Spinach Apple Salad with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe
A refreshing and vibrant Spinach Apple Salad featuring crisp apples, tangy dried cranberries, creamy feta, crunchy walnuts, and sweet red onions, all tossed in a delightful honey balsamic vinaigrette. This easy-to-make salad is perfect for a healthy lunch or a light dinner side.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 6 Cups Fresh Spinach (Washed and Dried)
- 1/2 Cup Dried Cranberries
- 2/3 Cup Feta Cheese, crumbled
- 1/2 Small Red Onion (Thinly Sliced)
- 1/2 Cup Walnuts
- 1 Large Apple (Chopped – Fuji, Gala, or Pink Lady)
Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette (To taste, prepared or store-bought)
Instructions
- Prepare the Vegetables and Fruit: Wash the fresh spinach leaves thoroughly to remove any dirt, and pat them dry gently using paper towels to prevent sogginess in the salad. Thinly slice half of a small red onion by first halving it to ensure manageable slice sizes. Chop the large apple into your preferred shape, either thin slices or 1/2 inch chunks, ensuring even pieces for balanced bite sizes.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: Place the washed and dried spinach into a large mixing bowl. Add the thinly sliced red onion, chopped apple, dried cranberries, walnuts, and crumbled feta cheese. Toss all the ingredients gently together to distribute them evenly throughout the salad.
- Add Dressing and Serve: Drizzle the desired amount of honey balsamic vinaigrette over the mixed salad ingredients. Toss gently to coat the salad evenly with the dressing. Alternatively, keep the dressing separate to allow guests to add their preferred amount. Serve the salad immediately for freshest taste or refrigerate any leftovers promptly to maintain crispness.
Notes
- Choose apples that are crisp and slightly tart like Fuji, Gala, or Pink Lady for the best flavor contrast.
- Patting spinach dry is crucial to prevent salad from becoming watery.
- You can substitute walnuts with pecans or almonds for a different nutty flavor.
- If you prefer, prepare the honey balsamic vinaigrette from scratch using honey, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
- This salad is best served immediately but can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Keywords: Spinach Salad, Apple Salad, Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette, Healthy Salad, Vegetarian Salad, Walnut Salad
