Summer is a great time to load up your plate with freshly picked fruits and vegetables. Summer is also a great time (especially with this heat & humidity we’ve been having) to cool off with delicious homemade fruit filled desserts and creamy ice cream. To help keep things balanced, I try to eat a salad everyday for lunch. Sometimes salads can get boring, so I love coming up with tasty combinations that keep me coming back for more, just like this yummy Blueberry, Almond & Goat Cheese Spinach Salad.
A few generous handfuls of fresh baby spinach are layered with plump, juicy blueberries, creamy goat cheese and crunchy slivered almonds for a simple salad that’s delicious and makes you feel good. This salad is really refreshing and completely satisfying for lunch or a simple dinner. To be honest, after a long day of working in my garden, I’ve even had this salad for a snack. There’s just something about those sweet berries, salty cheese and nutty flavor that goes great with those fresh greens. I think it’s perfect with a little drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, but it’s nice with your favorite vinaigrette dressing too.
If I don’t have fresh spinach from the garden, it’s always nice to stock up on it when you go to the grocery store. It’s great to have on hand to add to smoothies, soups and of course to use in your summer salads to get in your daily dose of veggies. At our house it’s okay to have dessert as long as you’ve gotten in your fruits and vegetables first. Sounds good, right?
If you’re having a hard time getting your 5 a day, this salad can also be made ahead of time on the weekend for lunches during the week. This way you can just grab it and go with absolutely no excuses as to why you didn’t get some of those great vitamins and minerals into your meals. Having family over for a cookout? Make a big bowl of this salad and serve it as a side. Take advantage of those fresh summer flavors while they are here! I know I’m going to miss them in a few months.
Enjoy!
Ingredients
- Fresh Baby Spinach
- Fresh Blueberries
- Goat Cheese (they make great sun dried tomato varieties too -Yum!)
- Slivered Almonds
- Good Extra Virgin Olive Oil or your favorite vinaigrette dressing
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients except for the oil or dressing and gently toss.
- If making ahead, store in covered container(s) in the refrigerator.
- Drizzle with olive oil or vinaigrette when ready to serve.
- Enjoy!
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*Linking up at The SITS Girls, Miz Helen’s Country Cottage, Home Stories A to Z, Foodie Friends Friday
We will just love this delicious salad, I would love to have it right now. Hope you are having a wonderful day and thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with Full Plate Thursday!
Miz Helen
Miz Helen recently posted…Spicy Honey Lime Chicken
Thank you Miz Helen- fresh & simple are my favorite meals:)
Beautiful photos and I just adore the combination and the simplicity. It just screams summer!! Saying hi from SITS sharefest and pinning/tweeting/FBing
Thanks so much Beth! It’s definitely a refreshing summer salad. I love that it only takes about 2 minutes to make! 🙂
So healthy and delicious. I will be pinning! Linking up from SITS>
aimee fauci recently posted…5 Must Do Attractions at Epcot
Thanks so much Aimee! Enjoy your day! 🙂