Pineapple spinach salad is a fun twist on the traditional strawberry spinach salad. There’s pineapple in every bite…because who really wants to eat spinach?
The other day my 3-year-old daughter responded to a request with “Whatever, Mom.”
It was in that same moment that I noticed not one, but two pimples on her face. Like the 13-year-old kind. Chicken or the egg, my friends? Is her attitude making her pre-pubescent or the other way around? And where is my toddler??
In other news, I’m trying to be healthy lately. It’s the wrong time of year for that (hello, fall baking) but I’m making an effort for the sake of my love handles. They have developed their own personalities lately, and it’s time for me to end my relationship with them. (Although I must say, I won’t be dismissing them entirely. How else could I wave them at people, like Jennifer Lawrence does?)
This salad was born in the produce section. I mean, obviously, but I just mean that I was literally in the produce section at Safeway, staring at the 7-dollar boxes of strawberries and craving a strawberry spinach salad like nobody’s business. I couldn’t justify it, not in any part of my penny pinching brain. But then my eyes fell on a $2.99 pineapple and I thought, well, why not?
I really like how tangy this salad is. The pineapple, the feta, even the dressing. If it sounds like too much to you, omit the mustard from the dressing, or up the sugar. It’s such a simple dressing; you could put lots of different spins on it. Let me know if you try this out!
P.S. I’m doing a guest post for a friend this Friday! It involves steak. And goat cheese. You know you want in. Stay tuned!
Do you guys give up? Or are you thirsty for more?
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Pineapple Spinach Salad
5-6 side servings adjust servingsIngredients
For the dressing
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- pepper to taste
- 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard (optional--taste it first)
For the pecans
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup pecan halves
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
For the salad
- 10-13 ounces spinach
- 1 pineapple, chopped into bite-size pieces
- 6 ounces feta
Instructions
- Combine all the dressing ingredients in a mason jar or tupperware. Shake vigorously and set aside.
- In a small pan, heat the butter over medium-high heat. When hot, add the pecans and stir to coat. Add the brown sugar and stir again. Stir occasionally until the sugar starts to caramelize, about 2-5 minutes. Remove to a wax paper lined cookie sheet and let cool.
- In a large bowl add the spinach, pineapple, and feta. Toss to combine. Sprinkle the top with pecans and serve with the salad dressing (you might not use all of it).
by The Food Charlatan
Source: The Food Charlatan
This dressing goes great on pretty much everything.
More great salads!
Spinach Bleu Cheese Salad with Poppyseed Dressing:
Orange -Olive Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette:
More awesome salads from blogdom:
Grilled Ginger-Sesame Chicken Chopped Salad from Cooking Classy
Peach and Arugula Caprese Salad from Love and Olive Oil
Caramelized Onion, Pear, and Goat Cheese Salad w/Maple Vinaigrette from NeighborFood
I love spinach salads! Well, when they have lots of fruit, toasted nuts, and a sweet dressing. I never thought to put pineapple in but it sounds/looks fantastic!
Melanie | Garnish & Glaze recently posted…Creamy Chicken Taco Pie
Karen, pineapple on a salad looks so good… my love handles will thank you as well! Wondering how so many food bloggers are so tiny!?!
Julie @ Lovely Little Kitchen recently posted…Pita Chip Fried Zucchini
Loving all the fresh flavours and vibrant colours of the produce in this salad. Great recipe and one that I must try!
Thalia @ butter and brioche recently posted…Belgian Mocha Mousse Layer Cake
These looks delicious, Karen!
Liz @ Floating Kitchen recently posted…Whole Wheat Fig Bites
I’m all about that tang, and feta!
Exactly – why the heck not?! Pineapple is the new strawberry and this salad looks delish!
Sarah @ SnixyKitchen recently posted…Sweet and spicy curry cracker jack
This is such a pretty salad Karen! I’m totally obsessed – and pineapple is way better than strawberry in my opinion!! Pinned :)
Chelsea @chelseasmessyapron recently posted…{Slow Cooker} Salsa Verde Chicken Soup
Strawberry Spinach Salad (or Triple S as I like to call it) is my jam, but this may give it a run for its money. Your pictures are divine as always. Thanks for including my Maple Salad!
Courtney @ Neighborfood recently posted…Panko Crusted Chicken Piccata
Also, just watched the JLaw video. She wins.
Courtney @ Neighborfood recently posted…Panko Crusted Chicken Piccata
Love the switch-up of pineapple for strawberries! And those pecans look to die for!
Nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps recently posted…Individual Caramel Apple Galettes with Brown Butter
I’m completely convinced that toddler girls are pint sized teenagers. It’s like God is giving us advanced preparation for the actual teenage years, because He loves us and doesn’t want us to go into complete shock. When Trinity was little she shouted loudly in the preschool parking lot for all to hear that I was “practically ruining” her life. So. Much. Fun.
Ami recently posted…The Fall fall apart.
I like the way you think! Good things come out of frugality. :)
Claire @ Lemon Jelly Cake recently posted…Thrifted Treasure: Fall & Winter Clothes, Baby Gear, and more!
This is just how I like my spinach salad – heavy on the toppings! I love pineapple, and those pecans are calling my name. What a great salad!
Cate @ Chez CateyLou recently posted…Cream Cheese Biscuits
Can you just make this for me? I realllly wish I had some right now. :)
Julia @ Sprinkled With Jules recently posted…Pumpkin Meringue Cookies and Cupcakes
This looks amazing! I’ve never added pineapple to salad before. That is definitely going to happen very soon :D Thanks for sharing
Josefine {The Smoothie Lover} recently posted…Plum Tarts
Love it! You always seem to know what I’m craving — it’s been pineapple all week!
Lindsey recently posted…New Zealand: the time of our lives
Karen,
Made this salad tonight it was amazing! Even my husband loved it and he is not a fan of pineapple! Well done!
Shannon recently posted…Bacon, Gouda, and Spinach Frittata
Awesome Shannon! I’m so glad you loved it, and that you could convert your husband. Pineapple is definitely worth converting for :) Thanks for the review!
My brown sugar did not melt. Stayed crystallized…what did I do wrong?
I’m not sure what happened Beverly! The sugar is supposed to crystalize a little bit and stick to the pecans. Sorry I can’t be more helpful!
Beverly try melting the butter a little on low heat then adding the brown sugar and stir until all is melted. After the butter ,brown sugar mixture is melted add your pecans stir to coat and put in a 350 oven for about 8-10 minutes. Cool on some wax paper until they are set then break up to put on your salad or ice cream for that matter. I hope this helps.
I made it last night for our Christmas dinner. It was so good !! Everybody wanted the recipe ! Thanks !!
Hooray! I’m glad it was a success Julie! Happy holidays!
Delicious salad! I broiled my pineapple to bring out the sweet. I think next time I’ll just toast the pecans, although the sugared pecans were delish. Maybe some toasted pine nuts instead. Great salad–thank you for posting. It’s cold and dreary here and this salad was sunny and delicious!
Ooh! Love that broiled pineapple idea! I’ll have to try it with pinenuts sometime too. Yum. Glad you enjoyed it Glenda, thanks for commenting!