Best 6 Special Occasion Spinach Salad Recipes

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Indulge in a culinary journey with our exquisite Special Occasion Spinach Salad, a symphony of flavors and textures that will tantalize your taste buds and impress your guests. This delightful salad features a bed of fresh, tender baby spinach leaves, providing a vibrant green canvas for a medley of colorful ingredients. Sliced strawberries add a touch of sweetness and a pop of red, while crumbled goat cheese contributes a creamy tanginess. Candied walnuts bring a delightful crunch and a hint of nutty flavor, while red onion adds a sharp, piquant note. A sprinkling of crispy bacon bits adds a smoky, savory element, and a drizzle of tangy balsamic vinaigrette ties all the flavors together, creating a harmonious balance of sweet, salty, and tangy.

This article offers three variations of the Special Occasion Spinach Salad, each with its own unique twist. The Classic Spinach Salad is a timeless combination of strawberries, goat cheese, candied walnuts, and balsamic vinaigrette, while the Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing takes it up a notch with a luscious, warm bacon dressing that adds an extra layer of richness and flavor. For a vegetarian option, the Spinach Salad with Avocado and Lemon-Tahini Dressing is a refreshing and flavorful choice, featuring creamy avocado and a zesty lemon-tahini dressing.

No matter which variation you choose, the Special Occasion Spinach Salad is sure to be a hit at your next gathering. Its vibrant colors, delightful textures, and delicious flavors make it a perfect dish for any special occasion, whether it's a birthday party, a holiday dinner, or a romantic date night. So gather your ingredients, prepare your taste buds, and let's embark on a culinary adventure with this exceptional salad.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

SPECIAL OCCASION SPINACH SALAD



Special Occasion Spinach Salad image

This is a recipe my wife and I have tinkered with and molded to our likes. We make it for special occasions, as the title suggests. Some of the ingredients are simply "to taste," so feel free to tinker with the proportions to suit your own tastes.

Provided by misaistheboofy

Categories     Vegetable

Time 20m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 (5 1/2 ounce) package fresh spinach
4 slices bacon, fried and crumbled
1 (4 ounce) bag candied walnuts or 1 (4 ounce) bag pecans
1 red pepper, diced
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
1 (4 ounce) container of crumbled blue cheese
1/3 cup raspberry-walnut vinaigrette (or to taste)

Steps:

  • In a large salad bowl, toss first 7 ingredients. Add desired amount of dressing and toss with remaining ingredients. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 100.6, Fat 6.1, SaturatedFat 3.3, Cholesterol 13.4, Sodium 249.8, Carbohydrate 7.7, Fiber 1.7, Sugar 5.1, Protein 4.6

SPECIAL OCCASION SALAD



Special Occasion Salad image

"This simple salad consistently gets rave reviews. Feel free to change the types of lettuce, dried fruit and even substitute candied pecans for almonds." - Jean Follmer, Lafayette, California

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 20m

Yield 16 servings (3/4 cup each).

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 package (6 ounces) fresh baby spinach
1 package (5 ounces) fresh arugula or additional baby spinach
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup crumbled goat cheese

Steps:

  • In a salad bowl, combine the spinach, arugula, cherries and almonds. Combine the oil, vinegar, salt and pepper; drizzle over salad and toss to coat. Sprinkle with goat cheese. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 83 calories, Fat 7g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 9mg cholesterol, Sodium 121mg sodium, Carbohydrate 5g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein.

PERFECT SPINACH SALAD



Perfect Spinach Salad image

Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network

Categories     appetizer

Time 1h

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 whole eggs
Ice
7 slices thick-cut peppered bacon
1 small whole red onion
1 package white button mushrooms
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 dash salt
8 ounces baby spinach, washed, dried and stems removed

Steps:

  • Place the eggs in a saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil. Then turn off the heat and allow to sit in the water for 20 minutes. Drain off the water and add ice on top of the eggs.
  • Fry the bacon in a skillet until crispy/chewy. Remove to a paper towel. Drain the fat into a bowl and reserve. Give the skillet a wipe with kitchen paper.
  • Slice the red onion very thinly, and then add to the skillet. Cook slowly until the onions are caramelized and reduced. Remove to a plate and set aside.
  • Slice the mushrooms and add them to the same skillet with a little of the reserved bacon fat if needed. Cook slowly until caramelized and brown. Remove to a plate and set aside. Chop the bacon. Peel and slice the eggs.
  • Make the hot bacon dressing:
  • Add 3 tablespoons of the reserved bacon fat, vinegar, sugar, Dijon and salt to a small saucepan or skillet over medium-low heat. Whisk together and heat thoroughly until bubbly. Add the spinach to a large bowl. Arrange the onions, mushrooms and bacon on top. Pour the hot dressing over the top; toss to combine. Arrange the eggs over the top and serve.
  • Per serving: Calories 270; Total Fat 22.5 grams; Saturated Fat 7.5 grams; Protein 10 grams; Total Carbohydrate 7 grams; Sugar: 2 grams; Fiber 2 grams; Cholesterol 123 milligrams; Sodium 526 milligrams

