Description
Mouthwatering berry spinach salad with pecans, feta, and balsamic glaze combines fresh ingredients for a delightful meal. Balanced flavors and textures create a perfect summer dish you will savor with enthusiasm.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 cups (150 g / 5.3 oz) baby spinach, fresh
- 1 cup (150 g / 5.3 oz) strawberries, fresh, hulled and sliced
- ½ cup (75 g / 2.6 oz) blueberries, fresh
- ½ cup (75 g / 2.6 oz) raspberries, fresh
- ⅓ cup (40 g / 1.4 oz) pecans, toasted
- ¼ cup (50 g / 1.8 oz) feta cheese, crumbled
- 3 tbsps balsamic glaze (store-bought or homemade)
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- Grilled chicken or shrimp for added protein
Instructions
- Preparation: Thoroughly rinse spinach leaves and berries, delicately pat dry with kitchen towels to preserve their pristine quality and prevent moisture accumulation.
- Toasting Technique: Activate medium-heat skillet and carefully toast pecans, continuously stirring to achieve a golden-brown complexion and release their intense nutty essence, avoiding scorching.
- Salad Assembly: Layer crisp spinach leaves as the foundational green canvas, strategically distributing mixed berries for vibrant color contrast and introducing toasted pecans to enhance textural complexity.
- Flavor Layering: Generously disperse crumbled feta cheese across the salad, creating pockets of creamy saltiness that harmonize with the fresh produce and nutty undertones.
- Finishing Touch: Execute an artful drizzle of balsamic glaze in elegant zigzag motions, ensuring each ingredient receives a delicate coating of sweet-tangy reduction that elevates the overall flavor profile.
- Serving Recommendation: Present the salad immediately to maintain optimal texture and preserve the ingredients’ dynamic sensory qualities, allowing diners to experience the full spectrum of culinary nuances.
Notes
- Preserve Freshness: Thoroughly dry spinach and berries with clean kitchen towels to maintain their crisp texture and prevent wilting.
- Prevent Burning Pecans: Toast nuts carefully over medium heat, stirring constantly to achieve a golden-brown color without scorching.
- Enhance Flavor Balance: Distribute berries and pecans evenly to ensure each bite offers a perfect mix of sweet, tangy, and crunchy elements.
- Serve Immediately: Present the salad right after preparation to keep spinach leaves crisp and maintain the nuts’ satisfying crunch.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg