Description
A vibrant and nutritious Apple Cranberry Spinach Salad featuring sweet and tangy dried cranberries, crunchy honey-roasted almonds, fresh apple slices, and a zesty apple cider vinaigrette.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup slivered almonds
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons honey
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 1 tablespoon water
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup honey
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 medium clove garlic, finely minced
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons poppy seeds
- 8 cups baby spinach
- 1 large crisp red apple (such as Fuji or Pink Lady), quartered, cored, and thinly sliced
- ½ cup pomegranate arils or seeds
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 300˚F and line a sheet pan with foil. Combine slivered almonds, olive oil, honey, and kosher salt on the sheet pan, stirring to mix. It’s okay if the honey doesn’t coat all nuts fully. Bake for 5 minutes, then stir the almonds to redistribute. Repeat baking and stirring cycles 2-3 times until almonds turn light golden brown, about 15-20 minutes total. Remove from oven, stir to separate almonds, and allow them to cool.
- Place dried cranberries and 1 tablespoon of water in a small microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl. Cover with microwave-safe plastic wrap and microwave on high for 40 seconds. Remove from microwave and let cool.
- In a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine extra virgin olive oil, honey, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, kosher salt, black pepper, and poppy seeds. Cover tightly and shake well until all ingredients are emulsified. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine baby spinach and thinly sliced apple. Drizzle ¼ cup of the dressing over the greens and apples, tossing gently to coat. Top with plumped dried cranberries, pomegranate arils, and honey-roasted almonds. Toss lightly before serving and offer extra dressing at the table.
Notes
- Perfect for fall and holiday gatherings.
- Balances fresh greens with a delightful mix of textures and flavors.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Baking, Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 266 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg