Description
A festive and refreshing Christmas Cranberry Spinach Salad featuring tender baby spinach, sweet dried cranberries, crunchy toasted almonds, and a beautifully balanced honey and vinegar dressing with poppy and sesame seeds. Perfect for holiday gatherings or as a light, flavorful side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 16 oz baby spinach
- 1 cup toasted almonds (slivered or sliced)
Dressing Ingredients
- 1 tbsp poppy seeds
- 1/2 cup olive oil (extra virgin)
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp finely chopped shallot
- 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 3 tbsp honey
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
Instructions
- Prepare the Dressing: In a bowl or jar, whisk together white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, and sugar until the sugar dissolves completely. Then stir in olive oil, honey, finely chopped shallot, sesame seeds, and poppy seeds until the mixture is well blended and emulsified. Set the dressing aside.
- Assemble the Salad Ingredients: In a large salad bowl, combine the fresh baby spinach, toasted almonds, and dried cranberries to create a harmonious blend of flavors and textures.
- Dress and Serve the Salad: Just before serving, drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients. Toss gently to coat the spinach, almonds, and cranberries evenly with the dressing. Serve immediately to maintain freshness and crispness.
Notes
- Use baby spinach for the most tender leaves.
- To toast almonds, spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 5-7 minutes until golden and fragrant.
- The dressing can be prepared ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; whisk or shake well before using.
- For extra crunch, consider adding sliced red onions or feta cheese if desired (not included in this recipe).
- Serve the salad immediately after dressing to prevent wilting.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Christmas salad, cranberry spinach salad, holiday salad, healthy salad, spinach salad with almonds, easy salad dressing, no-cook salad
