Best 2 Festive Spinach Salad Recipes

Indulge in a delightful culinary adventure with our Festive Spinach Salad, a symphony of flavors that will elevate your taste buds. This vibrant salad boasts a medley of fresh spinach, juicy cranberries, crunchy walnuts, sweet apples, and creamy goat cheese, all harmoniously combined in a luscious honey mustard dressing. As a delightful bonus, we present three additional tantalizing salad recipes: a refreshing Asian Cucumber Salad, a zesty Lemon Herb Salad, and a hearty Quinoa Salad bursting with Mediterranean flavors. Each salad is meticulously crafted to offer a unique gustatory experience, ensuring that every bite is a celebration of freshness and culinary artistry.

Here are our top 2 tried and tested recipes!

FESTIVE SPINACH SALAD

Festive Spinach Salad image

Baby spinach leaves get jazzed up with this simple, homemade salad dressing. Walnuts, bacon bits and pomegranate seeds make this attractive salad a regular on my holiday menus.-JoAnn Scannell, Dubuque, Iowa

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Lunch

Time 20m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

3/4 cup fat-free French salad dressing
2 tablespoons orange juice
2 tablespoons honey
3/4 teaspoon paprika
6 cups fresh baby spinach
1 can (11 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained
3/4 cup pomegranate seeds or dried cranberries
1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup cubed avocado
3 slices red onion, separated into rings
1/4 cup crumbled cooked bacon
1/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

Steps:

In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the salad dressing, orange juice, honey and paprika; shake well. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until chilled. , In a salad bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Serve with dressing.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 134 calories, Fat 4g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 3mg cholesterol, Sodium 359mg sodium, Carbohydrate 22g carbohydrate (14g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 4g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

FESTIVE SPINACH SALAD

Festive Spinach Salad image

Every time I make this, I get a lot of great reviews. I think I got the recipe years ago in a Taste of Home magazine. I always make extra dressing and keep it around (practically forever), as it tastes great on everything!

Provided by Battle in Seattle

Categories Salad Dressings

Time 15m

Yield 10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

10 cups fresh spinach
1/2 cup thin sliced red onion
1 pint fresh strawberries, quartered*
1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained*
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans, toasted*
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup cider vinegar
2 tablespoons lime juice (can substitute lemon)
2 tablespoons finely chopped red onions
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 -3 teaspoons poppy seeds

Steps:

In a blender or food processor, combine the sugar, vinegar, lime juice, onion and salt. Cover and process until well blended and smooth. With blender running, gradually add oil. Add poppy seeds and pulse until blended.
In a large salad bowl, combine the spinach, red onion, strawberries & oranges. Toss with desired amount of dressing. Sprinkle pecans on top.
* There are many fruits/cheeses/nuts that go well with this tangy dressing. Try any different combination below: Goat (Chevre) Cheese, Dried Cranberries, Toasted almonds; Feta Cheese, Mango, Toasted pinenuts; Gorgonzola Cheese, Fresh or Dried Figs, Toasted Pistachios; Blue Cheese, Sliced Bosc or Asian Pear, Candied Walnuts; Swiss or Emanthaler Cheese, Dried Apricots, Candied Pecans.

Tips:

Use fresh spinach: Fresh spinach is essential for a crisp, delicious salad. Look for spinach with vibrant green leaves and no wilting.
Slice mushrooms thinly: Thinly sliced mushrooms will cook evenly and absorb the dressing better.
Toast walnuts: Toasting walnuts enhances their flavor and makes them more crunchy.
Use a flavorful cheese: A flavorful cheese, such as feta or goat cheese, will add a nice tang to the salad.
Make the dressing ahead of time: The dressing can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. This will save you time when you're ready to assemble the salad.
Serve immediately: Spinach salad is best served immediately after it is made. This will prevent the spinach from wilting.

Conclusion:

This festive spinach salad is a delicious and healthy way to celebrate the holidays. It's packed with fresh spinach, mushrooms, walnuts, cranberries, and feta cheese, and tossed in a tangy dressing. This salad is sure to be a hit at your next holiday party.

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