This salad is easy and delicious as well as being nutritious. It's loaded with vegetables and gets its sweetness from fresh strawberries and pears. The dressing is light and easy to mix up in the bowl before adding the other ingredients. For a salty contrast and extra creaminess as well as a bit of protein, feta cheese goes into the salad bowl. This is a light, refreshing salad that's special enough to serve to company. I often top the salad with toasted almonds, if I have them. You also can make the salad a main dish by topping portions with chopped, cooked chicken or even salmon fillets. Enjoy!
Spinach, Strawberry, and Pear Salad -- Serves 4
1/4 cup of orange juice
1/4 cup of plain Greek yogurt (non-fat)
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1/4 cup of feta cheese
1/4 teaspoon of pepper (or to taste)
1/2 cup of carrot shreds
1/4 cup of chopped green onions
1/4 cup of chopped celery
1 large or 2 small pears, seeded and chopped but not peeled
1 cup of strawberries, sliced
2- 3 cups of spinach (preferably baby), torn if large
2 cups of green-leaf lettuce, torn (or use all spinach, if you'd prefer)
1/2 cup of toasted, slivered or slice almonds, optional but good
In a large bowl whisk together well the juice, yogurt, and olive oil. Mix in the feta and pepper. Stir in the carrots, onions, celery, pears, and strawberries until combined. Top the mixture with the greens. When you're ready to serve the salad, toss the greens with the ingredients in the bottom of the bowl and then top the salad with the almonds, if you're using them.
