Blueberry Spinach Salad with Lemon Poppyseed Dressing
User Reviews
4.9
Blueberry Spinach Salad with Lemon Poppyseed Dressing
Description
This salad recipe features baby spinach leaves mixed with ripe blueberries, crumbled feta cheese, and candied walnuts or nuts of choice like pecans or honey roasted almonds. The distinct components provide a blend of textures and flavors: tender green leaves, juicy bursts of blueberry, creamy-salty feta, and sweet crunchy nuts.
The lemon poppyseed dressing is made by blending fresh lemon juice with minced onion, honey or sugar, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and slowly incorporated avocado oil; poppy seeds are stirred in for texture. Chilling the dressing enhances its refreshment and allows flavors to meld. When tossed with the salad ingredients, it coats the leaves and complements the natural sweetness of the berries and nuts while cutting through the richness of the feta.
This salad is best served fresh with the option to add more dressing on the side. Optional add-ins like thinly sliced red onion or roasted sunflower seeds can provide extra flavor contrast. If using plain nuts instead of candied ones, slightly sweetening the dressing helps balance the overall taste.
Nutrition facts depend on dressing amount used, so adjust according to preference and dietary needs.
Ingredients
- 4 oz spinach fresh baby
- ⅓ cup feta cheese plus extra to taste, crumbled
- ¾ cup blueberries fresh, ripe
- ¼ cup walnuts candied
LEMON POPPY SEED DRESSING
- ¼ cup lemon juice fresh
- 1 TBSP onion minced sweet yellow, or shallot
- 2 TBSP honey or sugar
- ½ tsp Dijon mustard
- ¼ tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp black pepper
- ⅓ cup avocado oil
- ½ TBSP poppy seeds
Instructions
- First make your dressing! Blend lemon juice, onion, honey/sugar, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper in a blender until smooth. Pour in avocado oil slowly into the mixture while blender is running to fully incorporate. Add poppy seeds and pulse blender a few times, just to mix seeds into the dressing. You can also use an immersion blender or food processor if needed. Set dressing in the fridge to chill for a few minutes if a chilled dressing is preferred.
- Wash and dry your spinach and combine with blueberries, feta, and candied walnuts in a large bowl (you want to have enough room to toss the salad without everything flying all over your counter, lol) - Add 1/3 of the dressing to the salad and toss/mix until spinach is coated. Serve right away with additional dressing on the side (add extra to taste) and feel free to save some for later if you have a little leftover!
- When it comes to the feta, blueberries, and candied walnuts, feel free to add extra if desired! Salads are crazy flexible to suit varied tastes so keep it light or load 'em up! I like a little extra feta on mine!
Notes
- Use homemade or store-bought candied walnuts; candied pecans or honey roasted almonds are good alternatives.
- For extra flavor, add thinly sliced red onion or roasted sunflower seeds to the salad.
- If skipping candied nuts, consider increasing the dressing's sweetness slightly to balance flavors.
- Adjust dressing quantity to taste as leftover dressing can be stored for later use.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 2servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 185 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 185kcal | 9% |
| Carbohydrates | 17g | 6% |
| Protein | 7g | 14% |
| Fat | 11g | 17% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Cholesterol | 22mg | 7% |
| Sodium | 387mg | 16% |
| Potassium | 359mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 11g | 22% |
| Vitamin A | 5452IU | 109% |
| Vitamin C | 21mg | 23% |
| Calcium | 188mg | 19% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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