Spinach, Apple & Walnut Salad
Sweet apple, toasted walnuts, and a honey-mustard vinaigrette over tender spinach.
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Join HomecookedIngredients
- 150 g Spinach
- 1 Apple (tart)
- 50 g Walnuts
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp Honey
- 1½ tbsp Red wine vinegar
- 3 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ tsp Salt
- 60 g Feta (optional)
Method
- Toast the walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat, shaking often, until fragrant and lightly browned, about 3 minutes.
- Tip the walnuts onto a plate to cool, then crack them into rough pieces.
- Whisk the mustard, honey, vinegar, salt, and olive oil in a large salad bowl until the dressing is glossy and emulsified.
- Slice the apple thin, dropping the slices straight into the dressing so they don't brown.
- Toss the spinach and walnuts through the dressed apples, and crumble over the feta if using.
Nutrition per serving
Estimated from ingredients; varies with exact portions and brands.
About Spinach, Apple & Walnut Salad
This spinach, apple, and walnut salad is a classic American combination of tender greens, crisp fruit, and toasted nuts bound by a honey-mustard vinaigrette. It's the kind of salad that shows up at holiday tables and lunch counters alike because it balances so cleanly: sweet apple against peppery spinach, rich walnut against bright vinegar, all rounded out by salty crumbles of feta. Toasting the walnuts first is a small step that pays off, deepening their flavor and giving them a crackle you don't get from raw nuts.
The honey-mustard dressing does double duty here — whisked right in the salad bowl, it both flavors the leaves and keeps the sliced apple from browning when you drop the slices straight into it. A tart apple is the right choice, since its acidity keeps the honey from tipping the whole dish too sweet. Light and quick to assemble, it works as a starter, a side to roast chicken or pork, or a fresh lunch on its own. Because it holds up for a little while, it's a reliable choice to bring to a gathering, and it's easily made heartier with a handful of dried cranberries or some grilled protein.
Spinach, Apple & Walnut Salad: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Spinach, Apple & Walnut Salad?
One serving of Spinach, Apple & Walnut Salad has about 227 calories, with 3g of protein, 13g of carbs, 20g of fat and 3g of fiber. These are estimates based on the ingredient amounts in this recipe and will vary with your exact portions and brands.
Is Spinach, Apple & Walnut Salad gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Spinach, Apple & Walnut Salad has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
Is Spinach, Apple & Walnut Salad dairy-free?
Not as written — it uses Feta. Swapping it for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.
Do I need every ingredient to make Spinach, Apple & Walnut Salad?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out feta — it's optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Spinach, Apple & Walnut Salad make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.