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Home / Latest Posts / Recipes / Course / Salads / Winter Spinach Salad

Winter Spinach Salad

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By: Leigh Anne WilkesPosted: 10/27/20Updated: 6/21/22

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure policy here.

bowl of spinach salad

This delicious winter spinach salad is full of flavor and packed with fruit, cheese, and nuts. It is the perfect side salad to all of your favorite dishes.

winter salad in a bowl

Why You’ll Love This Recipe!

This Winter Spinach Salad is the perfect way to add some color and vitamins to your dinner plate.  At our house there is a rule that you must have something green on your plate and salad is the perfect way to do that. 

It is full of flavor and color with grapes, apples, dried fruit, nuts and cheese. This salad is not only delicious but it is pretty!

spinach salad in a bowl

What is Winter Salad?

A winter salad historically, uses produce and flavors that are easy to find in the winter months. It uses winter salad greens such as spinach, arugula and kale and also uses dried fruit which historically was the only fruit you could find in the winter. We are fortunate to have fresh fruit all year round now so this version also includes an apple and grapes. Feel free to make substitutions, using options you prefer. There is no wrong way to do it!

Ingredients Needed

  • Baby spinach. Can also use a combination of spinach and arugula or add in some kale.
  • Dried cherries or craisins
  • Green onions 
  • Green apple
  • Seedless red grapes 
  • Sugared pecans. Can also use walnuts, almonds or hazelnuts.
  • Cheese. I like to use Gorgonzola but you can also use feta cheese, goat cheese or blue cheese.
overhead shot of spinach salad

Vinaigrette Ingredients Needed

  • Olive oil
  • Apple Cider vinegar
  • Dried onion
  • Lemon juice. Use fresh squeezed for best flavor
  • Maple syrup. Could also use honey
  • Salt and pepper

How to Make Winter Spinach Salad

Start by preparing all your ingredients:

  • Wash and prepare spinach by removing stems. I like using baby spinach.
  • Cut grapes in half.  You can use green or red grapes but the red grapes look prettier.
  • Chop green onion using both the green and white part.
  • Slice apples, leaving the skin on.  Follow directions below for keeping apples from turning brown.
  • Sugar the pecans using these directions.
  • Add dried fruit. You can use any kind of dried fruit such as dried cherries, dried cranberries or dried blueberries.
  • Crumble the cheese.  I prefer Gorgonzola but you can also use Feta.
  • Add dressing.
pouring salad dressing on salad

How to make Spinach Salad Vinaigrette

  • Combine dressing ingredients.
  • Whisk together.
  • Keep stored in the refrigerator. It will last up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

How to Keep Apples From Turning Brown

  • Fill a bowl with enough water to cover the amount of apples you have. Add in 1/2 tsp of salt and stir to dissolve. Let apples sit for a minute or two. Drain and pat dry. It works great! No more brown apples.
apples in water and salt

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I sugar nuts?


For full directions on how to sugar the pecans check out my post here.

Can I make this winter spinach salad ahead of time?

You can make the vinaigrette and sugar the nuts days ahead. the grapes can be cut in half the day before. The apple can be cut hours ahead of time, just be sure to follow my directions above for preventing the apple from turning brown. I recommend not dressing the salad until right before serving.

Can I serve this as a main dish?

This salad makes a wonderful main dish just by adding some cooked or rotisserie chicken, leftover sliced pork or beef.

overhead shot of winter spinach salad

Serve this with:

  • Roasted Chicken
  • Classic Meatloaf
  • Sunday Pot Roast
  • Smothered Pork Chops
  • London Broil
  • Slow Cooker Tri Tip

Other favorite salads include these:

  • Grape Salad
  • Roasted Vegetables
  • Spinach Apple Salad
  • Spinach Salad
  • Pasta Spinach Salad

Be sure and follow me over on You Tube for weekly cooking demos.

5 from 12 votes
bowl of winter spinach salad

Winter Spinach Salad

Recipe From: Leigh Anne Wilkes
Delicious and tangy salad with spinach, fresh fruit, and Gorganzola cheese.
serves: 4 servings
Prep:10 minutes
Cook:0 minutes
Total:10 minutes
Rate Recipe

Ingredients

  • 10 oz. bunch baby spinach
  • 1/2 cup dried cherries or craisins
  • 3 green onions sliced
  • 1 green apple cored and thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup seedless red grapes cut in half
  • 1/4 cup sugared pecans
  • 1/2 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

Dressing:

  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup cider vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp dried onion
  • 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 Tbsp maple syrup
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper

Instructions

  • Combine spinach, cherries, green onions, apple slices, grapes and pecans
  • Add dressing and toss
  • Garnish with Gorgonzola cheese

Dressing:

  • Combine all ingredients in a jar and shake until evenly combined

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 466kcal (23%) Carbohydrates: 36g (12%) Protein: 7g (14%) Fat: 34g (52%) Saturated Fat: 7g (44%) Cholesterol: 11mg (4%) Sodium: 433mg (19%) Potassium: 591mg (17%) Fiber: 5g (21%) Sugar: 25g (28%) Vitamin A: 7406IU (148%) Vitamin C: 28mg (34%) Calcium: 183mg (18%) Iron: 3mg (17%)
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full disclosure here.
Course:Salad
Cuisine:American
bowl of winter spinach salad
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Originally posted Nov. 25, 2009

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  1. Judy says

    Posted on 1/8 at 5:31 pm

    Yum!
    I replaced the gorgonzola with feta. Forgot the grapes. And it was still delicious!

    I used the candied pecans recipe that was linked, and they were great too. Will make again.

    Reply
  2. Kathryn Warrior says

    Posted on 1/1 at 8:15 pm

    Delicious attractive winter salad. Love the light dressing.

    Reply
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