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    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Mixed Berry Spinach Salad

    Published: Aug 17, 2022 by Janessa

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Mixed Berry Spinach Salad will be your new go to side for almost anything!

    An extra tasty and easy way to add some greens to your meal, it has everything a salad needs. A little crunch thanks to the pecans, a touch of creaminess thanks to the goat cheese, a bit of bite from the red onions and a dash of sweet thanks to the berries!

    And now let me tell you my secret...

    I usually make this salad with FROZEN berries! Just allow them to thaw (or toss them in the microwave for about 30 seconds if you didn't have a chance to plan ahead!) and add them to the salad- juices and all.

    Bowl of spinach salad.

    Why do I make them with frozen berries?

    a) convenience- I always have frozen berries of some sort in the freezer so if I have spinach on hand, I can pretty much make this salad at a moment's notice.

    b) availability- During the winter, the grocery store doesn't always carry the best looking fresh berries. But I find that the frozen berries are always very flavourful!

    c) the berry juice- After you make this salad with frozen berries, you'll see that the juices that come of the berries when they thaw and mix with the dressing, soak into the goat cheese and fill in the crevices of the pecans make this salad the BEST!

    The Ingredients

    Ingredients for spinach salad with frozen berries.
    • Spinach- I like to use baby spinach but regular spinach works as well- if the leaves are large, roughly chop it.
    • Frozen Berries- Thaw your favourite mixture (I like blueberries, strawberries and raspberries) of frozen berries, chop if needed and toss them in (including the juices from melting!). If you have fresh berries on hand, you can definitely use those instead!
    • Red Onion- You can substitute white or green onions. Or you can leave it out.
    • Goat Cheese- Feta or gorgonzola would be other tasty options.
    • Toasted Pecans- Feel free to use a different nut such as walnuts, almonds or cashews or a combination. Or try some Honey Roasted Cashews instead.
    • Maple Balsamic Poppyseed Dressing

    The Method

    1. Prepare the ingredients.

    • Spinach- Wash and dry. Chop if the pieces are large.
    • Berries- Thaw if using frozen. Cut or slice larger berries.
    • Red Onion- Finely chop and place in a bowl with cold water for 10 minutes. This helps to reduce some of the "bite".
    • Goat Cheese- Crumble.
    • Pecans- Toast and Chop. Place the nuts in a single layer on a baking sheet. Toast at 350F for 3-5 minutes. Watch them carefully as they can burn quickly. They are done when they are slightly darkened and fragrant. Remove from the oven and let sit for 10 minutes and then roughly chop or crumple into chunks.
    • Dressing- Mix together.

    2. Mix. Place all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix until combined.

    3. Serve immediately.

    Leftovers

    Make Ahead: Salad can be assembled, left undressed and stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 day in advance. Add the dressing just before serving.

    To Store: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.

    Close up shot of mixed berry spinach salad.

    Make it Your Own

    The beauty of salads is that you can easily add, change or omit ingredients as you see fit! Some suggestions:

    • Change up the Greens- Use kale, arugula, leaf lettuce or a combination instead of spinach.
    • Add Meat- Make it a meal by adding some protein such as a diced or shredded chicken breast or pulled pork.
    • Use Different Fruit- Blackberries, peaches, cherries, mango or pineapple would all be tasty!
    • Add Grains- To give the salad more substance, you could add 1-2 cups of cooked grains such as farro or quinoa. You may want to double the dressing.
    • Mix in Avocado- Dice one avocado into chunks and add with the rest of the ingredients.
    • Add Boiled Eggs- Hard boil 2-4 eggs and slice or cut into chunks and add them to the salad.
    • Include Bacon- Cook and chop 2-4 slices of bacon to add them to the salad or add ¼ cup of bacon bits.

    Serving Ideas

    Enjoy this salad as a side to:

    • Pulled Pork
    • Barbecued Burgers
    • Cajun Salmon
    • Easy Weeknight Turkey Spaghetti Sauce
    Bowl with salad and serving fork and spoon.

    Dietary Notes

    If you have dietary restrictions, check the packaging of specific ingredients that you use to ensure they are compliant. This recipe is:

    • Dairy Free- If you omit the cheese.
    • Gluten Free
    • Paleo- If you omit the cheese.
    • Vegetarian
    • Vegan- If you omit the cheese.

    And if you liked this recipe...

    ...you might also like:

    • Thai Peanut Salad
    • Avocado Spinach Smoothie
    • Santa Fe Salad
    • Frozen Strawberry Lemonade

    Berry Spinach Salad

    An extra tasty and easy way to add some greens to your meal. Fresh, crunchy, creamy and a touch sweet- it is salad perfection!
    5 from 16 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 206kcal

    Ingredients

    • 6 cups baby spinach washed
    • ¾ cup frozen berries thawed and chopped
    • 2 tablespoon red onion finely chopped
    • ½ cup toasted pecans chopped
    • 1 oz goat cheese crumbled

    Maple Balsamic Poppyseed Dressing

    • 2 tablespoon avocado oil
    • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
    • ½ tablespoon maple syrup
    • ½ teaspoon poppy seeds
    • ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
    • pinch black pepper
    (Prevent your screen from going dark)

    Instructions

    Make the dressing.

