• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Jersey Girl Cooks
  • About
  • Recipes
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Recipes
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Spinach Salad with Blue Cheese, Grapes and Almonds

    First Published: June 27, 2020 . Last Modified: August 6, 2021 lisa9 Comments This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe
    spinach salad

    This Spinach Salad with Blue Cheese, Grapes and Almonds is the perfect blend of sweet and nutty, which makes for a perfect lunch  or delicious side dish!

    Salads for Lunch and Dinner

    In the summer I am all about salads. I eat them for lunch several times a week and they usually accompany my dinner of grilled steak or roasted chicken on the side. I really love a good salad especially a spinach salad with blue cheese in it.

    Ingredients and Substitutions

    1. Baby spinach is a perfect green but arugula or a mesclun mix works well too.
    2. Grapes are always abundant and found in every grocery store. Red or green work well. 
    3. Slivered toasted almonds - Pecans, walnuts or sunflower seeds are a great way to get crunch. All are good substitutions for almonds. 
    4. Blue cheese- I like the pre-crumbled kind for convenience when making salads. Feta and gorgonzola cheese are also good in this spinch salad recipe.
    5. Olive oil - Extra virgin olive is my favorite in salads but a bit more expensive. Regular  olive oil works great also.
    6. Cider vinegar is my choice for this recipe but I also like balsamic vinegar. 

    The ingredients in this spinach salad can be easily obtained year round. This is something I will probably be eating once a week in the fall, winter, and spring too.

    Spinach Salad Recipe FAQ

    Can I make this salad ahead of time?

    • Yes, but only a day or so. Immediately after you put the salad together, store it in the fridge in an airtight container to keep out excess moisture. Make sure to add the dressing right before serving or you will have a soggy salad. 
    • Lettuce doesn't freeze well, so it's not the best idea to freeze a salad and let it thaw to serve it. Salads are best enjoyed fresh, but luckily this spinach salad only takes 10 minutes to put together!

    How do I choose the best spinach?

    • Look for spinach leaves that are a rich, dark green and have a bit of a crisp texture to them. If they're in a bag and you can't feel the leaves, try to ensure that the color is uniform and none of the leaves look slimy or wilted.
    • Spinach that is packaged typically lasts for 3-4 days, so long as you don't wash it before you store it.
    • Before throwing this spinach salad together, consider rinsing/washing your spinach leaves to be certain there's no excess dirt or other grime left behind.

    How do I choose the best grapes?

    • Grapes should look plump and juicy, not dried out or shriveled. The stems should be moist and flexible.
    • Some white blooming on the fruit is actually a sign of freshness; it means the grapes haven't been over-handled and haven't been sitting out for too long.
    • For red grapes, look for a consistent crimson or maroon color.
    • If you prefer green grapes, make sure they're more light and translucent than opaque and grass-green.

    bowl of spinach salad with blue cheeseVariations

    Because this spinach salad is so manageable in terms of ingredients and prep time, there are a number of things you could do to switch it up!

    • Vary the amounts of oil and vinegar to fit your own personal taste.
    • Looking for more sweetness? Try adding chopped up apples or chunks of fresh peach, pear, or strawberry.
    • For some added nutrition, sprinkle on shredded carrot or edamame.
    • If you're not a Blue cheese fan, feel free to omit the cheese, or try a different variety. Some sharp cheddar would also work nicely with the sweetness of the grapes.
    • And if you'd prefer to punch up the nutty taste, add some walnuts or even some peanuts for extra flavor!

    Other Great Salad Recipes

    • Mediterranean Shrimp Wedge Salad 
    • Tomato Chick Pea Salad
    • Cranberry, Pecan and Blue Cheese Salad
    • Rainbow Greek Chicken Salad 

    Serve your Spinach Salad with These Main Courses

    • Brick Chicken Quarters
    • Italian Stove Top Stuffed Peppers
    • Sweet and Spicy Asian Salmon with Mango Slaw
    • Lemon Herb Chicken from Bunny's Warm Oven
    • Pizza Grilled Cheese with Pepperoni
    • Spicy Shrimp Tacos 
    • Easy One Pan Cast Iron Skillet Chicken

    How about you? Do you eat salads at lunchtime? What is your favorite at this time of year?

    spinach salad with Blue Cheese, Grapes and Almonds

    If you like this recipe, please give it a 5-star rating below!

    RECIPE

    spinach salad
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
    5 from 1 vote

    Spinach Salad With Grapes, Blue Cheese And Almonds

    These ingredients are easy to find for this fresh salad any time of year.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time10 minutes mins
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 190kcal
    Author: Jersey Girl Cooks (Lisa Grant)

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
    • 6 ounces baby spinach
    • 1 cup red grapes sliced in half
    • ⅓ cup sliced toasted almonds
    • ⅓ cup crumbled Blue cheese
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • In a small bowl, whisk together oil and vinegar.
    • In a larger bowl, toss the dressing with the spinach and grapes.
    • Top with the almonds and Blue cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

    Notes

    Oil and vinegar amounts can be adjusted to taste.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 190kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 192mg | Potassium: 402mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 4098IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 129mg | Iron: 2mg

    First Published October 2012; Updated June 2020

    Thanks for stopping by! If you’d like to follow me on social media, you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter.

    « Marinated Mushroom Salad Recipe
    Super Easy Mexican Guacamole »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ramona

      October 18, 2012 at 4:37 pm

      I like spinach, grapes, almonds and cheese. Just not blue cheese.

      I'm eating healthier too. I guess it's working my eye doctor said my eye pressure was lots better since March.

      Reply
    2. Angela

      October 18, 2012 at 6:39 pm

      5 stars
      I have seriously been craving spinach salad for the last two days, and now I must have this. Grapes and blue cheese...nom!

      Reply
    3. Blond Duck

      October 18, 2012 at 10:53 pm

      Oh this sounds good! I never thought of spinach and grapes!

      Reply
    4. ATasteOfMadness

      October 19, 2012 at 9:16 am

      Oh wow. What a combination! I have never had grapes in my salad, but I am very intrigued. I need to try this!!

      Reply
    5. Lynda

      October 19, 2012 at 10:37 am

      Great looking salad! I just purchased some grapes the other day, so I'm going to make this, but without the blue cheese. I've not learned to like it yet.

      Reply
    6. teresa

      October 19, 2012 at 1:34 pm

      my kind of salad, i love the grape/blue cheese combo!

      Reply
    7. Liz

      October 19, 2012 at 7:21 pm

      Mmmmm....a yummy combination of flavors, Lisa! Great salad!

      Reply
    8. Kate

      October 20, 2012 at 12:16 am

      I love salads for lunch. I've been having that all week.

      Reply
    9. Robin

      October 20, 2012 at 7:15 pm

      Hmmmm - I wouldn't have thought to add in the grapes to a salad like this, but it seems like it works well. I'll have to try this sometime soon.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    spinach salad

    Hi, I'm Lisa

    I love creating recipes and cooking for my family and friends. It's great to bring everyone to my kitchen to talk, laugh and eat. I also like to spread my love for cooking to others. So grab an apron and let's do it together. I promise my recipes will be easy and delicious!

    More about me

    Jersey Girl Cooks is a participant in affiliate programs including the Amazon Associates program. I may earn a small commission if you purchase through links in my website with no extra cost to you, the consumer.

    Footer

    spinach salad

    freebie!

    Subscribe for Your Free eBook: 5 Pantry Friendly Dinners

    Subscribe for free!
    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions

    Contact

    • Media Kit
    • FAQ

    Copyright © 2024 Jersey Girl Cooks • As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. • Powered by Feast+

    GDPR Privacy Policy