Harvest Delight: The Ultimate Spinach Salad with Apples, Walnuts, and Goat Cheese

Spinach Salad with Apples, Walnuts, and Goat Cheese is a quintessential fall salad, masterfully blending the crisp sweetness of apples, the satisfying crunch of walnuts, and the creamy tang of goat cheese, all nestled on a bed of fresh spinach and crowned with a vibrant lemony vinaigrette dressing. This recipe promises a refreshing and flavorful experience, perfect for any meal.

Salads are a constant feature at my dinner table, making an appearance at almost every meal. While this means a lot of salads, it also means they can become mundane quickly if not varied. To keep things exciting, I constantly seek to mix up ingredients and flavors, creating a wide variety of salads that suit my mood and perfectly complement the main course we’re enjoying. The arrival of fall brings with it an abundance of crisp, delicious apples at farmers’ markets and grocery stores, and it was this seasonal bounty that truly inspired the creation of this delightful Spinach Salad with Apples, Walnuts, and Goat Cheese. It’s a celebration of autumn flavors, bringing together textures and tastes that are both comforting and invigorating.

One of my golden rules when preparing salads is to craft my own dressing. There’s an undeniable freshness and vibrancy that comes from a homemade vinaigrette or creamy dressing, a quality that store-bought options often struggle to match. Beyond the superior taste, making your own dressing gives you complete control over the ingredients, allowing you to avoid unwanted additives, excessive sugar, or unhealthy oils. Recently, I had the pleasure of trying a bottle of Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil. I immediately thought, what better way to truly test the character and quality of an olive oil than to feature it in a simple, yet elegant salad dressing? A well-made dressing, especially a vinaigrette, can truly showcase the subtle notes and robust flavors of an olive oil, offering a clear indication of its quality and whether it aligns with your taste preferences. This particular spinach salad, with its straightforward yet powerful flavors, provided the perfect canvas.

The Heart of the Salad: Quality Ingredients

This salad thrives on the freshness and quality of its components. Each ingredient plays a crucial role in creating a balanced and delightful culinary experience.

Fresh Spinach: The Nutritious Base

Spinach serves as the vibrant, nutrient-rich foundation for this salad. Its mild, slightly earthy flavor provides an excellent counterpoint to the sweeter and tangier elements. Look for dark green leaves that are crisp and free from wilting or yellowing. Spinach is packed with vitamins K, A, and C, as well as iron and antioxidants, making it a powerful superfood. Thoroughly wash your spinach, even if pre-washed, to ensure it’s free from any grit, and dry it completely before assembling the salad to prevent a watery dressing.

Crisp Apples: A Burst of Seasonal Sweetness

Fall apples are the star here. Their crisp texture and sweet-tart flavor are essential for this salad’s appeal. Varieties like Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, or Granny Smith work wonderfully. Honeycrisp offers a delightful crunch and balanced sweetness, while Granny Smith provides a more assertive tartness that beautifully cuts through the richness of the goat cheese. Slice the apples thinly or into small wedges just before serving to maintain their crispness and prevent browning. A quick toss in a little lemon juice can also help preserve their fresh appearance if preparing ahead of time.

Toasted Walnuts: The Crunchy Counterpart

Walnuts add a vital layer of texture and a rich, earthy flavor to the salad. Toasting the walnuts briefly in a dry pan or a microwave enhances their natural nuttiness and makes them even more fragrant and crunchy. They are also a fantastic source of omega-3 fatty acids, making this salad not just delicious but incredibly wholesome. If walnuts aren’t your preference, pecans or even candied pecans would make an excellent substitute, adding a different dimension of flavor.

Creamy Goat Cheese: The Tangy Indulgence

Goat cheese crumbles introduce a creamy texture and a delightful tangy, slightly pungent flavor that elevates the entire salad. Its soft, crumbly nature allows it to melt ever so slightly into the dressing and coat the other ingredients, binding the flavors together. Choose a fresh goat cheese log and crumble it yourself for the best texture. If goat cheese isn’t available or preferred, feta cheese or a mild blue cheese could offer a similar salty-tangy profile, though with a different flavor intensity.

Crafting the Perfect Lemon Vinaigrette

The homemade lemon vinaigrette is what truly ties this Spinach Salad together. Its bright, zesty notes cut through the richness of the cheese and nuts, while harmonizing with the sweetness of the apples.

