Cherry Tomato Spinach Salad

This Cherry Tomato Spinach Salad recipe is crisp, refreshing and so simple to make. It is also a very easy way to incorporate more vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants into your diet.

You are going to love this tasty, superfood salad because it uses simple ingredients and takes only 10 minutes to prepare. It is the perfect side salad to accompany a soup and sandwich for a filling lunch or dinner. This salad is also a great dish for entertaining or bringing along to a potluck, because it is bright, colorful and looks super appetizing.

Cherry Tomato Spinach Salad Ingredients

The basic elements of this salad are fresh baby spinach with cherry tomatoes, cucumber and pumpkin seeds, tossed in a delectable honey balsamic vinaigrette. Here’s why you should feel great about making and eating this salad:

• Fresh Spinach is only 7 calories per cup and is an excellent source of Vitamin K, Vitamin A and folic acid. Spinach can also protect heart health by improving the functions of nitric acid, which improves circulation, blood pressure, and blood vessel health.
• Cherry tomatoes (all tomatoes actually) are rich in antioxidants and Vitamins A & C. They are the best source of lycopene, an antioxidant that is tied to enhanced immunity and cancer risk reduction. They also contain a compound called lutein, which protects eye health and preserves eyesight.
• Cucumbers are fantastic to add to salads because they are very low in calories and are 96% water by weight, so they are super hydrating.
• Pumpkin seeds are a terrific plant-based protein source as they contain 9 grams of protein per 1/4 cup. They are also an excellent natural source of magnesium and zinc.
• Finally, my honey balsamic vinaigrette is made mostly with extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar, in a 3:1 ratio of oil to vinegar (that’s the perfect ratio for salad dressings). Honey, mustard and a little S&P are added into the mix for more flavor and to help the oil and vinegar bind together.

Tips for Making Cherry Tomato Spinach Salad

1. When preparing the dressing, I always like to shake the ingredients together in a jar rather than whisking them in a bowl, because I find the vinaigrette combines much more easily that way.
2. If you are making this salad in advance for a party, do not add the dressing until you are ready to serve. This will keep the salad crisp and prevent it from becoming soggy.

How to make this Salad a Complete Meal

Add some more protein! By adding a little extra protein to this salad, you can make it into a satisfying, complete meal. To ensure that your body functions properly, you should try to eat main meals that provide between 10 and 20 grams of protein. You can boost the protein levels in this Cherry Tomato Spinach Salad by adding any of the following ingredients to it (per serving):

• 1/4 cup of cooked chicken would add an extra 11g of protein, bringing the total protein up to 13g
• 1/4 cup of tuna would add an extra 10g of protein, bringing the total protein up to 12g
• 2 hard-boiled eggs would add an extra 12g of protein, bringing the total protein up to 14g

More Healthy Salad Recipes to Try

• Chicken Avocado Salad
• Tuna White Bean Salad
• Apple Avocado Spinach Salad
• Thai Noodle Salad

For this Cherry Tomato Spinach Salad Recipe, I recommend:

• Glass Mixing Bowls – This set is perfect for mixing up and serving salads. The bowls are so easy to store (as they nest together) and they look great!
• Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons – This is the best set of measuring spoons I have ever purchased. They are super durable, inexpensive and the quality can’t be beat.

Don’t miss out! Click here to get exclusive discounts on my favorite healthy products and resources!

If you make this Cherry Tomato Spinach Salad recipe, let me know! Rate it and leave a comment below, because I love hearing from you! 🙂

Cherry Tomato Spinach Salad

A quick, super healthy salad made with fresh baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, cucumber and pumpkin seeds, dressed with a delicious honey balsamic vinaigrette.

5 from 5 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer, Side

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Tomato Spinach Salad

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 6 servings

Calories: 100kcal

Author: Alia | Everyday Easy Eats

Ingredients

For the salad:

• 6 cups baby spinach
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 medium cucumber, sliced
• 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds

For the dressing:

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• Salt and pepper, to taste

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• In a large bowl, combine all salad ingredients.
• In a small jar, add all dressing ingredients and close tightly with the lid. Shake vigorously until combined.
• Just before serving, drizzle salad with dressing and toss until evenly coated.

Notes

To make this recipe vegan, substitute the honey with maple syrup.

Nutrition

Calories: 100kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 33mg | Potassium: 311mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 59.4% | Vitamin C: 19% | Calcium: 3.9% | Iron: 7.6%

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