Spinach Goat Cheese Salad (Printable version)

Fresh spinach with creamy goat cheese, dried cranberries, candied pecans, and balsamic vinaigrette. Light, elegant, and ready in 20 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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

# How To Make:

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 - Transfer to serving plates immediately, garnished with extra pecans or cranberries if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It feels fancy but takes less time than waiting for takeout to arrive.
  • The sweet, creamy, and tangy flavors hit every craving at once without feeling heavy.
  • You can prep everything ahead and toss it together right before serving.
  • It works as a quick lunch for one or a crowd-pleasing starter that looks like you tried.
02 -
  • If you dress the spinach too early, it will wilt and get sad, so toss it right before serving or keep the dressing on the side.
  • Candied pecans can go from perfect to burnt in seconds, so watch them closely if you're making your own.
  • Goat cheese crumbles better when it's cold, so don't let it sit out too long before adding it to the salad.
03 -
  • Toast your pecans lightly before candying them if you want an even deeper flavor.
  • Use a fork to whisk the vinaigrette if you don't have a whisk, it works just as well and is easier to clean.
  • Add a handful of microgreens or fresh herbs like basil or mint for a little extra brightness.
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