Spinach Salad with Apple, Feta, and Toasted Almonds Recipe
A fresh and vibrant spinach salad featuring a tangy garlic vinaigrette, crisp apple slices, sharp red onion, creamy feta cheese, and crunchy toasted almonds. This easy-to-make salad combines crisp textures and bright flavors, perfect as a light lunch or a side dish to complement any meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- 1 garlic clove or 1/2 shallot, minced
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Salad
- 5 oz fresh spinach
- 1 apple (such as Honeycrisp), thinly sliced
- 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
Instructions
- Prepare the Dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the minced garlic (or shallot), extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, and Dijon mustard until the dressing is fully emulsified. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, stirring well to combine all flavors.
- Make Ahead Option: The dressing can be prepared up to 5 days in advance. To store, transfer the dressing to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use, ensuring the flavors meld and stay fresh.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large bowl, place the fresh spinach leaves, thinly sliced apple, and red onion. Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese and toasted sliced almonds over the dressed salad for added creaminess and crunch, then serve immediately for best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Use Honeycrisp or other crisp, sweet apples for the best flavor contrast with the tangy dressing.
- To toast almonds, place them in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently until fragrant and golden, about 3-5 minutes. Cool before adding to salad.
- The dressing can be modified by substituting shallot for garlic if preferred for milder flavor.
- For a gluten-free diet, ensure all ingredients, especially mustard and vinegar, are certified gluten-free.
- To add protein, consider topping the salad with grilled chicken or chickpeas.
Keywords: spinach salad, fresh salad, healthy salad, apple salad, feta salad, almond salad, no-cook, easy salad, vegetarian salad