    • Whisk together the avocado oil, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, poppyseeds, sea salt and pepper.

    Mix the salad.

    • Add all of the ingredients to a bowl and mix.
    • Serve immediately.

    Notes

    Leftovers
    Leftover salad is best stored undressed, so only add dressing to the portion that you intend to eat. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 136mg | Potassium: 339mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 4313IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 2mg
    Did you make this recipe?Let me know what you thought in the comments below!

    More Salads!

    • Pineapple Pico de Gallo Salsa
    • Maple Balsamic Poppyseed Dressing
    • Santa Fe Salad
    • Santa Fe Ranch
    « Maple Balsamic Poppyseed Dressing
    Easy Weeknight Turkey Spaghetti Sauce »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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    1. Toni

      August 17, 2022 at 10:07 am

      5 stars
      Oh wow!! I love how easy and delicious this salad looks! Will definitely give it a try!

      Reply
      • Janessa

        August 17, 2022 at 11:06 am

        Thank you for your kind review, Toni!

        Reply
    2. Vicky

      August 17, 2022 at 10:10 am

      5 stars
      This makes a great light side or meal on a hot summer day. I will add some chicken for added protein. I'm loving all the fresh berries!

      Reply
      • Janessa

        August 17, 2022 at 11:07 am

        Thank you for your kind review, Vicky!

        Reply
    3. Cathleen

      August 17, 2022 at 10:20 am

      5 stars
      Wow, this salad is perfect for the summer! I am obsessed with making this! My in-laws are coming over for dinner tonight and I'm sure that it will be a hit!

      Reply
      • Janessa

        August 17, 2022 at 11:07 am

        I'm glad you enjoy this recipe, Cathleen!

        Reply
    4. Beth

      August 17, 2022 at 10:34 am

      5 stars
      I love the sweetness of the berries with the creaminess of the goat cheese in this salad. Yum!

      Reply
      • Janessa

        August 17, 2022 at 11:07 am

        I'm glad you enjoyed this salad, Beth!

        Reply
    5. Tayler

      August 17, 2022 at 11:14 am

      5 stars
      I'm always looking for new salads to try during summer, and this looks like the perfect one! Thanks so much for sharing!

      Reply
      • Janessa

        August 17, 2022 at 11:37 am

        Thank you for your kind review, Tayler!

        Reply
    6. Shelby

      August 22, 2022 at 10:33 am

      5 stars
      This is such a staple for me! So easy to whip up and I feel good knowing I've got some veggies in. My girls and I actually use frozen berries too and it's so refreshing!

      Reply
      • Janessa

        August 22, 2022 at 5:51 pm

        I'm glad you enjoy this recipe, Shelby!

        Reply
    7. Donny

      August 23, 2022 at 8:32 am

      5 stars
      OK, this recipe was blowing my mind because I never knew you could make a salad with frozen berries! I always have frozen berries on hand so I made this with blue cheese and it was so good!

      Reply
      • Janessa

        August 23, 2022 at 10:46 am

        I'm glad you enjoyed this salad, Donny! Thank you for your kind review.

        Reply
    8. ChihYu

      August 24, 2022 at 11:05 am

      5 stars
      This is the perfect summer salad! Juicy fruits, cool spinach and the delicious nuts and cheese! Love the variation suggestions!

      Reply
      • Janessa

        August 24, 2022 at 11:14 am

        Thank you for your kind review, ChihYu!

        Reply
    9. Stacey

      August 24, 2022 at 11:18 am

      5 stars
      Berries, goat cheese, and pecans will sell me on a salad every time! The maple balsamic dressing is also delish.

      Reply
      • Janessa

        August 24, 2022 at 12:11 pm

        Thank you for your kind review, Stacey!

        Reply
    10. jennifer

      August 29, 2022 at 4:55 am

      5 stars
      I make a berry salad frequently but never thought to use frozen berries THIS WAS GENIUS and I did love how the juices transformed into dressing.

      Reply
      • Janessa

        August 29, 2022 at 9:39 am

        I'm glad you enjoyed this recipe, Jennifer!

        Reply
    11. Megan

      August 29, 2022 at 7:47 am

      5 stars
      Such a delicious dressing, and this is so pretty. I like the salad with romaine lettuce, too!

      Reply
      • Janessa

        August 29, 2022 at 9:38 am

        Thank you for your kind review, Megan!

        Reply
    12. nancy

      August 30, 2022 at 11:03 am

      5 stars
      i love this easy mixed berry salad. the berries gives it a wonderful tart and sweet flavour and is super refreshing!

      Reply
      • Janessa

        August 30, 2022 at 12:25 pm

        I'm glad you enjoyed this recipe, Nancy!

        Reply

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    Janessa

    Hi, I'm Janessa and I'm passionate about sharing recipes that are made with wholesome ingredients, are quick and easy and most importantly, delicious!

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