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Spinach-Apple Salads are classic, and for good reason. They’re simple to make and taste delicious, and that comes in handy especially when entertaining. During the holidays we like to serve something special like a standing rib roast, beef tenderloin, or maybe even a turkey. The “star of the table” may be great but it still needs a good supporting cast like this Spinach-Apple Salad with Maple Vinaigrette.
While the salad is simply made with delicious fresh ingredients, the dressing is perfectly amazing too with a combination of apple cider vinegar and maple syrup. Throw in some sugared pecans and fresh soft crumbled goat cheese and your guests will think you’re a genius!
I like to use a HoneyCrisp Apple in salads. They stay crisp with a nice snap and don’t turn brown as quickly as other varieties.
Spinach-Apple Salad with Maple Vinaigrette
Ingredients
For the sugared pecans
- 1 cup pecan halves
- 1 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
For the maple-cider vinaigrette
- ⅓ cup cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- ½ cup olive oil
For the salad:
- 10-12 ounces fresh baby spinach
- 1 Honeycrisp apple sliced thin
- 1 small red onion thinly sliced
- 4 ounces fresh goat cheese crumbled
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Toss the pecans in the melted butter. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon granulated sugar and ⅛ teaspoon salt and stir to coat. Spread the pecans in a single layer on a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Bake 13-15 minutes or until lightly browned and toasted. Set aside to cool.
- To prepare the vinaigrette whisk together the vinegar, maple syrup, mustard, salt and pepper until blended. Slowly whisk in the olive oil just until blended.
- To serve the salad combine the spinach, onion, sliced apple and goat cheese. Drizzle with vinaigrette. Toss and serve passing extra dressing around the table.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
I think I’m all cookie’d out. I’ve been making tons of fudge and toffee (which is gifted to friends and co-workers) and I’m almost done. Are you done with your baking, shopping, wrapping and preparations? Do you send out Christmas cards? I think we get about 1/10 of the cards we used to receive before the internet and Facebook. People stay in touch more often now days so I think fewer cards are sent. Just wondering 🙂 Take care and thanks so much for stopping by!
Tricia
Susan
This is exactly what I’m going to want to eat after the indulgences of Thanksgiving and Christmas! I love the pecans and the dressing sounds wonderful. Merry Christmas, Tricia!
Tricia Buice
Merry Christmas to you Susan!
sue|theviewfromgreatisland
Just the thought of the maple vinaigrette makes my mouth water!
Tricia Buice
It is great on everything Sue – Merry Christmas!~ Thanks so much for stopping by.
Gerlinde @sunnycovechef
I love goat cheese and your salad looks delicious , a nice addition to a rich meal. I just started to bake yesterday , I’ll be cooking all week.
Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones
Tricia Buice
Hope all your recipe turn out wonderful Gerlinde! Merry Christmas 🙂
Angie@Angie's Recipes
As much as I love all the holiday cookies and sweets, I still can’t get enough of salads at this time of year. Your baby spinach salad with apple and pecan looks terrific, either as the main or appetizer!
Tricia Buice
I am with you Angie – and it was a great main dish salad. I wish I had thought to put pomegranate aerials on it to as Monique suggested – so good!
Monique
I make an asian chicken salad w/ sugared nuts and we love it..
your dressing sounds perfect..so I will try this soon.Thanks!Maybe a few pom arils too:)For Christmas.
Tricia Buice
The asian salad sounds great Monique. I do love this simple and quick dressing – and I think you will too!
Chris Scheuer
This is beautiful Tricia and a perfect antidote for all the sweets and rich treats that are everywhere these days. It’s a perfect salad at this time of year but would also be wonderful just about any time!
Tricia Buice
I agree Chris – I was really craving simple and green with a little creaminess from the goat cheese – so tasty! Hope you have a lovely weekend.
Abbe @ This is How I Cook
Great salad Tricia. It is one of my faves. I actually use a maple balsamic vinegar that I buy at a store near here. I could slurp the stuff straight off a spoon! No, we do not get cards anymore! But I must admit that I don’t send them either!
Tricia Buice
Classically delicious Abbe! Hope you have a terrific weekend!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
Absolutely beautiful salad, Tricia! Love all the flavours together and especially the goat cheese (I can’t ever get enough of that 🙂
Tricia Buice
I’m with you on the goat cheese Jennifer – yummy stuff!
Monica
This is a wonderful salad for the holiday table…goes so well with mains and delicious on its own. I am meeting a friend for lunch today and now I’m going to scour the menu to see if there’s anything like this on it! We’re having our Christmas party this Sunday and this is inspiring me to think beyond the mains. And I am also about 90% done with baking for gifts…I feel like I’ve been at it non-stop but at the same time, it’s been at a much less stressful pace this year. Glad for that! ; )
Tricia Buice
Thank you Monica. Sometimes I just crave spinach salads and love this one with the pecans and goat cheese. Have a great (low-stress) weekend!