Curried Spinach Salad
Yield: 6-8 servings
Cook Time: None.
Tips: Raisins may be substituted for or combined with the dried cranberries, if desired. Fuji and Gala apples are recommended because of their texture, flavor and pretty color, though any type of edible apple can be used.
Suggestion: Delicious with a side of bread.
When it comes to making a fabulous tasting spinach salad, it really all comes down to the combination of ingredients used and the spinach salad dressing tossed with the salad. Spinach is a wonderful leafy green, because not only is it packed with nutrition, the leaves are tender and rich in color, and can be combined with an endless variety of delicious and colorful ingredients!
This Curried Spinach Salad features fresh spinach leaves combined with apple chunks, sliced green onion, dry roasted peanuts, dried cranberries and sesame seeds. These colorful ingredients are tossed with a tangy and very tasty homemade spinach salad dressing made with oil, white wine vinegar, curry powder, chutney, dry mustard, a little sugar and a dash of hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco). The homemade spinach salad dressing has the perfect element of tanginess that counters the sweetness of the apple chunks and dried cranberries. You
can easily adjust the dressing to your own personal taste, however, simply by adding a small amount of sugar (about 1/4 teaspoon at a time, as a little goes a long way) or by spicing it up with a a couple extra dashes of hot pepper sauce. Just be sure to do a little taste test before tossing it with your salad.
Fuji or Gala apples work beautifully with this spinach salad recipe, not only because of their flavor, juiciness and crunch, but the skin of these apples is very colorful, which gives this spinach salad a very pretty presentation. Dried cranberries taste fabulous with this spinach salad and have a delightful chewy texture and an attractive dark red color. However, if you prefer to use raisins or have difficulty finding dried cranberries, raisins can be used instead of or in addition to the dried cranberries.
Among other ingredients, the curried spinach salad dressing is flavored with curry powder and chutney, which are commonly used with Indian cuisine. Chutney is an Indian condiment that can be found in small jars, usually in a few variety of flavors, such as magno, dates, tamarind, coriander or even garlic. If you can't find chutney at your grocery store, you will definitely find some in an Indian grocery store (or other specialty grocery store), if you are lucky enough to have one nearby. The spinach salad dressing a can be made in advance and stored at room temperature until you're ready to put the salad together. Making the salad dressing in advance also comes in handy for those who might want to make one individual spinach salad at a time.
This Curried Spinach Salad features fresh spinach leaves combined with apple chunks, sliced green onion, dry roasted peanuts, dried cranberries and sesame seeds. These colorful ingredients are tossed with a tangy and very tasty homemade spinach salad dressing made with oil, white wine vinegar, curry powder, chutney, dry mustard, a little sugar and a dash of hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco). The homemade spinach salad dressing has the perfect element of tanginess that counters the sweetness of the apple chunks and dried cranberries. You
Fuji or Gala apples work beautifully with this spinach salad recipe, not only because of their flavor, juiciness and crunch, but the skin of these apples is very colorful, which gives this spinach salad a very pretty presentation. Dried cranberries taste fabulous with this spinach salad and have a delightful chewy texture and an attractive dark red color. However, if you prefer to use raisins or have difficulty finding dried cranberries, raisins can be used instead of or in addition to the dried cranberries.
Among other ingredients, the curried spinach salad dressing is flavored with curry powder and chutney, which are commonly used with Indian cuisine. Chutney is an Indian condiment that can be found in small jars, usually in a few variety of flavors, such as magno, dates, tamarind, coriander or even garlic. If you can't find chutney at your grocery store, you will definitely find some in an Indian grocery store (or other specialty grocery store), if you are lucky enough to have one nearby. The spinach salad dressing a can be made in advance and stored at room temperature until you're ready to put the salad together. Making the salad dressing in advance also comes in handy for those who might want to make one individual spinach salad at a time.
Recipe▼
Ingredients
- Curried Dressing
- 1/2 cup white wine vinegar
- 2/3 cup salad oil
- 1 tablespoon chutney (any flavor)
- 1 teaspoon curry power
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco)
- Spinach Salad
- 2 lbs. fresh spinach (from the bunch or packaged baby spinach leaves)
- 3 gala or fuji apples (or any other edible apples), rinsed and pat dry
- 2/3 cup dry roasted peanuts
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries (or raisins)
- 1/3 cup thinly sliced green onion
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
Directions
Curried Dressing
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together Curried Dressing ingredients. Pour dressing into a jar with a lid and allow to stand for 2 or more hours at room temperature to blend flavors.
Spinach Salad
Rinse and trim spinach leaves, then pat dry with a cloth or paper towels. Tear larger leaves into bite-size pieces (this step is not necessary if you are using only baby spinach leaves). Store spinach leaves in a bag or air-tight container and chill in refrigerator until ready to serve.
When ready to serve, core apples, then leaving skins on, cut into small bite-size chunks. In a large mixing bowl, combine spinach, apples, peanuts, dried cranberries (or aisins), green onion and sesame seeds. Shake the dressing in the jar, then pour over spinach salad ingredients. Toss lightly and serve.
