Spinach Goat Cheese Salad (Printable Version)

Fresh spinach with creamy goat cheese, sweet cranberries, and crunchy candied pecans in a tangy balsamic vinaigrette.

# Ingredient List:

→ Salad

01 - 5 oz baby spinach leaves, washed and dried
02 - 3.5 oz goat cheese, crumbled
03 - ½ cup dried cranberries
04 - ¾ cup candied pecans, roughly chopped

→ Balsamic Vinaigrette

05 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
06 - 1½ tablespoons balsamic vinegar
07 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
08 - 1 teaspoon honey
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper until emulsified. Set aside.
02 - In a large salad bowl, add the spinach leaves. Drizzle with half of the vinaigrette and toss gently to coat.
03 - Add the crumbled goat cheese, dried cranberries, and candied pecans to the salad.
04 - Drizzle over the remaining vinaigrette and toss lightly to combine.
05 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra pecans or cranberries if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks elegant but comes together in less time than it takes to set the table.
  • The mix of creamy, crunchy, sweet, and tangy hits every craving at once.
  • You can prep the vinaigrette ahead and toss everything together right before serving.
  • It works as a side dish or becomes a full meal with grilled chicken on top.
02 -
  • If you dress the salad too early, the spinach will wilt and get soggy, so toss it right before serving.
  • Cold goat cheese crumbles better than room temperature, I learned this after ending up with a creamy mess on my hands.
  • Taste your vinaigrette before adding it to the salad, you might want a touch more honey or a pinch more salt depending on your ingredients.
03 -
  • Toast your nuts lightly even if they're already candied, it brings out their oils and makes them even more fragrant.
  • Add the goat cheese last so it doesn't get too mixed in and lose its creamy chunks.
  • If you're serving this at a party, double the vinaigrette recipe, people always want extra on the side.
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