Green Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette
Elevate your salad game with this vibrant and flavorful Green Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette! Bursting with color and texture, this dish combines crisp mixed salad greens, chewy dried cranberries, crunchy toasted almonds, tangy crumbled goat cheese, and the subtle sharpness of thinly sliced red onion. The star of the show is the homemade cranberry vinaigrette, crafted from fresh cranberries, sweet honey, zesty apple cider vinegar, and a touch of Dijon mustard for a perfectly balanced dressing. Quick and easy to prepare in just 20 minutes, this refreshing salad is an ideal choice for holiday gatherings, light lunches, or a stunning side dish. Packed with seasonal flavors and wholesome ingredients, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser you’ll make time and time again.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 6 cups mixed salad greens (spring mix or baby spinach)
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup sliced almonds, toasted
- 1 cup crumbled goat cheese
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup fresh cranberries (for vinaigrette)
- 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 0.5 teaspoons salt
- 0.25 teaspoons black pepper
Instructions
Prepare the cranberry vinaigrette: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine 1 cup of fresh cranberries and 2 tablespoons of water. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries soften and burst.
Remove the cranberry mixture from the heat and allow it to cool slightly.
In a blender or food processor, combine the cooked cranberries, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper. Blend until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Set the vinaigrette aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the mixed salad greens, dried cranberries, toasted sliced almonds, thinly sliced red onion, and crumbled goat cheese.
Drizzle the prepared cranberry vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to coat all the ingredients evenly.
Transfer the salad to a serving bowl or individual plates. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
4031 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 337.0 g | 432% | |
| Saturated Fat | 70.2 g | 351% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 137 mg | 46% | |
| Sodium | 2538 mg | 110% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 209.2 g | 76% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 35.6 g | 127% | |
| Total Sugars | 146.1 g | ||
| Protein | 72.7 g | 145% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 819 mg | 63% | |
| Iron | 10.1 mg | 56% | |
| Potassium | 2025 mg | 43% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
