Best Special Occasion Spinach Salad Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

PERFECT SPINACH SALAD (NO, REALLY)



Perfect Spinach Salad (No, Really) image

This classy spinach salad is a salad to impress! Smoky pecans and a creamy balsamic vinaigrette make the best counterpoint to this green.

Provided by Sonja Overhiser

Categories     Salad

Time 20m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 hard boiled eggs or 1 large crisp tart apple
1/2 cup whole pecans*
1 tablespoon soy sauce (or tamari or coconut aminos)
1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup or sugar
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 pinches kosher salt or flaky sea salt
1 recipe Best Balsamic Vinaigrette
6 cups baby spinach leaves or chopped standard spinach
1 shallot
1/2 cup feta cheese crumbles (optional)

Steps:

  • Make the hard boiled eggs, if using (or make them in advance). Chop them into bite-sized pieces.
  • Add the pecans, soy sauce, maple syrup and smoked paprika to a small non-stick skillet over medium heat. When it just starts to bubble, reduce the heat to low but still slowly bubbling. Simmer 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. In the last minute when the liquid is mostly evaporated, stir continuously until it is totally cooked out and the nuts start clumping together. Immediately remove from the heat and transfer the pecans to a sheet of parchment paper in a single layer. Sprinkle with 2 pinches kosher salt and allow to cool to room temperature, about 5 minutes.
  • Make the Balsamic Vinaigrette.
  • Thinly slice the shallot. If using apple instead of hard boiled egg, thinly slice the apple.
  • Place the spinach on plates or in bowls. Top with hard boiled eggs or apple slices, smoky pecans, sliced shallot, and feta cheese crumbles.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 332 calories, Sugar 11.1 g, Sodium 520 mg, Fat 26.9 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, TransFat 0 g, Carbohydrate 15.3 g, Fiber 2.4 g, Protein 8.5 g, Cholesterol 109.7 mg

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.

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 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

Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »

    #30-minutes-or-less     #time-to-make     #course     #main-ingredient     #preparation     #occasion     #salads     #vegetables     #easy     #holiday-event     #3-steps-or-less

Related Topics