Spinach is not just for Popeye! Spinach has great health benefits and makes a wonderful salad, but spinach salad can use a little help to taste good! Keep reading to learn how to make spinach salad taste good.
Spinach salad is a great way to get you folate. It’s the perfect vehicle for spinach and other vegetables, but spinach salad can be a little one-note. Luckily there are lots of great ways to make spinach salad sing!
What is Spinach Salad?
By the most basic definition, spinach salad is simply a salad or medley of greens that features spinach. Many variations in preparation exist, but the main piece always stays the same, spinach!
Spinach is a very popular green for a reason. It is chock full of vitamins and nutrients, and it has an earthy and leafy taste without being too overpowering. These characteristics make spinach a great base for a fresh salad.
Certain variations of spinach salad include other greens, like romaine and/or arugula. Some chefs will include cherry tomatoes or other fruits and veggies. The basic formula for a spinach salad is spinach, dressing, add-ins, and crunch. This formula makes it easy for you to try different flavor combinations and make spinach salad your way!
How to Prepare Spinach Salad
Believe it or not, cooked spinach has more nutrients than raw, so it is always a good idea to cook your spinach. The blanch and shock technique is the secret to cooking spinach that still looks raw.
Blanch and Shock
The blanch and shock is a cooking trick used to cook greens while preserving their crunch and color. To use this technique, boil lightly salted water, then drop the spinach in. Allow the spinach to boil for 30 seconds, then move it to a bowl of ice water. Now the spinach is ready for salad!
Toss it Together
Once the spinach is blanched, it’s ready to become a salad. Toss your spinach, dressing, and add-ins together in a large bowl. Voila, spinach salad!
How to Make Spinach Salad Taste Good
Spinach salad is a great way to get everyone to eat their vegetables; it just needs a little taste boost! Use these great taste tricks to help your family fall in love with spinach salad.
Crunch it Up
One small problem with spinach salad is the texture. It can be kind of one-note, but that’s easy to fix with some crunch! Toss in wonton strips, croutons, or tortilla strips. Choose a crunchy item that works with the rest of your elements for flavor and texture that work together to make a tasty spinach salad!
Add Bacon
Bacon bits are the unsung hero of any salad. These tasty morsels add so much salt and rich fat to the top of a fresh spinach salad. Bacon bits can be found in stores or online everywhere, but nothing beats fresh bacon bits if you have the time. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and a wire rack. Lay bacon on the rack in a single layer and bake at 350°F until the bacon is crispy and ready to crumble on top of your spinach.
Get Nutty
Nuts are the perfect addition to bring crunch and a little savory bite to your spinach salad. Walnuts are a natural choice, but almonds and even peanuts go well with spinach. Be sure to lightly toast any raw nuts before adding them to your recipes.
Dress Things Up
A little dressing goes a long way with the spinach salad. Tossing the spinach in your favorite dressing adds interest and flavor to the salad. Olive oil-based dressings work very well with the spinach’s natural, earthy flavor. Red wine vinaigrette is the perfect choice for a bring and tangy bite!
Add Eggs
There is something so lovely about a finished spinach salad topped with hard-boiled eggs. It is eye-catching, and the eggs add extra flavor and fat to the salad. Simply slice a hard-boiled egg in half and garnish the finished salad with the halves. You will be so happy with the texture and interest added from just an egg!
Get Fruity
Believe it or not, fruit goes really well in a spinach salad. Tossing a few strawberries in with the spinach adds color, texture, and sweetness. Berries are a great choice for spinach, but a few apple slices work perfectly to add some crunch!
Keep it Seasonal
Use what is available. If tomatoes are in season, go with them; if it’s time for the summer berry harvest, toss in some berries; just be sure to choose fresh seasonal produce. Selecting foods that are in season ensures that you get the freshest possible fruits and vegetables and also helps to support local farmers and sellers. It tastes good to eat farm-fresh!
Why Eat Spinach Salad?
Spinach is rich in many great vitamins and nutrients, like folate, magnesium, vitamin A, and calcium. Some leafy greens don’t have a lot of flavor on their own, but spinach has a nice leafiness that blends well with other vegetables and add-ins. Spinach salad is an all-around great side dish to give you your daily dose of vegetables.
Final Thoughts
Not everyone can eat whole cans of spinach like Popeye but don’t be discouraged if spinach on its own isn’t your favorite. This guide will help with great insight into how to prepare a spinach salad that tastes good! The basic elements are spinach, dressing, fun additions, and something crunchy, so once you’ve got that down, you can get really creative to make a spinach salad that truly tastes good!
Additional Kitchen Resources
Trying new things in the kitchen can be so rewarding; learn more cooking tricks with these helpful articles!
