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    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Apple Gorgonzola Spinach Salad With Candied Pecans

    By Lily・Published: Apr 28, 2023・Updated: Jun 6, 2023・Post may have affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This apple gorgonzola spinach salad is a combination of baby spinach, butter toffee pecans, sliced granny smith apples, crumbled gorgonzola cheese, and dried cranberries mixed with a homemade dried herb vinaigrette. Serve alongside lasagna or ricotta and sausage-baked ziti.

    apple gorgonzola spinach salad in a bowl
    Photo Credit: The Matbakh.

    For more spinach recipes, check out Greek spinach and feta pie (Spanakopita), kiwi pineapple green smoothie, Egyptian spinach with tomato sauce, and lentil quinoa chickpea spinach salad.

    Why This Works

    This recipe is a blend of crunchy, sweet, salty, and fresh all mixed together in a delicious salad form. It kind of reminds me of upscale dining but from my kitchen table. Anytime I have guests over and want that "wow" factor, I serve this salad.

    Ingredient Notes

    baby spinach, toffee pecans, gorgonzola cheese, dried cranberries, and slice granny smith apple in bowls
    Photo Credit: The Matbakh.
    • Baby spinach: Use pre-washed baby spinach leaves. It cuts down the time to clean and dry the spinach.
    • Gorgonzola cheese: This is my favorite choice for this salad with blue cheese a close second choice. Gorgonzola can be purchased as crumbles or a block of cheese. Crumble the cheese prior to adding it to the salad.
    • Granny Smith apple: I like using a Granny Smith apple because of its tart flavor.
    • Dried cranberries: I prefer using dried cranberries that don't contain any added sugar.
    butter toffee pecans in a bag
    Photo Credit: The Matbakh.
    • Butter toffee pecans: This is a star ingredient for this recipe. Either purchase pre-made butter toffee pecans or make them yourself. This candied pecan recipe is similar to how store-bought toffee pecans taste.
    olive oil, red wine vinegar, dijon mustard, and dried Italian herbs in a bowl
    Photo Credit: The Matbakh.
    • Dijon mustard: I like the little bit of heat from Dijon mustard, however, any type of mustard will work.
    • Dried Italian herbs: I like the variety of dried herbs, however, dried or fresh oregano is an excellent substitute.

    See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for quantities.

    How To Make Apple Gorgonzola Spinach Salad

    Wash and slice the granny smith apple. In a large bowl, measure out the baby spinach leaves, dried cranberries, gorgonzola cheese, and butter toffee pecans.

    dried cranberries, pecans, gorgonzola cheese, apples, and baby spinach in a bowl
    Photo Credit: The Matbakh.

    In a separate small bowl, add the red wine vinegar, dried Italian herbs, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Mix well until the mustard is fully dissolved into the red wine vinegar. Add the olive oil at the end.

    Hint: If you have a salad dressing shaker bottle or jar with a lid, add all of the salad ingredients together and shake well until blended.

    red wine vinegar and olive oil salad dressing
    Photo Credit: The Matbakh.

    Hint: Keep the salad dressing and dry salad separated until ready to serve.

    Mix all of the ingredients together. Once the baby spinach leaves are coated in the vinegar olive oil dressing, they will reduce in size. Add extra spinach if desired.

    mixing the apple gorgonzola salad with wooden salad spoons

    After mixing the salad dressing, the spinach salad is ready to eat.

    close up view of cranberry gorgonzola baby spinach salad

    Tips and Tricks

    The biggest tip for a successful salad is not to mix the dressing until you are ready to eat it. Baby spinach leaves wilt reducing in volume and the crunchy parts of the salad become soggy.

    cranberry spinach salad in a bowl

    Variations and Substitutions

    • Substitute blue cheese for gorgonzola cheese. Crumble the cheese into equal-sized chunks.
    • Use spring mix instead of baby spinach leaves. I recommend using pre-washed store-bought spring mix.
    • Substitute balsamic vinegar for red wine vinegar. Measure equal parts balsamic vinegar for red wine vinegar.
    • Add fresh oregano instead of using dried Italian herbs. I recommend using twice the amount of fresh herbs if substituting for dried herbs.

    Equipment

    Slice the granny smith apple with a chef's knife and cutting board. Measure out the ingredients using measuring cups. Place the salad ingredients into a large salad bowl.

    Shake the herb vinaigrette in a salad dressing shaker. Mix the salad with two large salad spoons.