I genuinely enjoyed using the Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil in this recipe. Its light yet robust flavor profile was perfect for creating a bright and zesty lemon vinaigrette. After a little research, I learned that Pompeian Olive Oils have a rich history, originating in Tuscany and becoming America’s very first national brand of imported extra virgin olive oil. On a delightful side note: I once had the incredible opportunity to do an olive oil tasting in Tuscany, and the quality and flavor of Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil truly reminded me of those exquisite oils I savored there. Italy, fine wine, and exceptional olive oil tasting – it honestly doesn’t get much better than that!

What truly impressed me about Pompeian Olive Oils is their commitment to quality, highlighted by their USDA Quality Monitored status. This designation means their products undergo rigorous USDA product testing and a thorough review of their production processes. Companies participating in this program must meet meticulous criteria. Once enrolled in the Quality Monitoring Program for olive oil, companies agree to allow the USDA to conduct unannounced visits to review and inspect quality assurance records, test product samples, and verify labels on an ongoing basis. This level of oversight is fantastic to see and demonstrates a genuine dedication to product integrity and the high-quality olive oil they produce for consumers. It’s reassuring to know that the olive oil you’re using meets such stringent standards.

Homemade Dressing: A Superior Choice

Opting for a homemade dressing like this lemon vinaigrette offers numerous advantages. You control the exact balance of flavors, adjusting the acidity, sweetness, and saltiness to your personal preference. More importantly, you avoid the artificial preservatives, high-fructose corn syrup, and unhealthy fats often found in commercial dressings. Fresh lemon juice provides natural brightness, while a good quality extra virgin olive oil forms the healthy, flavorful base. A touch of Dijon mustard can act as an emulsifier, helping the oil and vinegar stay combined, and a hint of maple syrup or honey can balance the tartness.

Assembling Your Harvest Delight

Putting together this spinach salad is straightforward, allowing the quality of the ingredients to shine.

1. Prepare the Vinaigrette: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, a teaspoon of Dijon mustard, a pinch of salt, and freshly ground black pepper. You can add a tiny bit of honey or maple syrup if you prefer a sweeter dressing. Whisk until emulsified.
2. Toast Walnuts (Optional but Recommended): Lightly toast the walnuts in a dry pan over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fragrant. Let them cool slightly.
3. Prepare Produce: Wash and thoroughly dry the spinach. Thinly slice the apples.
4. Combine: In a large salad bowl, gently combine the spinach, sliced apples, and toasted walnuts.
5. Dress and Serve: Drizzle the lemon vinaigrette over the salad. Toss gently to ensure all ingredients are lightly coated. Finally, crumble the goat cheese over the top just before serving.

Tips for Variations and Perfect Pairings

This Spinach Salad with Apples, Walnuts, and Goat Cheese is wonderfully versatile. Don’t hesitate to experiment with additions and substitutions to suit your taste or what you have on hand.

• Add Dried Fruits: Dried cranberries, cherries, or even golden raisins can add an extra layer of sweetness and chewiness.
• Different Nuts: Pecans, candied pecans, or even toasted slivered almonds can be used instead of walnuts for a different flavor profile.
• Other Cheeses: Crumbled feta, blue cheese, or even shaved Parmesan can replace goat cheese, each offering a distinct taste.
• Boost Protein: Grilled chicken, salmon, or a hard-boiled egg can transform this salad into a complete meal.
• Seasonal Adjustments: In late fall, sliced pears can be a beautiful and delicious substitute for apples.

This salad pairs beautifully with a variety of main courses. Its refreshing nature makes it an excellent accompaniment to roasted chicken or turkey, grilled fish, or even a light pasta dish. It’s also substantial enough to be a light lunch on its own.

Now, on to that yummy Spinach Salad with Apples, Walnuts, and Goat Cheese – a true embodiment of fall flavors and healthy eating.

This recipe has been thoughtfully adapted from Real Simple, a trusted source for home cooking inspiration.

If you’re interested in learning more about Pompeian products and their commitment to quality, you can find additional information and even a coupon for $1 off by clicking here. Additionally, to stay updated with their latest offerings and engage with their community, you can click here to like Pompeian on Facebook. For a chance to win $200 and provide your valuable feedback, you can click here to participate in their survey!

Disclosure: I received free product from Pompeian in order to write this review. As always, all opinions expressed are my own and reflect my genuine experience with the product.

Julia