This delicious winter spinach salad is full of flavor. Packed with fruit, cheese, and nuts, it is the perfect side to all of your favorite dishes.
I got off pretty easy this year in the Thanksgiving food preparation department. The only thing I was asked to bring was a salad. Since a Thanksgiving plate can be a little lacking in color – turkey, gravy, potatoes, dressing, rolls – all pretty colorless food the salad needs to provide the color on the plate. And because the salad is competing with so many other delicious options, it has to be full of flavor! This winter spinach salad was the perfect choice.
A nice green spinach salad with sugared pecans, crispy green apples, red grapes, Gorgonzola cheese and some dried cherries and you have a pretty and yummy combination. Not only does this salad provide some pretty color for the dinner plate but it adds some wonderful texture and flavor!
So if you need a last minute salad addition to your Thanksgiving menu give this one a try and if you don’t, this salad is perfect anytime even if it’s not winter! Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!
Winter Spinach Salad Recipe
Winter Spinach Salad
Ingredients
- 1 bunch baby spinach
- 1/2 C dried cherries or craisins
- 3 green onions sliced
- 1 green apple cored and thinly sliced
- 1/2 C seedless red grapes cut in half
- 1/4 C sugared pecans
- 1/2 C crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
Dressing:
- 1/2 C olive oil
- 1/4 C cider vinegar
- 2 Tbsp shallots minced
- 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
I made this salad with dinner the other night. It was yummy! Even my DIL, who can be a picky eater, loved it! Thanks for a great recipe.
Just stumbled onto you today – and made my day! Hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving:)
Kristin
that is so funny! i am bringing the SAME salad to our Turkey Feast, and i was going to email you TODAY for a good dressing recipe! so funny. great minds think alike! thank you for having ESP and rescuing me 🙂 have a great day and i’ll see you when you get back in town. p.s. you were missed at yoga last night!
Thanks for sharing your holiday recipes Leigh Anne. They sound great!
My stuffing recipe that I’ve used for years is similar to yours but has some
differeces too. Here it is:
Thanksgiving Stuffing
1 large onion, chopped
8 stalks celery, chopped or diced
1 stick melted butter
2 lbs. pork sausage (Like Jimmy Dean)
2 pkgs. bread coutons (Pepperidge Farm Stuffing)
Dry sage to taste (use lots!!!)
Salt and pepper to taste
Cook Stuffing as directed on package. Saute’ onion and celery in butter. Brown
sausage and drain fat. In bowl mix all ingredients together adding a little water and bring to desired consistency. Valerie H.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving in Utah!
Sounds and LOOKS delicious. I’d make it for tomorrow, but I think the one more trip to the store might overtax the patience of my husband, who does all of the grocery shopping for me…he went last night for the promised “This is the last thing I need! – fresh pineapple, papayas and powdered sugar. Promise!” LOL. Have a great reunion with your college aged children…Happy Thanksgiving! (I’ll try this one next week…when I’m still thankful, as always, with your blog.)
MMM delicious! I think the problem is I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving WAY too much. Such a great time for food and goodness! :p
Thanks for the fantastic recipe! You have a great thanksgiving!
Thank You!!! This is the last thing I needed. Unfortunately I am very sick. I am hoping to be better so we can have a Thanksgiving. Also I came up with a dessert. I will let you know if it works out. 🙂
Sounds delicious! I’m getting ready for a 4 hour car trip myself. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Leigh Anne!!!