Spinach and Berry Salad Bowl (Printable)

Fresh spinach tossed with mixed berries, goat cheese, and toasted nuts in homemade balsamic dressing.

# 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 (optional)

→ 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

# Directions:

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

# Top Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes, which means you can make it on days when cooking feels like too much effort.
  • The tangy vinaigrette brings out the natural sweetness of the berries in a way that feels almost magical.
  • It's the kind of salad that looks impressive enough to serve to guests but requires zero cooking skills.
02 -
  • Don't dress the salad too far in advance or the spinach will wilt and the berries will start to break down from the acidity of the vinegar.
  • If you're making the vinaigrette ahead, store it in a jar in the fridge and give it a quick shake before using because the oil and vinegar will separate, which is completely normal and honestly makes it easier to control how much you use.
03 -
  • If you're prep-cooking for the week, keep the spinach, berries, cheese, and nuts separate in containers and only combine everything with the dressing when you're ready to eat so nothing gets soggy.
  • Toast your own walnuts in a dry skillet for about 3 minutes if you have the time, because freshly toasted nuts have a depth and aroma that changes the entire experience of eating this salad.
Go back