Nutrition Facts : Calories 270 calorie, Fat 22.5 grams, SaturatedFat 7.5 grams, Cholesterol 123 milligrams, Sodium 526 milligrams, Carbohydrate 7 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 10 grams, Sugar 2 grams

SPECIAL SPINACH SALAD



Special Spinach Salad image

This salad will be just as good and appropriate at Christmas or in the July heat. This is very typical of California.

Provided by Annacia

Categories     Vegetable

Time 10m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

1/3 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons sour cream
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1 (6 ounce) package spinach
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Steps:

  • In a shaker jar combine the oil, sugar,vinegar, sour cream and mustard. Shake well.
  • Divide spinach among four salad plates.
  • Drizzle with dressing.
  • Sprinkle with the walnuts and cranberries.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 321.2, Fat 29.1, SaturatedFat 4.2, Cholesterol 2.6, Sodium 37.7, Carbohydrate 14.8, Fiber 2.5, Sugar 10.5, Protein 3.8

THE BEST SPINACH SALAD



The Best Spinach Salad image

Everyone LOVES this salad.

Provided by sweet alice

Categories     Salad     Green Salad Recipes     Spinach Salad Recipes

Time 25m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 14

4 slices bacon
¾ pound fresh spinach
2 hard-cooked eggs, sliced
2 tablespoons sweet onion, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped raw almonds
1 tablespoon raw sunflower seeds
½ cup vegetable oil
½ cup ketchup
¼ cup cider vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Arrange bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon on paper towels and crumble.
  • Layer spinach, bacon, eggs, and onion in a large bowl. Sprinkle with almonds and sunflower seeds. Whisk vegetable oil, ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, salt, and black pepper in a bowl; pour over spinach mixture and toss. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 445.7 calories, Carbohydrate 20.6 g, Cholesterol 115.9 mg, Fat 37 g, Fiber 2.7 g, Protein 10.7 g, SaturatedFat 5.9 g, Sodium 1266.7 mg, Sugar 15 g

EASY AND AWESOME SPINACH SALAD



Easy and Awesome Spinach Salad image

This is a very easy spinach salad to make. The dressing has some unusual ingredients but is very delicious. I never have leftovers at potlucks when I take this salad.

Provided by Lady Scrapalot

Categories     Salad     Green Salad Recipes     Spinach Salad Recipes

Time 30m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 9

4 slices bacon, or more to taste
1 (16 ounce) bag fresh spinach, stems removed
2 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
1 small red onion, finely chopped
½ cup white sugar
⅓ cup ketchup
¼ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup vinegar
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Steps:

  • Place the bacon into a skillet over medium heat, and cook until browned and crisp, turning often, about 10 minutes. Transfer the bacon to paper towels to absorb excess grease. Crumble the bacon when cool.
  • Place the spinach into a large salad bowl, and sprinkle with the bacon, hard-cooked eggs, and onion. Gently toss the salad.
  • In a bowl, whisk together the sugar, ketchup, vegetable oil, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce until the sugar has dissolved. Pour the dressing over the salad, and toss thoroughly to combine all ingredients.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 179.8 calories, Carbohydrate 18.4 g, Cholesterol 57.9 mg, Fat 10.3 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 5.1 g, SaturatedFat 2.1 g, Sodium 290 mg, Sugar 15.7 g

Tips:

  • Fresh ingredients are key. Use the freshest baby spinach, mushrooms, and tomatoes you can find for the best flavor.
  • Don't overcook the spinach. Spinach should be wilted, not mushy. Cook it just until it is tender, about 2 minutes.
  • Use a variety of mushrooms. Different types of mushrooms will add different flavors and textures to the salad. Try using cremini, shiitake, and oyster mushrooms.
  • Roast the tomatoes. Roasting the tomatoes will intensify their flavor and make them slightly sweet.
  • Make the dressing ahead of time. The dressing can be made up to 2 days in advance. Just store it in the refrigerator until you're ready to use it.
  • Serve the salad immediately. Spinach salad is best served immediately after it is made. The spinach will start to wilt if it sits for too long.

Conclusion:

This special occasion spinach salad is a delicious and elegant dish that is perfect for any special occasion. The combination of fresh spinach, roasted tomatoes, mushrooms, and bacon is sure to please everyone at your table. Serve this salad with a glass of your favorite white wine or sparkling water for a truly special meal.

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