Eliot's Eats

A life well read and well fed

Spinach Salad with Apples and Orange Zest

Last week, I came across a fabulous looking salad at Sydney’s Kitchen.   It was beautiful—spinach, watermelon, orange-glazed chicken, feta, oranges, fresh berries.   This was Sydney’s  Warm Chicken Salad.      Delicious sounding, isn’t it?

The dressing for this salad sounded wonderful, too.    I didn’t have any chicken, fresh berries, feta, or watermelon, but I did have spinach and an apple that needed using.     Thanks to Sydney’s wonderful dressing, we were able to throw together a decent lunch.

We love oranges!

Honey-Orange Vinaigrette
from Sydney’s Kitchen (adapted a tiny, tiny bit)

4 T. fresh squeezed orange juice
1 T.  orange zest   (Reserve a bit of zest to top the salads.)
2 T.  grainy mustard (I used Gulden’s spicy brown mustard.)
2 T. balsamic vinegar (I used a fig balsamic vinegar for some extra fruitiness.)
2 tablespoons honey
dash of fresh ground pepper

Place all ingredients in a blender and pulse until emulsified.

This is a wonderful dressing and I can imagine it is a great marinade!

 

For salad:

2 “big handfuls” of spinach
1 Jonagold apple, cored and sliced
orange zest

Assemble salads and place a bit of orange zest on top.   Drizzle with Sydney’s fantastic dressing.

Simple. Beautiful. Delicious.

Bon appetit! 

 

Thanks to CJ at Food Stories  for another Versatile Blogger award.   I am more than honored!   If you want to know “Seven Crazy Things About Me,” click here.   I will post an update and pass this award on soon.

 

Happy, happy weekend!

Comments & Replies

21 responses to “Spinach Salad with Apples and Orange Zest”

  1. Tina@flourtrader Avatar

    Spinach with fruit is my favorite kind of salad-yum! Also, the vinaigrette looks to be a great way to tie all those tasty ingredients together. We try to have at least one big dinner salad a week.
    Congrats on your award!

    1. Eliot Avatar
      Eliot

      That dressing is fabulous! Thanks for the comment. Hope you check out the entire chicken salad at Sydney’s.

  2. Katerina Avatar

    Spinach pairs perfectly with fruits and especially with orange. This vinaigrette is ideal for this type of salad and I ams ure it tasted great!

    1. Eliot Avatar
      Eliot

      Love me some fruit in salad (especially a spinach salad). 🙂

  3. Choc Chip Uru Avatar

    I would happily eat spinach raw in this salad – fruits is always a great combo with it 😀
    Yum!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

  4. CJ at Food Stories Avatar

    I always love it when things work out and you get to use up what’s in the kitchen. Congrats on the award … I loved reading about your fondness with Rick Springfield and Adam Ant.

    1. Eliot Avatar
      Eliot

      Like I said, I was a conflicted youth! 🙂

  5. Cucina49 Avatar

    I love mustard vinaigrettes–but combining the mustard and vinegar with orange juice is a new one. Making salads is such a perfect way to use the random ingredients in the fridge.

    1. Eliot Avatar
      Eliot

      And, I really love the zest in this as well!

  6. Jen @ Juanita's Cocina Avatar

    I am on SUCH a salad kick. Just had one for lunch! And I’m always on the hunt for new dressings! YUM! Thanks for sharing this one. Now I can get my green fix!

    1. Eliot Avatar
      Eliot

      Get that green fix on, girl!

  7. Jenn and Seth (@HomeSkilletCook) Avatar

    this is a beautiful salad! such great flavors here!

  8. Veronica Avatar

    The dressing does sound delish! I’m typically not a fan of fruit in leafy salads but this sounds wonderful.

    1. Eliot Avatar
      Eliot

      Thanks! I love some crunchy fruit on a salad.

  9. The Café Sucré Farien Avatar

    Both of your salads sound delish – you did an awesome job of adapting. That’s what I love about cooking, each artist can create a totally unique and delicious finished product!

    1. Eliot Avatar
      Eliot

      Seriously, if you like this salad, please check out Sydney’s. I can’t wait to make hers verbatim!

  10. Angie@Angie's Recipes Avatar

    My baby spinach leaves are ready to harvest! The salad looks so fresh and tasty.

    1. Eliot Avatar
      Eliot

      Wow! I wish I had some baby spinach leaves from the garden. I need to go resow some!

  11. Rhonda Avatar

    Citrus makes a salad taste so fresh, perfect for the warm days.

  12. cindy Avatar

    What a delicious fresh salad. Perfect for summer or anytime for that matter!

  13. Lauren @Part Time House Wife Avatar

    I love a good salad with a great dressing! I love orange juice in a vinnegrette as well! Yummy