Spinach Goat Cheese Salad (Print)

Fresh spinach with creamy goat cheese, sweet cranberries, and candied pecans in a tangy balsamic vinaigrette.

# Components:

→ Salad

01 - 5 ounces baby spinach leaves, washed and dried
02 - 3.5 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
03 - ½ cup dried cranberries
04 - ¾ cup candied pecans, roughly chopped

→ Balsamic Vinaigrette

05 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
06 - 1½ tablespoons balsamic vinegar
07 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
08 - 1 teaspoon honey
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper until emulsified. Set aside.
02 - In a large salad bowl, add the spinach leaves. Drizzle with half of the vinaigrette and toss gently to coat.
03 - Add the crumbled goat cheese, dried cranberries, and candied pecans to the salad.
04 - Drizzle over the remaining vinaigrette and toss lightly to combine.
05 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra pecans or cranberries if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It feels fancy enough for company but you can throw it together on a Wednesday night without breaking a sweat.
  • The textures keep every bite interesting, crunchy, creamy, chewy, all playing together in one bowl.
  • It's one of those rare salads that actually fills you up and tastes like a treat, not a diet obligation.
02 -
  • If you dress the salad more than five minutes before serving, the spinach will wilt and the pecans will lose their snap, so wait until the very last moment.
  • Taste your vinaigrette before you add it to the salad because balsamic vinegars vary wildly in sweetness, and you might need an extra pinch of salt or drop of honey to get it right.
03 -
  • Make extra candied pecans because people will sneak them off the counter before the salad is even assembled, and you'll want backups.
  • If your goat cheese is too crumbly and dry, let it sit at room temperature for ten minutes before adding it to the salad so it softens just enough to cling to the greens.
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