Spinach and Berry Salad Bowl (Printer-Friendly)

Light and vibrant bowl featuring baby spinach, mixed berries, crumbled goat cheese, and toasted nuts with homemade balsamic dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad

01 - 5 oz fresh baby spinach
02 - 3.5 oz mixed fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
03 - 2 oz goat cheese, crumbled
04 - 1.75 oz toasted walnuts or pecans, roughly chopped
05 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced (optional)

→ Vinaigrette

06 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
07 - 1.5 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
08 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - Wash and dry the spinach leaves and berries thoroughly.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine the spinach, berries, goat cheese, nuts, and red onion if using.
03 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
04 - Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad just before serving.
05 - Toss gently to combine and serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in fifteen minutes, which means you can make lunch without abandoning your actual plans.
  • The sweet berries and tangy goat cheese create this unexpected balance that somehow tastes both light and deeply satisfying.
  • Once you taste homemade vinaigrette, store-bought bottles start tasting like regret.
02 -
  • Dressing a salad too far in advance turns crisp greens into a sad, wilted mess, so resist the urge to prepare this more than a few minutes before you want to eat it.
  • The difference between a good vinaigrette and a separated, oily mess comes down to whisking with intention and letting the mustard do its emulsifying job.
03 -
  • Toast your own nuts instead of buying them pre-toasted if you can, because that fresh-from-the-oven warmth and aroma is worth the five minutes of attention it takes.
  • Make the vinaigrette in a jar and shake it vigorously instead of whisking if you're in a hurry, and you'll get an emulsion that holds just as well.
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