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I love interesting salads. I change them up depending on what’s in season or what holiday is coming up. In the summer, we often have main dish salads because it’s just too hot to cook or eat a heavy meal.
It’s finally cooling down here and it’s getting close to Thanksgiving, so cranberries are on my mind. Fresh cranberries, dried cranberries, frozen cranberries, and even the occasional canned cranberries. So I had to find a way to work them into this fall-inspired salad.
I was recently given a bottle of Palm Fruit Oil to play around with (don’t worry this isn’t the bad for you Palm Kernel Oil you might be thinking of). It’s actually pretty good for you too….well, in terms of oil, that is. I love the flavor and the color is just stunning. It’s a beautiful red, so it was hard to actually open up the beautiful bottle to use. It’s rich in antioxidants, vegan, high in carotenes, and high in Vitamin E just to name a few health benefits. Find it in many health food stores such as Whole Foods or on Amazon.
So adding it this salad is a no-brainer. As much as I like olive oil for a salad dressing, this is a wonderful change and adds a nice flavor too.
Check out the Palm Fruit Oil on my 2012 Holiday Gift Guide!
Fall-Inspired Spinach Salad
This Fall inspired spinach salad is loaded with the tastes of autumn! Cranberries, candied pecans, and feta cheese, and a delicious apple cider vinaigrette dressing
Ingredients
- 5 oz baby spinach
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup candied pecans
- 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/3 cup palm fruit oil
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp dried Italian Herbs
Instructions
- To a large mason jar, add oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, sugar, and Italian Herbs. Replace lid and shake well to combine.
- In a large bowl, combine spinach, dried cranberries, candied pecans, and feta cheese. Drizzle with dressing. Toss gently to combine.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 162Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 311mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 2gSugar: 14gProtein: 3g
It isn’t fall right now but I still make a salad like this year-round. So good!
Interesting. I checked out the Carotino Palm Oil on Amazon that you linked to (palm oil and palm fruit oil are the same). It is a blend of canola oil and red palm oil. I’ve never had the red (presumably virgin) palm oil but have heard that it has a strong flavor. According the the reviews, the Carotino has a neutral flavor, probably because it’s blended with the neutrally flavored canola. I like the looks of your fall-inspired spinach salad, I’m sure it’s a winner between the dried cranberries, the candied pecans, and the feta.
This looks delicious!! I’m on a salad kick lately, so will try this one! 🙂
Thanks Belinda! This is my favorite time of year.
I love love love the holidays!! This is beautiful!