Cranberry Spinach Salad with Avocado
There is one special restaurant my husband and I try to get to once a year. And when we do, we definitely order: Cranberry and Walnut Greens. The ingredients include baby greens, sun dried cranberries, spicy walnuts, balsamic vinaigrette and amablu cheese. Amablu cheese is a local creation. It is the first blue cheese made and marketed nationally here in America – and it’s cave-aged!
But the star of that salad is the cranberry. And did you know all these fun facts about the little cranberry?
• Scientists have shown that flavonoids give fruits, like cranberries, and vegetables most of their antioxidant properties and that a flavonoid-rich diet may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease?
• Drinking 8–16 oz. of 27% original, low- or no-calorie cranberry juice cocktail each day is recommended to maintain urinary tract health and prevent urinary tract infections?
• Dried cranberries are a good source of fiber?
• ¼ cup dried cranberries is a serving and equal to ½ cup of fresh fruit?
Here are some fun salad combinations that include cranberries. A must-have ingredient for any summer salad.
• Dried cranberries, garbanzo beans and carrots
• Dried cranberries, orange slices and chopped broccoli
• Dried cranberries, cucumbers and feta cheese
• Dried cranberries, green peppers and black beans
• Dried cranberries, black beans and corn kernels
• Dried cranberries, chopped pears and celery
And thank you the The Cranberry Institute for a few of the ingredients in this recipe along with the fun facts!
Cranberry Spinach Salad with Avocado
Ingredients
Dressing Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp. cranberry juice
- 2 Tbsp. dried cranberries
- 2 Tbsp. white wine vinegar or rice vinegar
- 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
- 6 Tbsp. canola oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Salad Ingredients
- 3 1/3 cups fresh spinach leaves
- 1 small head of frisée lettuce
- 1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Place cranberry juice and dried cranberries in a small pot and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Stir in vinegar and Dijon mustard. Gradually whisk in canola oil so the mixture becomes a dressing. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Rinse spinach and frisée; spin dry. Remove thick stems and cut larger leaves into bite-size pieces. Add avocado and onion slices.
- Gently toss salad ingredients with the dressing and serve.
Beautiful pictures, Jen! I could dive right in!
Thanks Betsy! Trying my best! A great summer salad with grilled pizza.
[…] You can even try them in this Cranberry Spinach Salad with Avocado! […]