I know y’all are getting tired of hearing about my trip to Hawaii, but I came back with a long list of dishes to recreate. It’s funny how being out of the kitchen for a few days really helped me to come back feeling inspired. Sometimes it’s easy for me to get in a rut and I find myself cooking the same old things over and over. This salad is so easy that the salad part really doesn’t need a “recipe” per se, and if you wanted to really cheat you could even use store-bought dressing. But I think it’s worth the extra 2 minutes it takes to make your own dressing – it’s delicious and low-fat! Spinach + goat cheese + macadamia nuts + balsamic vinaigrette = amazing! All the ingredients on their own are good, but when they come together something magical happens =). This is the perfect recipe for a weeknight dinner or even lunch. Enjoy!
Mauna Loa Spinach Salad with Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette
4 cups baby spinach
2 oz goat cheese
1/4 cup chopped macadamia nuts
grilled shrimp (optional)
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup plain fat-free greek yogurt
1 tbsp dijon mustard
1 tsp honey or agave
dash of salt
dash of pepper
1. In small bowl, combine vinegar, olive oil, yogurt, mustard, honey, salt, and pepper and whisk to combine.
2. Place spinach, cheese, shrimp, and nuts in large bowl. Toss with dressing a few tablespoons at a time, depending on how much dressing you like on your salads. You will not use all the dressing.
Serves 2.
