I was so pleased with last week’s spinach and feta salad with strawberries that I decided to try another variation, this time with blueberries. Plus, the spinach and the blueberries at the market looked so fresh that I couldn’t resist buying them. So now, we end up with blueberry spinach salad with feta cheese and walnuts.
I changed the dressing from balsamic vinaigrette to a lemony vinaigrette made with olive oil, vinegar, and lemon peel
I bought the nut/seed combination already mixed, you can add some, or all of the ingredients, depending on what you have in your pantry, your personal taste, or whether you feel like going to the store to get anything you haven’t got handy. You definitely don’t have to add all of them!
The resulting blueberry spinach salad with feta cheese and walnuts is crispy, a little salty (from the feta), tangy from the lemon, and sweet from the blueberries.
And, it’s even red, white, and blue. It would be great for a Fourth of July picnic or party. Just throw it together ahead of time and add the dressing when it’s ready to serve. Gotta have something healthy in-between all those hot dogs!
Blueberry Feta Spinach Salad
Notes
If you don't have dried lemon peel, use some lemon zest. If you don't have a fresh lemon, replace the vinegar with lemon juice.
Also, don't stress exact amounts for the veggies. It's not critical (we're not baking anything).
Ingredients
- 1 C spinach leaves, washed and torn into pieces
- 2-3 sliced mushrooms
- 4 grape tomatoes (or about 1/2 a small beefsteak)
- 1 Kirby cucumber, cut in chunks (or about 2 inches worth of standard cucumber)
- 1/4 small red pepper (cut into chunks)
- 1/4 C feta cheese
- 1/2 C blueberries
Dressing
- 1T olive oil
- 1 tsp vinegar
- 1 pinch dried lemon peel
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 pinch dried tarragon
Topping
- Walnuts, raisins, pumpkin seeds, cashews, sunflower seeds (about 1T altogether)
Instructions
- Wash and slice all the vegetables and add to a large bowl.
- Rinse the blueberries and add them.
- Crumble the feta cheese and add to the salad
- Toss the salad to mix everything together.
- Make the dressing and pour over the salad.
- Top with whatever combination of nuts and seeds you enjoy (or have handy)
Substitutions and Variations for Blueberry Spinach Salad with Feta Cheese and Walnuts
- Don’t have spinach? Try mixed greens or arugula instead
- Or, add some mushrooms
- Try adding some carrots or zucchini
- Swap out different kinds of nuts (or nut mixtures)
More Spinach and Feta Recipes
Spinach and Feta Cheese Omelette
The flavors of spanakopita (spinach feta pie) in an omelette. Much easier to make, and simply delicious.
Spinach and Egg Frittata for One Person
Perfect for brunch or a light lunch and packed with herby and savory flavor from spinach, eggs, nutmeg, coriander, and fresh dill.
Strawberry Spinach Salad with Balsamic Dressing and Feta Cheese
Sweet local strawberries balanced against tangy balsamic vinegar and feta cheese. Great for a hot summer day (no cooking!)
Penne with Feta Cheese, Sun-dried Tomatoes, and Olives
The intense sweetness of sun-dried tomatoes is a perfect foil for briny olives and salt feta. The recipe comes together quickly and is a great summer meal.