Description
Crisp spinach leaves dance with sweet apple slices, tangy feta crumbles, and crunchy walnuts in this refreshing salad. Mediterranean flavors blend seamlessly, creating a light, nutritious dish that you’ll crave as a quick lunch or elegant side.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 (5-ounce) bag baby spinach (about 5 packed cups)
- 1 large tart apple, such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp, cored and thinly sliced (about 1 ½ cups)
- 4 ounces (113 grams) feta cheese, crumbled (about 1 cup)
- ½ cup (60 grams) walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
Dressing Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) olive oil
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon honey
Seasoning Ingredients:
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Craft a vibrant vinaigrette by whisking olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper in a spacious mixing vessel until ingredients harmonize into a smooth, glossy dressing.
- Delicately introduce baby spinach leaves into the prepared vinaigrette, gently maneuvering the greens to ensure each leaf receives a light, even coating of the tangy mixture.
- Enhance the salad’s complexity by sprinkling crisp apple slices, crumbled feta cheese, and toasted walnuts across the dressed spinach, creating a layered landscape of textures and flavors.
- Execute a final, tender toss to intertwine all components, allowing the ingredients to mingle and complement each other without bruising the delicate spinach leaves.
- Present the salad immediately to preserve the spinach’s crisp structure and maintain the vibrant, fresh character of the dish, ensuring optimal taste and sensory experience.
Notes
- Look for crisp, fresh baby spinach leaves to ensure a vibrant and crunchy base for your salad.
- Toast walnuts briefly in a dry skillet to enhance their nutty flavor and add a delightful crunch.
- Choose a sweet-tart apple variety like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith for the best balance of flavors.
- Crumble feta cheese just before serving to maintain its creamy texture and prevent clumping.
- Whisk the vinaigrette thoroughly to create a smooth, well-integrated dressing that coats every leaf.
- Serve immediately after mixing to preserve the salad’s fresh texture and prevent wilting.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 290 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg