Description
Luscious berry spinach salad dazzles taste buds with fresh ingredients and elegant flavor combinations. Crisp spinach leaves, sweet berries, salty feta, and crunchy pecans create a perfect harmony you’ll savor with each refreshing bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Components:
- 6 cups (150 grams / 5.3 ounces) fresh baby spinach
- 1 cup (150 grams / 5.3 ounces) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- ½ cup (75 grams / 2.6 ounces) fresh blueberries
- ½ cup (75 grams / 2.6 ounces) fresh raspberries
- ¼ cup (50 grams / 1.8 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
Topping Ingredients:
- ⅓ cup (40 grams / 1.4 ounces) pecans, toasted
- 3 tablespoons balsamic glaze (store-bought or homemade)
Optional Additions:
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- Grilled chicken or shrimp for added protein
Instructions
- Create a pristine base by gently rinsing fresh spinach leaves and delicate berries, patting them completely dry with clean kitchen towels to preserve their vibrant texture.
- Heat a skillet over medium flame and carefully toast pecans, stirring frequently to prevent burning, until they release a rich, nutty aroma and develop a golden-brown hue.
- Allow toasted pecans to cool and become crisp on a separate plate, enhancing their crunchy texture for the salad.
- Arrange crisp spinach leaves as a verdant foundation in a serving bowl, creating an elegant green canvas.
- Scatter a medley of mixed berries across the spinach, distributing them evenly for a burst of color and tangy sweetness.
- Sprinkle cooled, toasted pecans over the salad, providing a delightful crunch and earthy undertone.
- Crumble feta cheese generously, allowing its creamy, salty essence to complement the fresh ingredients.
- Drizzle balsamic glaze in a graceful, zigzag pattern across the salad, ensuring each ingredient receives a delicate coating of sweet-tart reduction.
- Serve immediately to maintain the salad’s crisp textures and vibrant flavors.
Notes
- Toast pecans carefully to enhance their nutty flavor without burning, watching the skillet closely and stirring frequently for even browning.
- Keep spinach crisp by washing and drying completely, using a salad spinner or clean kitchen towel to remove excess moisture that could make leaves soggy.
- Customize the salad for dietary needs by swapping feta with dairy-free alternatives like nutritional yeast or vegan cheese crumbles for lactose-intolerant or vegan guests.
- Prepare components separately and assemble just before serving to maintain the salad’s fresh texture and prevent wilting of delicate spinach leaves.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg