Spinach Clementine Salad

If you're craving something light and full of fresh flavors, this Spinach Clementine Salad is the perfect pick. 

Tender spinach, creamy goat cheese, crunchy almonds, sweet clementines, and sharp red onion come together in a blend of flavors and textures that make this zesty clementine spinach salad irresistible.

Since clementines are at their peak during the holiday period, this salad is perfect for serving throughout the winter and holiday season. For another festive option, consider this Pomegranate, Pear and Pecan Salad, it also pairs beautifully with seasonal flavors.

How to Make it

What's really great about this spinach based salad is that it's made with only a handful of simple to find nutrient-rich ingredients.

Because this clementine salad only has a few ingredients, it's also so easy and quick to make which means you might just find yourself making it more often than other salads!

Here's an overview of the ingredients and steps to making this salad. Please see the recipe card below for ingredient amounts.

Ingredients Overview:

• Baby spinach leaves: Regular spinach will work if you can't get your hands on baby spinach.
• Clementines: Tangerines, mandarins or even oranges make great substitutes if clementines aren’t on hand.
• Almonds: I use Marcona almonds in this recipe but feel free to use regular blanched almonds.
• A small red onion.
• Goat cheese: You can also use feta cheese.
• Pomegranate seeds (arils) or dried cranberries would also make a great addition to this winter salad.

All of the complementing flavors and contrasting textures of these seasonal ingredients come together to form a healthy and delicious salad.

Since this spinach salad is packed with flavourful ingredients, all you need is a simple vinaigrette to dress it with. The dressing is easy to make and only requires a few ingredients. Here are the ingredients for the salad dressing:

• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Pure apple cider vinegar: Can substitute with white wine vinegar.
• Honey (maple syrup can also be used)
• Garlic: Just a touch of crushed or minced garlic will do.
• Salt and black pepper

Steps Overview:

1. Start by making the dressing and setting it aside. I like to make my salad dressings in small mason jars. They're handy for storing leftover dressing, and you can give the jar a good shake before pouring the dressing on the salad!
2. Rinse and dry the spinach, place it in a large salad bowl or on a large platter. Scatter the clementine segments onto the salad along with the slivered red onion, almonds and crumbled goat cheese on top. For a prettier presentation, reserve a few clementine segments, almonds, and onion slivers to place on top just before serving.
3. When ready to serve, dress the salad with the vinaigrette and toss gently. Finally, top the salad with the reserved ingredients for a beautiful dish.

Serving Suggestions

This clementine salad will serve four people as a starter or a side dish. If you are having it as a main, it will serve 2 to 3, depending on your appetite. Simply double the salad and dressing ingredients to feed a larger group.

If you're looking for a main to pair with this salad, consider serving it with this Pistachio Crusted Salmon for a delicious and nutritious combination. And for dessert, serve a slice of this Gingerbread Bundt Cake for a warm and spiced treat, or for a simpler option, try this refreshing Glazed Lemon Loaf Cake.

If you have some leftover spinach and happen to own a juicer, don't let it go to waste, try this delicious Pineapple Spinach Juice, it's a reader-favorite!

Enjoy!

More Spinach Salad Recipes

• Spinach Apple Cranberry Salad
• Strawberry Spinach Salad
• Blueberry Spinach Salad

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