Spinach Apple Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

As the autumn days grow shorter and colder, it’s nice to have a big bowl of salad to enjoy. This Spinach and Apple Salad with Poppyseed Dressing is perfect for a light lunch or dinner. The sweetness of the apples pairs perfectly with the bitterness of the spinach, and the poppyseed dressing adds a delicious tangy flavor. So next time you’re at the farmers market, be sure to pick up some fresh spinach and apples so you can make this salad!

Raw spinach is low in calories and high in many nutrients, including vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, magnesium, potassium and dietary fiber. It also contains a wide variety of phytonutrients that provide health benefits. By using raw spinach in this salad, you can improve your health in many ways, from reducing the risk of heart disease and cancer to improving bone health. As an added bonus, it is the perfect balancing to all the sweet flavors this salad has.

The added touches of just a little bit of chicken, goat cheese, and candied pecans is what make this salad truly special and feel a little more autumn like.  Although you can leave the chicken and goat cheese out to make this vegan, the pecans are really a must have ingredient, candied or not.  Try this salad for lunch soon.  

Spinach and Apple Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Bright flavors of fall make this salad a perfect meal on it's own or with a warming bowl of potato soup. Don't forget the candied pecans, they make this salad special.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Main Course, Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 2

Ingredients
  

  • 1 green apple of any kind thinly sliced with peel on
  • 4 c baby spinach
  • 3 tbsp crumbled goat cheese
  • 8 oz grilled and shredded chicken breast

Poppy Seed Dressing

  • 1/2 c avocado oil
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp poppy seeds
  • 1/2 c rice wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp minced shallot
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 pinch salt

Candied Pecans

  • 1/4 c pecans roughly chopped
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp water

Instructions
 

Candied pecans

  • Add water, butter and brown sugar to a cast iron pan and heat until starting to bubble
  • add pecans and stir until the water is evaporated
  • spread out on parchment paper until cooled
  • rough chop

Dressing

  • add all ingredients together and whisk briskly until all are incorporated

Salad

  • I like to assemble this salad per person and then add dressing as each person likes
  • divide cleaned baby spinach into two bowls
  • Top each salad with apples, goat cheese, chicken, and cooled pecans
  • Dress each salad as desired
Keyword apples, autumn, meal salad, pecans, poppy seeds, salad, spinach
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!