Spinach and Berry Salad Bowl (Printable)

Fresh spinach, mixed berries, goat cheese, and toasted nuts with tangy balsamic vinaigrette. Ready in 15 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Salad

01 - 5 oz fresh baby spinach
02 - 3.5 oz mixed fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
03 - 2 oz goat cheese, crumbled
04 - 1.75 oz toasted walnuts or pecans, roughly chopped
05 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced

→ Vinaigrette

06 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
07 - 1.5 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
08 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - Wash and dry the spinach leaves and berries thoroughly.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine the spinach, berries, goat cheese, nuts, and red onion.
03 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until fully emulsified.
04 - Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad just before serving.
05 - Toss gently to combine all ingredients and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes, which means you can actually enjoy lunch instead of spending an hour in the kitchen.
  • The combination of sweet berries, tangy goat cheese, and toasted nuts creates this perfect tension of flavors that keeps you coming back for another bite.
  • It feels fancy enough to serve to guests but honest enough to eat alone without any pretense.
02 -
  • The biggest mistake is dressing the salad too far in advance—the spinach wilts and the berries start weeping juice, turning everything into a soggy disappointment.
  • Discover that room-temperature vinaigrette tastes better than cold; it seems to carry the flavors more fully across your palate.
03 -
  • Keep your salad bowl and plates chilled for a few minutes before serving—it keeps everything crisp and refreshing longer.
  • If you're making this ahead for meal prep, keep the dressing separate and dress only the portion you're eating right then.
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