perfect for a light lunch or a tasty side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Salad
- 8 cups baby spinach
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 1 cup fresh strawberries
- ¾ cup mandarin oranges
- ½ cup feta cheese
- ½ cup honey roasted peanuts
Instructions
- Prepare the Dressing: Set the olive oil aside. In a bowl, whisk together balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
- Emulsify the Dressing: Gradually drizzle in the olive oil while whisking continuously. This gradual addition helps the dressing to emulsify and prevents separation. Once fully combined, either serve immediately or chill before serving. Remember to shake or stir before each use to maintain consistency.
- Prepare the Fruit: Wash and dry all the fresh fruit thoroughly. Remove the stems from the strawberries and slice them vertically into thin pieces.
- Assemble the Salad: Lay out the baby spinach evenly on a large serving platter. Drizzle 3-4 tablespoons of the dressing over the spinach for light coating.
- Add Toppings: Top the dressed spinach with blueberries, sliced strawberries, and mandarin oranges. Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese evenly over the fruits.
- Final Touches: Drizzle a little more dressing over the salad for extra flavor and serve the remaining dressing on the side. Finally, scatter the honey roasted peanuts on top to add a crunchy texture. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- For best results, prepare the dressing fresh and emulsify well for a creamy texture.
- Use fresh, ripe fruit to enhance the natural sweetness in the salad.
- Honey roasted peanuts add a nice crunch and hint of sweetness; substitute with regular peanuts if preferred.
- This salad is best served immediately after assembly to prevent the spinach from wilting.
- Leftover dressing can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Spinach Salad, Balsamic Dressing, Honey Dressing, Fruit Salad, Healthy Salad, Vegetarian Salad, Summer Salad
