Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

I am addicted to this salad! You can vary the ingredients as much as you like.  I often substitute the mandarin oranges with either strawberries or dried cranberries.  I swap the walnuts for pecans or almonds.  And I often add blue or feta cheese.

The best part of this salad is that my whole family eats raw leafy greens!

Salad:

Baby Spinach Leaves, washed and spun dry

1 small can mandarin oranges, drained

1/4 cup walnuts, chopped

Blue Cheese Crumbles (not pictured)

Poppy Seed Dressing:

1 cup Canola Oil

1/2 cup Cider Vinegar

5 Tbsp. Sugar
3 Tbsp. Dried Minced Onions
(Fresh grated onion works too - I just prefer a milder onion flavor)
1Tbsp. Poppy Seeds
1 tsp. Dry Mustard
3/4 tsp. Salt

In a Maison jar, pour in all the ingredients.

Shake well!

If you choose to add blue cheese to your salad, be sure that it is labeled "Gluten Free". 

Feta cheese is also great.

Combine the spinach, mandarin oranges (drained), walnuts and cheese.

Spoon 3-4 Tbsp. of the dressing onto the salad.

I spoon, rather that pour the dressing to be sure to get plenty of onions and poppy seeds.

The remainder of the dressing can be saved in the jar with a lid in the refrigerator.

I love having this dressing on hand.   It is wonderful on a fruit salad too!

Toss the salad and serve!

(Serves 4-6)

Recipe

Salad:

Baby Spinach Leaves, washed and spun dry

1 small can mandarin oranges, drained

1/4 cup walnuts, chopped

Blue Cheese Crumbles (not pictured)

Poppy Seed Dressing:

1 cup Canola Oil

1/2 cup Cider Vinegar

5 Tbsp. Sugar

3 Tbsp. Dried Minced Onions

(Fresh grated onion works too - I just prefer a milder onion flavor)

1Tbsp. Poppy Seeds

1 tsp. Dry Mustard

3/4 tsp. Salt

In a large salad bowl. combine the salad ingredients.

For the dressing, combine all ingredients in a Maison jar with a lid and shake well.

Spoon 3-4 Tbsp. of the dressing over the salad and toss to coat well.  

Serve and enjoy!