Spinach Cranberry Salad Recipe

This Spinach Cranberry Salad makes a great side dish for the holidays or other special occasions. Featuring an easy-to-prepare recipe with a delicious homemade balsamic dressing.

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This is the perfect fancy Christmas salad recipe for a dinner party or a holiday table. This Arugula Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes is also a fave with this colorful Fattoush Salad. Check out all of our delicious salad recipes for more inspiration.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Ingredients

Find the complete ingredient list, with measurements, in the recipe card below.

• Balsamic Vinegar: This popular dressing ingredient brings a luxurious feel to your salad with its sweet and rich flavor.
• White Vinegar: White vinegar provides a tangy kick that complements the sweetness of the balsamic
• Olive Oil: This heart-healthy fat adds a smooth, silky texture that will help to coat the ingredients.
• Lemon Juice: Based on my firsthand experience, freshly squeezed lemon juice is always the key to a delicious dressing.
• Shallot: Shallot is perfect for salad dressing as it has a milder taste than regular onions and won’t dominate the flavor.
• Mustard:  We choose a grainy mustard for a punch of spiciness.
• Maple Syrup: The maple syrup will bring a touch of natural sweetness to the dressing.
• Salt and Pepper: A pinch of salt brings out the flavors in your ingredients.
• Dried Cranberries: Cranberries add a chewy sweetness and some seasonal flair.
• Spinach: We recommend using fresh baby spinach leaves as they are more delicate and tender.
• Pears: Choose ripe but firm pears. You don’t want them to be mushy.
• Walnuts: These will add some crunch and texture to the salad.
• Goat Cheese: Every fancy salad needs a cheesy element! We love creamy, tangy goat cheese to offset the sweetness of the other ingredients.

Equipment

• Mixing Bowls: You will need one for soaking the cranberries and one for tossing the salad.
• Small Mason Jar: My preferred method for preparing homemade salad dressings is to shake them up in a small jar with a lid. Easy!
• Skillet: For toasting the walnuts.

Instructions 

Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the FULL recipe details.

Step 1

First, start by placing all of the dressing ingredients into the small mason jar. Shake it really well to combine.

Step 2

Next, get the cranberries soaking.

We mentioned this salad is fancy, and this is another bougie element – balsamic cranberries.

Soaking the cranberries in a couple of tablespoons of the balsamic dressing makes them really pop in this salad.

Step 3

Meanwhile, toast the walnuts in a skillet over medium-low heat.

Toasting the nuts adds a lovely depth of flavor.

Step 4

Then, place the spinach leaves in the mixing bowl.

The Downton Abbey cookbook explains how the kitchen staff in a grand house like Downton Abbey would inspect each and every leaf of the salad to ensure perfection.

Step 5

Next, we add some sweetness and texture to the salad with delicious pears. 

You want to choose ripe pears for an extra sweet taste. You want them to be firm but ripe.

Step 6

Next, the rest of that yummy dressing (you already used a bit for soaking the cranberries) gets tossed with the leafy greens and pears.

Pour it right out of the mason jar that you mixed it in.

Step 7

Then, once the greens are coated with the dressing, add the toasted walnuts and balsamic-soaked cranberries to the serving bowl.

Toss again.

Step 8

Finally, the finishing touch is the tangy creaminess of crumbled goat cheese. You know me. There must be a cheese element present somewhere!

In this case, it is soft goat cheese, and I just can’t get enough. Spinach salad and goat cheese really go hand in hand.

Substitutions 

• Finely minced red onion works instead of shallot.
• You can substitute any nut you like for this recipe. If you need a how-to post on how to toast nuts on the stovetop in a skillet, I have you covered. Pecans would taste fantastic.
• Swap the goat cheese for an ounce or two of gorgonzola or feta cheese.
• If you don’t have a small mason jar for the dressing, use a whisk and a small bowl instead. Just whisk until the ingredients have been emulsified.

Recipe Variations

• Add poppy seeds to the dressing and garnish with mandarin orange segments. Use slivered almonds instead of walnuts.
• Experiment with using different fruits instead of pear, such as apples, and adding creamy sliced avocado to the plate.
• Make it festive with pomegranate seeds and a pomegranate vinaigrette dressing.

Serving Suggestions

This salad is an excellent side dish when serving a date night dinner like this absolutely perfect sous vide beef wellington recipe.

• Pack the salad in a lunch container for a healthy and work or school lunch. Keep the dressing separate and drizzle it on right before eating.
• Add some grilled protein like salmon, steak, shrimp, or chicken to make this salad a satisfying meal.
• Include the salad as a side dish for a holiday feast, especially during Thanksgiving or Christmas. The cranberries add a festive touch.
• Serve the spinach cranberry salad on fancy plates and embrace the aristocratic vibe. Use the good china, polish the silver collection, and dust off the crystal stemware if you can access any. Maybe browse the thrift shops for some sweet finds.

FAQS

Storage Tips

Store the leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Keep the dressing separate, and it should last for a day or two. If you’ve already added dressing, the salad is best enjoyed immediately.

More Salad Recipes

**This recipe was originally posted on November 12, 2020, updated on December 19, 2021, and again on November 25, 2023, with recipe notes, writing, and photos.**

If you’ve tried our Cranberry Spinach Salad, please rate the recipe and let us know how it turned out by leaving us a comment below. We’re always interested in feedback!

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