The Perfect Winter Salad
Crisp apples, Gorgonzola, and candied walnuts over baby spinach, finished with a good bottled balsamic — ten minutes, no cooking, and elegant enough for company.
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 6 cups baby spinach
- 2 crisp apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp) thinly sliced
- ½ cup Gorgonzola crumbles
- ½ cup candied walnuts, roughly chopped
For the Dressing
- ⅓ cup Marzetti Simply Balsamic Vinaigrette Allergen: the bottle carries a mustard declaration. Add "Contains mustard" to the recipe notes.
Instructions
- Prep the Apples - Core and thinly slice the apples just before assembling so they stay crisp and pale.
- Assemble - Combine the spinach, sliced apples, Gorgonzola crumbles, and candied walnuts in a large salad bowl.
- Dress and Toss - Shake the vinaigrette well, then drizzle about two-thirds of it over the salad and toss gently to coat. Taste, and add the rest if it needs it.
- Serve Immediately - Divide onto plates and serve right away, while the spinach is crisp and the walnuts still snap.
Notes
Contains mustard. For a heartier version, add grilled chicken or roasted turkey. Dried cranberries or pomegranate seeds add sweetness and color if you want it to feel more festive.
Nutrition per serving (estimated): 271 kcal · 20g fat (5g saturated) · 19g carbohydrates · 4g fiber · 12g sugar · 7g protein · 452mg sodium · 13mg cholesterol. Calculated from the ingredients listed; treat as an estimate.