This citrus berry spinach salad is loaded with ingredients like pistachios, cranberries, goat cheese, oranges and blackberries and it’s perfect for a summer salad!
I’ve mentioned before that I’m not a huge salad lover. My mom, on the other hand, loves salads and is always coming up with creative ones to go with dinner. We typically have a salad with dinner every night, whether it’s a homemade one or prepackaged and usually I let the bowl skip over me. I’m finicky about lettuce and really only like spinach salads. So if I’m ever in charge of the salad, it’s going to be a spinach salad.
A few months ago, a new soup, salad and panini style restaurant called Cafe Zupas opened down the street from us. We couldn’t wait to try it! At first, I was getting a combo of soup and sandwich, but as the weather has seriously heated up (hello 115 degrees this weekend!), I don’t have much of a desire to eat soups anymore.
This salad takes less than 10 minutes to make and the flavors are perfectly light and simple.
So I started browsing the menu for a salad I might like. My eyes grew wide as soon as I stumbled across this spinach salad that has all of my favorite ingredients: fruit, goat cheese, spinach and a light, sweet dressing! Really what sold me was the goat cheese.
Anything with goat cheese and I’m in! I never know if I’ll like a salad enough to order it again, but this one definitely had me coming back for more and more.
Citrus Berry Spinach Salad
Prep Time: 10 minutes- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Mixed
- Cuisine: American
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Pin RecipeDescription
This citrus berry spinach salad is loaded with ingredients like pistachios, cranberries, goat cheese, oranges and blackberries and it’s perfect for a summer salad!
Ingredients
For dressing
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- Juice from 1 orange
- Salt and pepper to taste
For salad
- 9 oz spinach
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup blackberries
- 1/2 cup goat cheese crumbles
- 1/2 cup chopped pistachios
- 1/2 cup canned mandarin oranges (no sugar added, drain juice)
Instructions
For dressing
- Measure red wine vinegar, olive oil, honey and orange juice into a salad dressing shaker. Add salt and pepper to taste. Shake to combine ingredients. Set aside.
For salad
- Combine ingredients in a large bowl. Gently toss with tongs to combine.
- Pour dressing over individual bowls of salad.
Notes
Use a shaker to combine salad dressing ingredients.
After ordering the salad a handful of times, I decided it was time to try to make it myself at home. Luckily this salad was so easy to replicate because it has simple, whole ingredients. If you like tangier dressings, you can easily add a bit more vinegar to make it a tangier dressing instead of sweet. I have really loved experimenting with salad dressings over the last few years of enjoying salads, so I always try to make simple vinaigrettes when I can. Once you’ve made them once, it’s really easy to substitute out the flavor (in this case orange) for something else that goes with your spinach salad.
This salad is just so light, I could literally eat a huge bowl of it myself. But if I have to share, I’m obsessed with this salad serving bowl right now! If you need an easy side salad to go with dinner this summer, this totally has to be it! It’s fruity, crunch, sweet and tangy, so it checks all of the boxes.
Are you a salad lover? What’s your favorite ingredient to add in?
Christine says
This sounds deliciously refreshing…and I love anything with pistachios!
Madison Wetherill says
They’re a new favorite of mine! I didn’t think I’d like them much, but I really enjoy the taste now.
Jocelyn (Grandbaby cakes) says
This is seriously one gorgeous gorgeous salad. I love all the colors.
Madison Wetherill says
Thank you! I totally agree. Colorful salads are always more delicious 🙂
Amy Stafford says
I love salads, try to make one for dinner every night, so I am always looking for delicious, easy ideas. Thank you, can’t wait to try this one.
Madison Wetherill says
You’re so welcome! I hope you enjoy it 🙂
Amanda | The Chunky Chef says
Salads are so perfect in the summer, and I love this spinach salad. Such great flavors!
Madison Wetherill says
Spinach salads are the best! At least in my opinion 😉
Meg @ With Salt and Wit says
I love the colors in this salad! It turned out great!
Madison Wetherill says
Thanks Meg! I love the summer colors, too!
Lori @ RecipeGirl says
I’m always on the hunt for new salad recipes- this looks like a good one. YUM!
Madison Wetherill says
Thanks Lori!
Amy Wolin says
I could hug you. My husband and I used to go to Zupas about once a week while we had a break during kids church night, but now he’s told me we need to get back on a budget. :(((( I’ve been craving this salad and am SO excited to try it homemade!
Madison Wetherill says
Ah, yay! I hope you make it at home and love it. I love making it at home because I can have as much as I want to 😉 Zupas is so good!
Lauren @ Hall Nesting says
This salad seriously has all of my favorite things!!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
What a gorgeous salad! Not just visually but I love the combination of ingredients in this!
Sam @ The Culinary Compass says
Oh I love this! What a perfect combo with the fruit, nuts, and goat cheese!
Madison Wetherill says
Thanks Sam!! It’s seriously my favorite. I love the chopped pistachios!
bethy says
From the pictures it looks like dried cranberries? The recipe doesn’t specify…and I’ve never heard of cafe zuppa so i have absolutely no reference
Madison Wetherill says
Yes! You’re correct. Dried cranberries 🙂 I will add that note in the ingredients. Thanks!
Bethy says
hey, thanks for a reply! I just got back from the store with my ingredients. It’s on the menu for this week!
Bethy says
Finally got around to making it. Super yummy! Thanks for the recipe.
★★★★★
Hayley Navey says
This salad is so delicious and all the flavors complimented so well. The dressing was my favorite part?we will definitely be making this salad again!
★★★★★