Spinach Goat Cheese Salad & Dressing
Crunchy vegetables like radish and cucumber are paired with creamy goat cheese and roasted potatoes to create this refreshing and nutritious spinach salad. Finished with a homemade lemon vinaigrette dressing, this simple salad recipe is perfect for warm spring and summer nights!
There’s something about hotter temps that makes me crave light and refreshing salads with fresh veggies and herbs. I whipped up this simple spinach salad with goat cheese, roasted potatoes, cucumbers, radishes, fresh mint, and walnuts the other day, and it was so delicious that I thought I’d share the recipe with you!
This healthy salad recipe was the perfect mix of light, but filling ingredients. Fresh spring veggies, but a little bit of heartiness from the roasted potatoes and goat cheese. I kept the lemon vinaigrette salad dressing super simple so that the flavours of the seasonal ingredients could shine.
As a dietitian, it’s important to me that salads are never boring and that they don’t leave you wanting for more. Having sources of fiber-rich carbs, healthy fats, and protein all help to make this salad more filling and nourishing! If you’re interested, I’ve highlighted the nutrition benefits of some of the key ingredients below.
Want more salad recipe inspiration? Check out my roundup of 20+ spring and summer salad recipes for more ideas!
Recipe Modifications & Ingredient Swaps
- If you don’t have any baby spinach, you can swap it with another baby green like arugula, baby kale, or a spring mix.
- While goat cheese works really great here, you can always try swapping it with another cheese like burrata, ricotta, or feta.
- Walnuts can be swapped for pecans or chopped almonds. For a nut free version, you can swap them with raw sunflower or pumpkin seeds. Otherwise, they can be left out entirely – although they do provide a nice crunchy texture!
What To Serve With Spinach Salad
I’d recommend serving this spinach goat cheese salad alongside your favourite protein to round out the meal! Below are some protein recipes that I think would pair perfectly with this salad:
- Garlic Shrimp With Smoked Paprika & Honey
- Crispy Turmeric Salmon With Yogurt Sauce
- Honey Mustard Garlic Shrimp
- Honey Lemon Oven-Baked Salmon With Thyme
- 25-Minute Baked Salmon With Pistachio Pesto
- Crispy Baked Tofu With Maple Miso Sauce
- Crispy Salmon With Coconut, Honey & Lime
- The Best Canned Salmon Burger
If you want to keep things simple, try throwing in some sliced hard-boiled eggs, chickpeas, or some leftover baked chicken or salmon.
How Long Does Spinach Salad Keep?
While best enjoyed fresh, leftovers of this salad can be kept for about 1 day in an airtight container in the fridge.
NOTE: If making salad in advance, do not add dressing until serving to avoid soggy spinach.
Spinach Nutrition Facts
Spinach is an awesome source of many vitamins and minerals, such as:
- vitamin A
- vitamin C
- vitamin K
- folate
- calcium
This leafy green is also packed with different phytonutrients (plant compounds) that offer antioxidant functions, helping to fight cellular damage.
Potato Nutrition Facts
While sweet potatoes tend to get more love (not sure why this is??), regular old white potatoes are actually chock-full of nutrition, too!
A 100 gram serving (~2/3 of a cup) provides a third of your daily vitamin C needs, and about 15% of your daily vitamin B6 and potassium.
Like spinach, potatoes also have many different phytonutrients concentrated in the skin. If you leave the skin on, potatoes will also be a source of fibre.
See? No need to fear or avoid these white potatoes!
Goat Cheese Nutrition Facts
A one-ounce serving of goat cheese provides:
- 6 grams of complete protein
- 8 grams of fat
- micronutrients like:
- calcium
- phosphorous
- vitamin A
- riboflavin
- iron
Some individuals who are lactose intolerant may actually find that they tolerate goat milk products, since they are naturally lower in lactose!
I LOVE adding a sprinkle of goat cheese to my salads for a punch of flavour and extra creaminess. The protein and fat content of goat cheese also help to make a salad extra filling and satisfying.
More Spring Salad Recipes
- Broccoli, Cauliflower & Salmon Salad With Curry Tahini Dressing
- Crunchy Romaine Salad With Za’atar Dressing
- Balsamic Roasted Beet Salad With Goat Cheese & Walnuts
- Strawberry Quinoa Salad With Feta
- Healthy Canned Salmon Potato Salad
- Strawberry, Tomato & Avocado Salad
- Easy Cucumber Avocado Salad With Quinoa
Did you give this Spinach Goat Cheese Salad With Roasted Potatoes Recipe a try? Let me know by leaving a comment and recipe rating below!
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Get the Recipe: Nutritious Spinach Goat Cheese Salad & Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 lb mini potatoes
- 1 Tbsp olive oil (to drizzle over potatoes before roasting)
- 4 handfuls baby spinach
- 1 English cucumber
- 2 radishes
- 1/2 cup goat cheese, crumbled
- 1/3 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1 handful fresh mint
Salad dressing:
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp white wine vinegar
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Salt + pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- Wash and dry mini potatoes. Cut potatoes into halves, then toss in olive oil and salt. Spread evenly onto a baking sheet, and place in oven for 30 minutes, until fork-tender.
- While potatoes roast, prepare other salad ingredients. Chop cucumber into small pieces, thinly slice radishes (using a mandoline if you have one). Chop walnuts and crumble goat cheese. Place all ingredients into a large bowl with baby spinach and fresh mint leaves.
- Make the salad dressing by adding ingredients to a small glass jar and giving a good shake. Set aside.
- Once potatoes are cooked, remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.
- Add potatoes to salad ingredients and toss with salad dressing. Add additional salt and pepper to taste, if desired. Serve immediately!
Notes
- If you don’t have any baby spinach, you can swap it with another baby green like arugula, baby kale, or a spring mix.
- While goat cheese works really great here, you can always try swapping it with another cheese like burrata, ricotta, or feta.
- Walnuts can be swapped for pecans or chopped almonds. For a nut free version, you can swap them with raw sunflower or pumpkin seeds. Otherwise, they can be left out entirely – although they do provide a nice crunchy texture!
- Garlic Shrimp With Smoked Paprika & Honey
- Crispy Turmeric Salmon With Yogurt Sauce
- Honey Mustard Garlic Shrimp
- Honey Lemon Oven-Baked Salmon With Thyme
- 25-Minute Baked Salmon With Pistachio Pesto
- Crispy Baked Tofu With Maple Miso Sauce
- Crispy Salmon With Coconut, Honey & Lime
- The Best Canned Salmon Burger
Nutrition
As a dietitian, I create recipes with whole food ingredients that provide the nutrients needed for optimal health. My nutrition philosophy does not focus on numbers; however, I understand that this information can be helpful.
Do note that the nutrition info provided is an estimate and I cannot guarantee correctness of the displayed values. These numbers will differ depending on brands used, recipe modifications, and amount eaten. If you require specific nutrition information due to medical reasons, please consult with your dietitian or physician.
Did you make this recipe?
Let me know by leaving a recipe rating below, or by tagging @walderwellness on Instagram. I love seeing your beautiful creations!
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