Winter Spinach Salad with Apples and Manchego Cheese

Manchego cheese

🥗Healthier: feta cheese

💰Cheaper: Parmesan cheese

Feta provides a tangy flavor with fewer calories.

walnuts

🥗Healthier: almonds

💰Cheaper: sunflower seeds

Almonds are lower in calories, while sunflower seeds are budget-friendly.

Measure out 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil and add to a bowl.

Add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to the bowl.

Squeeze in 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice from a lemon.

Add 1/2 tablespoon of dijon mustard and 1 tablespoon of agave syrup.

Finely shred 1 clove of garlic into the bowl.

Lightly season with sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper, then whisk together until well combined.

Cover with seran wrap and set aside.

Add 2 handfuls of fresh spinach to a large shallow bowl.

Remove 2 outer layers from 1/2 of a red onion, thinly slice it, and add on top of the spinach.

Cut around the core of 1 red delicious apple, discard the core, and cut the apple into 1/2 inch pieces. Squeeze in some fresh lemon juice to prevent browning and toss together before adding to the bowl on top of the onions.

Remove the rind from a 7 oz block of Manchego cheese, cut half into 1/2 inch thick slices, then cut each slice into 1/2 thick pieces and cut each piece in half. Add the cheese pieces on top of the apples.

Finely dice 3 pitted dates and sprinkle them over the salad.

Break apart about 10 walnuts and sprinkle them over the salad.

Season everything with sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper.

Top off the salad with the apple cider vinaigrette.

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens