Why Should You Make It?
If you consider the fact that most of us eat with our eyes, you will not go wrong with if you included this blueberry summer salad as a part of your summer cooking spread. But there is more to love because it is:
Packed with superfoods: My husband refers to this salad as “Blueberry Spinach Power Salad” as it is packed with superfoods like spinach, blueberries, onions, and pecans. If you are fan of Dr. Oz, you know he refers to blueberries as brain berries.
Quick & easy to make: All you need is 15 minutes to make this salad from start to finish. It is so easy that it is great for even beginner cooks.
Easy to customize I made my blueberry salad with feta and spinach, but you can play with the choice of greens and cheese and use peppery arugula and blue cheese instead. I made sure to include other creative variations below to help you make this delicious salad your own with what you have in your fridge.
Serve it as a side salad or a light main course: You can serve this simple salad as a side dish with all your grilled meats and vegetables or by itself as a light but filling lunch.
Blueberry Salad with Spinach and Feta
Ingredients
For The Salad Dressing:
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 clove of garlic, peeled and minced
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
For The Blueberry Spinach Salad:
- 6 cups baby spinach, washed and spin-dried
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1 ½ cups blueberries
- ½ cup strawberries or raspberries, washed and hulled
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ½ cup pecans or almonds, lightly roasted
Instructions
- To make the blueberry salad dressing: Place all ingredients in a mason jar, put the lid and give it a good shake.
- To Make the salad: Place baby spinach, red onion, blueberries, strawberries (or raspberries), feta, and pecans in a large bowl. Drizzle it with the dressing. Give it a gentle toss.
- Taste for seasoning and add in if necessary. Serve.
Notes
- As in most recipes that use feta cheese as a garnish, I recommend tasting the saltiness of the cheese before adding salt into the dressing. You can then adjust the amount accordingly.
- If you have in on hand, a splash of raspberry vinaigrette (approximately 1 tablespoon) takes this salad to the next level.
- I highly recommend spending a few extra minutes to toast pecans before adding them into the salad. Doing so adds another layer of earthy flavor to the overall recipe. Also, you can swap pecans with other nuts like sliced almonds, walnuts, or even hazelnuts.
- To Make Ahead: You can make this blueberry spinach salad a day before. To do so, prepare the salad ingredients and dressing and store them in separate airtight containers. Drizzle the salad with the dressing right before serving. Give it a toss and serve.
- To Store leftovers: Place the leftovers in an airtight container and store in the fridge up to 2 days.