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Apple Citrus Spinach Salad with Blood Orange Dressing
5 from 15 votes

Apple Citrus Spinach Salad with Blood Orange Dressing

Apple Citrus Spinach Salad with Blood Orange Dressing combines fresh baby spinach with crisp apples, sweet dried cranberries, crunchy pecans, and crumbled feta cheese. The homemade blood orange vinaigrette, blending citrus juices, avocado oil, Dijon mustard, and honey, coats the greens in a bright, tangy flavor. This salad offers a balance of textures and a refreshing citrus twist suitable as a light lunch or side dish.

Prep Time
20 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 327 kcal
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 5 oz spinach fresh baby
  • 1-2 orange I used blood orange and cara cara
  • 1 apple (chopped)
  • 1/4-1/3 cup feta cheese crumbled
  • ¼ cup pecans (candied, toasted, or regular)
  • 2-4 TBSP dried cranberries
BLOOD ORANGE DRESSING
  • ¼ cup blood orange 1 orange, freshly squeezed juice
  • ¼ tsp orange zest
  • 2 TBSP lemon juice 1 lemon, fresh
  • ⅓ cup avocado oil
  • 1 clove garlic approx. 1 tsp, smashed and minced
  • 1 TBSP Dijon mustard
  • 1 TBSP honey
  • ½ tsp salt fine sea salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. First, let's make our dressing! Grab a blood orange and zest about 1/4 tsp from the rind. Roll the orange on the counter to help release the juice then slice in half and juice. (I use a citrus reamer to get every last drop)
  2. Combine blood orange juice (we're looking for 1/4 cup of juice here) with the remaining ingredients in a mason jar and shake well. For a completely smooth dressing, I used an immersion blender. You can follow suit with a blender/processor of your choice or leave the garlic as is - both ways work great!
  3. Wash and dry your spinach and add to a large bowl. Give your dressing another shake and massage a few spoonfuls into the spinach leaves to coat them.
  4. Top spinach with slices of fresh oranges (I used a combination of cara cara and blood orange) as well as chopped apple, feta, pecans and dried cranberries. Drizzle extra dressing to taste and dive in!

Notes

  • The blood orange dressing keeps well in the refrigerator; shake well before using.
  • Walnuts may be used instead of pecans to vary the texture and flavor.
  • Candied nuts can add an extra layer of sweetness and crunch if preferred.
  • This recipe yields 2 large salads or 4 side salads, adjusting ingredient quantities accordingly.

Nutrition Information

Calories 327kcal (16%) Carbohydrates 26g (9%) Protein 4g (8%) Fat 25g (38%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Cholesterol 8mg (3%) Sodium 467mg (19%) Potassium 362mg (8%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 19g (38%) Vitamin A 3492IU (70%) Vitamin C 40mg (44%) Calcium 101mg (10%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 327

% Daily Value*

Calories 327kcal 16%
Carbohydrates 26g 9%
Protein 4g 8%
Fat 25g 38%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 8mg 3%
Sodium 467mg 19%
Potassium 362mg 8%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 19g 38%
Vitamin A 3492IU 70%
Vitamin C 40mg 44%
Calcium 101mg 10%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.