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This vibrant salad features fresh juicy berries, crisp baby spinach leaves, crunchy pecans, and goat cheese tossed in a poppy seed dressing.
Why We Love This Salad
- Burst of Colors: The combination of red, white, and blue colored berries with white goat cheese creates a bright welcoming presentation.
- Nutrient-rich: Packed with antioxidants from berries and the nutritional goodness of spinach, it offers a healthy and delicious meal option.
- Flavor Harmony: The sweet juiciness of berries complements the earthy notes of spinach and the tanginess of the goat cheese.
Ingredients
Salad
- 4 cups baby spinach
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1-1/2 cups strawberries or a combination of strawberries and pineberries
- 1/4 cup goat cheese
- 1/3 cup pecans – broken but not crushed
Poppy seed Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1-2 tbsp milk
- 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
- 2 tbsp poppy seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Let’s Make Red, White, Blue Spinach Berry Salad
Poppy Seed Dressing
- Place all ingredients into a small mason jar with a tight lid and shake for 1-2 minutes.
- Store in the refrigerator while preparing the salad.
Salad
- Toast the pecans and allow them to cool at room temperature.
- Quarter the strawberries. If they are large, cut them into eights.
- Add spinach to a large bowl, drizzle with 2/3 dressing, and toss.
- Toss in berries and small pieces of goat cheese saving berries and goat cheese for the top of the salad.
- Transfer to a serving platter or bowl, garnish with extra berries and cheese.
- Add pecans and drizzle with a bit more dressing.
Krazy Kitchen Mom Tips
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Use ripe, fresh berries and crisp spinach for optimal flavor and texture.
- Presentation: Arrange the berries, spinach, cheese, and pecans in a visually appealing way to showcase the vibrant red, white, and blue colors.
- Chill Ingredients: If possible, chill the berries and spinach before assembling the salad for crispiness.
- Customize: Use feta cheese instead of goat cheese. Add other types of nuts and dried fruit.
Red, White and Blue Spinach Berry Salad
This vibrant salad features fresh juicy berries, crisp baby spinach leaves, crunchy pecans, and goat cheese tossed in a poppy seed dressing.
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 4 cups baby spinach
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1-1/2 cups strawberries or a combination of strawberries and pineberries
- 1 cup goat cheese I used honey flavored goat cheese
- 1/3 cup pecans – broken but not crushed
For the Poppyseed Dressing:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1-2 tbsp milk
- 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
- 2 tbsp poppyseed
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
For the Dressing:
- Mix all the ingredients in a mason jar and shake for 1-2 minutes.
For the Salad:
- Toast the pecans and allow them to cool at room temperature.
- Quarter the strawberries. If they are large, cut them into eights.
- Add spinach to a large bowl, drizzle with 2/3 dressing, and toss.
- Toss in berries and small pieces of goat cheese saving berries and goat cheese for the top of the salad.
- Transfer to a serving platter or bowl, garnish with extra berries and cheese.
- Add pecans and drizzle with a bit more dressing.
Notes
Krazy Kitchen Mom Tips
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Use ripe, fresh berries and crisp spinach for optimal flavor and texture.
- Presentation: Arrange the berries, spinach, cheese, and pecans in a visually appealing way to showcase the vibrant red, white, and blue colors.
- Chill Ingredients: If possible, chill the berries and spinach before assembling the salad for crispiness.
- Customize: Use feta cheese instead of goat cheese. Add other types of nuts and dried fruit.
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