This healthy, vibrant, flavourful Mediterranean Inspired Spinach Salad is easy to make with a simple Greek salad dressing that doubles up as either a main dish or side salad.
The fresh local ingredients gives this salad it’s freshness and a bountiful of deliciousness. It covers every food group, including healthy fats. The tasty salad dressing has the richness of extra virgin olive oil, freshness of lemon, and a pungent garlic flavour with a hint of oregano and basil. All so nutritious and flavourful to enjoy!
Helpful Tips:
- Greens: I love the fresh organic spinach that is available either at your local markets or superstore when making this salad. Other greens you could use for this salad are arugula, kale or romaine.
- Veggies: I decided to use what I had in my refrigerator and that spoke Mediterranean. I decided to cut them that would not only present well, but is easy for eating.
- Chicken: I like to use hormone and antibiotic free chicken. I decided to add the grilled chicken as I made this salad for a lunch. Again, you preference as to whether you want to add chicken to this salad.
- Greek Dressing: This simple Greek Vinaigrette salad dressing requires ingredients directly from your own pantry that includes extra virgin olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, garlic, dried oregano, basil, salt and pepper, and fresh lemon juice found in your refrigerator.
- Suggestion: Make salad dressing ahead of time, and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 hours before using.
Mediterranean Inspired Spinach Salad
Ingredients
Salad:
- 2 organic grilled/roasted chicken breasts, sliced or cubed
- 4 cups organic spinach, washed and dried
- 1 avocado, chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup heirloom cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1 cup broccoli, cut into bite size pieces
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley/dill, roughly chopped
Dressing:
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- pinch salt and pepper
Instructions
- Grill or roast chicken breasts for about 20 minutes or until fully cooked, then cover and set aside and once cooler, then cut the chicken into bite size pieces.
- Combine the red pepper, cucumber, red onion, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli in a medium to large bowl.
- In a small bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients together and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 hours. Pour the dressing over the salad and gently combine. Lay avocado, walnuts and parsley/dill on top of the salad before serving.
- Serve immediately. Store the dressing in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes
Nutrition
To start: By gathering ingredients and chopping and dicing to your preference. I decide to cube the avocado, and I cut the broccoli into smaller pieces. Combine the ingredients for the dressing and refrigerator for at least 3 hours to allow the flavours to release. Whisk well before pouring over the salad. This classic delicious dressing is one that speaks Mediterranean and adds a fresh garlic flavour with the oregano and basil herbs to this nutritious salad.
I have noticed over the years, there are those who prefer to pour their own salad dressing on their salad and there those who add the dressing to the salad before serving. I would recommend to add the dressing to the salad before serving, and that allows you to control the amount and toss evenly throughout the salad.
A delicious vibrant super healthy salad that anyone would enjoy and fuel you body with goodness!
This gorgeous scrumptious salad would impress any dinner or lunch guest with all of it’s flavours, texture, and healthy variety of rich ingredients.
