food
Recipe: Spinach, Strawberry, and Walnut Salad
May is Strawberry Month! Strawberries are the most popular berries in the United States and when they are at their peak of flavor and freshness, an all-star food that packs plenty of good nutrition. This month is also National Salad Month and spinach is a tender green with health benefits that make a good salad great.
Combining the best of flavors and freshness is this sensational Spinach, Strawberry and Walnut Salad. With just five ingredients, this salad is easy enough for the kids to make for Mother’s Day.
Gorgonzola is recommended, although I’ve used blue cheese or Stilton cheese with great results too. I recently read to my boys The Mysterious Cheese Thief, a fun book in the Geronimo Stilton series that shares the history of Stilton cheese, so enjoying this salad on Mother’s Day will be especially poignant in our home.
If you are lucky enough to have leftover strawberries, try making Club Sandwich Cakes or a Strawberry Trifle for for dessert.
Spinach, Strawberry and Walnut Salad with Raspberry Balsamic Vinaigrette
4 servings
Ingredients
Salad
8 cups (handfuls) fresh spinach
4 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
32 walnut halves, rough chopped
4 ounces gorgonzola, crumbled
1 red onion, thinly sliced
Raspberry Balsamic Vinaigrette
Two-thirds cup raspberry balsamic vinegar
4 tablespoons olive oil
Pinch onion powder, salt and pepper
2 teaspoons strawberry preserves
2 teaspoons honey dijon mustard
Preparation
Salad—Layer each ingredient on four large salad plates. Serve with Raspberry Balsamic Vinaigrette
Raspberry Balsamic Vinaigrette—Combine ingredients in a jar or tightly sealed container. Shake vigorously until well combined. (Serves about 8-10)
Cook's Notes
Nutrient info includes dressing, which adds 60 calories, 5 grams of fat and 45 milligrams of sodium per serving.
Add less dressing and walnuts or used reduced-fat cheese to reduce the calories and fat in this recipe.
Nutrient Information: Calories: 358, Total Fat: 26, Saturated Fat: 6, Sodium: 402, Calcium: 248
Recipe at www.HealthyEating.org/ from Aggie’s Kitchen, inspired and adapted from MommysKitchen.net Photo courtesy of Aggie Goodman.
How does your family like to eat strawberries?
Trina Robertson, MS, RD is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition. As a HealthyEating.org Mom she shares her positive approach to healthy eating with the goal of inspiring others to prepare and enjoy foods from all the food groups. As a Project Manager with the Dairy Council of California, Trina develops, evaluates and promotes nutrition education materials for students and adults. At home she enjoys cooking and sharing meals with her family. Her most rewarding accomplishment is that her boys are good eaters and are learning to cook. Follow Trina on Twitter@TrinaR_RD and find more Healthy Eating ideas on Facebook.
Trina Robertson
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