    Storage

    Store the apple gorgonzola spinach salad separately from the olive oil vinegar salad dressing until it's ready to eat. Place this salad in the fridge up to 1 day in advance (keeping the dressing separate). The granny smith apples might discolor slightly if made ahead of time.

    Store the salad dressing in the fridge for up to 4 days. The olive oil will solidify in the fridge, so allow the dressing to reach room temperature prior to mixing into the salad.

    gorgonzola baby spinach salad in a bowl

    FAQs

    Can I eat spinach raw?

    Yes, baby and full-grown spinach leaves can be consumed raw.

    What goes well with spinach?

    Depending on how spinach is prepared, it can go with a lot of things. Spinach can be served as a salad ingredient, in a smoothie, or made into spinach stew.

    Do you cut up spinach for a salad?

    If using baby spinach leaves, there's no need to cut up the spinach leaves.

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    Recipe Pairings

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    Subscribe to The Matbakh Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Pinterest pages. We also have a saucy newsletter.

    📋 Recipe

    dried cranberries, pecans, gorgonzola cheese, apples, and baby spinach in a bowl

    Apple Gorgonzola Spinach Salad With Candied Pecans

    Author: Lily
    Course: Salads
    Cuisine: American
    Prep: 10 minutes mins
    Total: 10 minutes mins
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate Email
    Servings 6
    This apple gorgonzola spinach salad is made with baby spinach, dried cranberries, a granny smith apple, toffee pecans, and gorgonzola cheese.

    Ingredients
     
    US Customary - Metric

    Apple Gorgonzola Spinach Salad

    • 8 cups baby spinach** see note 4
    • 1 cup granny smith apple sliced thin
    • 1 cup toffee pecans** see note 1
    • ½ cup dried cranberries
    • ½ cup gorgonzola cheese** see note 2

    Vinegar Salad Dressing

    • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
    • 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs** see note 3
    • ¼ teaspoon Himalayan salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

    Instructions

    • Wash and slice the granny smith apple.
    • In a large bowl, measure out the baby spinach leaves, dried cranberries, toffee pecans, granny smith apple, and gorgonzola cheese. Set aside.
    • In a separate bowl, add the red wine vinegar, dijon mustard, dried Italian herbs, salt, and pepper. Mix well. Once the dijon mustard has blended into the vinegar, add the olive oil. Mix well.
    • Mix the vinegar olive oil salad dressing just before serving the salad

    Notes

    1. Brown sugar pecans, spiced caramel pecans, or caramel pecans are acceptable substitutes.
    2. Substitute equal parts blue cheese for gorgonzola.
    3. Use equal parts dried oregano for dried Italian herbs.
    4. 8 cups of baby spinach seem like a lot, however, once the dressing is added the spinach will reduce in size.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 /6 salad | Calories: 337 kcal | Carbohydrates: 30 g | Protein: 5 g | Fat: 24 g | Saturated Fat: 5 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 19 g | Trans Fat: 0 g | Cholesterol: 8 mg | Sodium: 239 mg | Fiber: 3 g | Sugar: 12 g

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    About Lily

    Howdy! My name is Lilian, but my friends call me Lily. I'm the founder and one of the recipe authors here at The Matbakh. I enjoy sunsets, long walks to the fridge, meaningful relationships, and anything related to food. I'm so happy you are here!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 5 votes (1 rating without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Andrea

      November 12, 2021 at 6:20 pm

      5 stars
      I love gorgonzola in my salad. This version with the apples and pecans sounds marvelous!

      Reply
      • Lily

        November 12, 2021 at 9:28 pm

        It's one of my favorite combinations! Thank you for the comment

        Reply
    2. Heather

      November 12, 2021 at 6:14 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect salad! And those toffee pecans on top were absolutely the best!!

      Reply
      • Lily

        November 12, 2021 at 9:27 pm

        Thanks for the comment!

        Reply
    3. Jessica Formicola

      November 12, 2021 at 4:14 pm

      5 stars
      This is my family's favorite salad! The perfect balance of sweet and savory. Making it again for Thanksgiving!

      Reply
      • Lily

        November 12, 2021 at 9:27 pm

        It's one of my favorites too!

        Reply
    4. Tavo

      November 12, 2021 at 3:45 pm

      5 stars
      Today was the second time I made this salad and just love it! thank you!

      Reply
      • Lily

        November 12, 2021 at 9:27 pm

        Thank you so much for the comment!

        Reply

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    lily at the matbakh

    I'm Lily

    I'm an American Lebanese living in Texas. My kitchen, or matbakh, is a hodgepodge of recipes from the U.S. and Mediterranean region.

    ABOUT ME

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