Originally posted May 14, 2015.

This fresh and fruity Apple Berry Spinach Salad is tossed with a homemade red wine vinaigrette and promises to be a crowd-pleaser every time.

I love salads! Mainly because they are so interchangeable. It's hard to get sick of a salad, when you can create a different salad everyday by adding new interesting vegetables or toppings. They are definitely a staple in my weekly meal planning regimen.

This new Apple Berry Spinach Salad is full of so many wonderful flavors and is a tasty addition to your dinner table.

Don't get me wrong, not all salads are super healthy. You have to be careful with what you mix in and put on top of your greens. Adding a lot of shredded cheese, bacon or thick creamy dressing will not leave you with the low-fat meal you intended for.

TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR SALAD HEALTHY:

Stick to dressings that you can see through. The thicker the dressing the more calories and fat you end up adding to your salad.
If you are looking for more protein, add un-salted nuts, seeds, or lean-meats.
Stay away from too many additional toppings such as Bac-os, croutons, crispy noodles and breaded chicken.
Pile on the fresh veggies & fruit.

Luckily, this recipe is already set up for you to have a nutritious meal without all of the unnecessary toppings or dressings.

WHAT INGREDIENTS DO I NEED FOR APPLE BERRY SPINACH SALAD?

4 cups fresh baby spinach
1 red apple
½ cup blueberries
½ cup raspberries
⅓ roasted (unsalted) pistachios
⅓ cup feta or blue cheese
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
dash of salt & pepper

HOW DO I CREATE AN APPLE BERRY SPINACH SALAD?

Begin by creating the red wine vinaigrette. Combine ½ cup of extra virgin olive oil, 3 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, 1 ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon honey, and a dash of salt & pepper. Whisk well so that all the ingredients are well incorporated. Set the dressing aside until you are ready to serve.

To create the salad, place approximately 4 cups of fresh baby spinach in a large salad bowl. Mix in one chopped red apple, along with ½ cup of fresh blueberries and raspberries. To finish, add ⅓ cup of roasted (unsalted) pistachios, and ⅓ cup of feta or blue cheese.

You can add the salad dressing prior to serving, or place it on the side for guests to add as much as they desire.

If you are looking for a completely vegan version of this salad, you can leave out the cheese, and replace the honey in the dressing with agave nectar.

This Apple Berry Spinach Salad may be the perfect spring and summer salad recipe, but you better believe I eat it all year long.

Apple Berry Spinach Salad

Ingredients

4 cups fresh baby spinach
1 red apple- chopped
½ cup blueberries
½ cup raspberries
⅓ roasted (unsalted) pistachios
⅓ cup feta or blue cheese
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
dash of salt & pepper

Instructions

To create the Red Wine Vinaigrette- Combine ½ cup of extra virgin olive oil, 3 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, 1 ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon honey, and a dash of salt & pepper. Whisk all the ingredients so they are well incorporated. Set the dressing aside until you are ready to serve the salad.
To create the salad- Place approximately 4 cups of fresh baby spinach in a large salad bowl.
Mix in one chopped red apple, along with ½ cup of fresh blueberries and raspberries.
To finish, add ⅓ cup of roasted (unsalted) pistachios, and ⅓ cup of feta or blue cheese.
You have the option to add the vinaigrette prior to serving, or place it on the side for guests to add as much as they desire.