Jazz up your Spinach Salad when you toss it with this tangy Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette recipe! This simple salad makes a regular appearance on our dinner table!
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Need an easy way to add greens to your dinner menu? This Spinach Salad with a Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette recipe is our favorite way to add them to a meal.
Most spinach salads have a warm bacon vinaigrette on them but this is my favorite salad to serve with my favorite balsamic vinaigrette. Not only is is easy to make, but it tastes delicious too.
I generally have spinach on hand to kick start our day with a Spinach Protein Smoothie so its easy to make this salad for dinner without having to race to the store.
Add some tangy goat cheese, toasted walnuts and dried craisins and you have an easy, healthy and delicious salad that complements any meal.
Ingredients
This spinach salad with goat cheese has that restaurant-quality flavor without any of the complicated ingredients.
- Baby spinach washed and dried
- Goat cheese, crumbled
- Toasted walnuts
- Craisins
- Pepper
- Balsamic Vinaigrette
Vinaigrette Instructions
This balsamic vinaigrette is our go-to dressing that we always have on hand. Once you try it you will never buy a bottled dressing again. It's so easy!
Step 1: Add dijon mustard and balsamic vinegar to a salad dressing bottle (or mason jar) and shake to combine.
Step 2: Add olive oil and shake vigorously.
Step 3: Season to taste with salt and pepper. Shake and refrigerate until ready to use.
Next time you think of opting for the bottled dressing, just remember how easy this recipe is. All you have to do is gather together a few simple ingredients together and whisk them together. It's just that simple.
Going to the dressing aisle searching for your go-to dressing bottle probably takes up more time than it does to mix up this dressing recipe from start to finish.
FAQs
Goat cheese not your thing? Feel free to add whatever you have on hand - feta, parmesan, gorgonzola - this spinach salad is so versatile, it goes with just about anything. Be creative and do what works for your family
When you are making a homemade dressing the ingredients you use make a big difference. Use a high quality balsamic vinegar in this recipe, it costs a little bit more but it is worth every drop!
Absolutely! If you want to make extra dressing and save some for later you can! Simply place the homemade dressing in an airtight container, or sealable jar, and store in the refrigerator. The dressing will stay fresh for up to two weeks. Just be sure to shake it up before every use as some of the ingredients tend to settle at the bottom
Favorite Salad Recipes
- The bright citrus flavor makes this simple Arugula Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette crazy good.
- Looking for a more traditional spinach salad? Try this Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing.
- Never had roasted grapes before? They are a game changer in this Arugula Salad with Roasted Grapes.
- The gorgeous roasted beets steal the show in this Easy Roasted Beet Salad!
Need more ideas? Check out all of our salad recipes!
Recipe
Spinach Salad with Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe
Ingredients
Salad:
- 8 ounces baby spinach washed and dried
- 3 ounces goat cheese crumbled
- ½ cup toasted walnuts
- ½ cup craisins
- pepper to taste
Balsamic Vinaigrette:
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
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Instructions
- Place spinach, goat cheese, craisins, and nuts in a salad bowl.
- Whisk dressing ingredients together and drizzle over greens.
- Season to taste with fresh ground black pepper.
Nutrition
Nutrition info not guaranteed to be accurate.
Forget to buy salad dressing at the store? Our simple Spinach Salad with the best Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette recipe beats the store-bought variety any day!
Sherif Shehata says
Easy and really tasty! Everything comes together in a perfect harmony!
brenida says
Yummy yum yum! Perfect for our BBQ tonight! Btw, you have valsamic by mistake. 🙂
Thanks for the catch (and glad you enjoyed the salad!).
Marg says
Had this salad for the first time at a wedding on the weekend. You can buy all the ingredients together from Loblaws in their pkg. salads. It is an organic salad kit. All I had to do was roast the walnuts and buy goat cheese. Going to accompany our pork loin roast with maple glaze and fresh green beans tonight!
Lisa says
Sounds delicious! Thanks for the tip! 🙂
Christine says
This is very similar to one of my favorite salads, though I substitute Feta cheese for the goat cheese. I found my favorite brand of goat cheese is too soft. My salad is comprised of spinach, walnuts, feta cheese, and dried cranberries. Sometimes I’ll throw in some blueberries. The Balsamic Vinaigrette: 2 TBSP balsamic vinegar, 2 TBSP olive oil, ¼ tsp granulated garlic, ¼ tsp salt, 1 tsp brown sugar. Here’s another favorite salad: spinach, diced firm ripe pears, onion, dried cranberries, shredded parmesan. The dressing: 2 TBSP cider vinegar, 2 TBSP canola oil, 1 TBSP honey, ¼ tsp salt, ¼ tsp ground black pepper.
Lisa says
Those combinations sound delicious! Thanks for sharing them!