Discover the ultimate fresh, vibrant, and satisfying meal with our Simple Spinach Salad. Far more than just a side dish, this recipe is packed with nutrients, making it hearty enough to be a complete meal on its own. Crafted to be both Whole30 and Paleo compliant, it’s an ideal choice for anyone seeking a wholesome, clean eating option that doesn’t compromise on flavor or ease.
There are times when only simple, wholesome food will do. Perhaps you’ve just come off a weekend of festive indulgence – a holiday celebration, family gathering, or a special occasion filled with rich, traditional meals. I recently experienced this myself when my children visited for Passover. We savored all sorts of delicious, celebratory dishes, but by the end of it, I was certainly ready to hit the reset button with something light, refreshing, and genuinely nourishing. If you, like me, have ever found yourself with an abundance of hard-boiled eggs after an event or simply craving a healthier option that feels like a treat, this Simple Spinach Salad is precisely what you need. It’s a perfect antidote to overindulgence and a brilliant way to use up those extra eggs, transforming them into a star ingredient rather than just an afterthought.
A crucial step for perfect hard-boiled eggs in any salad is to prevent over-cooking and ensure they peel effortlessly. The secret lies in immediately transferring your freshly boiled eggs into a bowl of ice water. This rapid cooling halts the cooking process, preventing that unsightly grey-green ring around the yolk, and more importantly, it makes the shells incredibly easy to remove, saving you time and frustration in the kitchen.
Embrace Freshness: A Nutritious Powerhouse Salad
What truly sets this Simple Spinach Salad apart is its incredible freshness and the delightful interplay of textures and flavors. Each bite delivers a burst of sensation, from the crisp, peppery tang of thinly sliced radishes to the bright, zesty kick of fresh lemon juice in the dressing. The aromatic fresh dill provides an herbaceous depth, while crunchy cucumbers add a satisfying bite. This combination isn’t just delicious; it’s an experience for your palate.
While this salad makes an excellent accompaniment to any meal, its rich nutrient density means it stands proudly as a complete, fulfilling main course. It’s meticulously balanced to provide everything your body needs: a generous boost of high-quality protein from the perfectly hard-boiled eggs and crunchy pine nuts, an abundance of healthy, satiating fats from the creamy avocado, and complex carbohydrates, fiber, and essential vitamins from the vibrant spinach and other fresh vegetables. This thoughtful blend ensures sustained energy and satisfaction, making it an ideal choice for a quick lunch or a light yet hearty dinner.
Even if you’re in the midst of a busy week or continuing a special holiday period, finding time for wholesome, satisfying food is entirely possible. This Simple Spinach Salad effortlessly delivers on taste and nutritional value without requiring complicated steps or specialized equipment. The homemade lemon dill dressing is particularly noteworthy. It comes together in a matter of minutes with just a fork and a bowl, and its robust flavor profile only improves as it sits. What’s more, it keeps beautifully in the refrigerator all week long, allowing you to prepare a batch once and enjoy fresh, delicious salad whenever the craving strikes. This makes meal prep a breeze and ensures you always have a healthy option readily available.
When it comes to serving, you have options! For an elegant presentation, I often arrange the ingredients artfully on a large platter, allowing each component to shine. This method is visually stunning and perfect for entertaining. However, for the absolute best flavor and a wonderfully creamy texture, I highly recommend tossing the salad vigorously in a large bowl with the dressing. This process allows the creamy egg yolks and soft avocado to break down slightly and coat every single spinach leaf, creating a rich, velvety consistency that makes this Simple Spinach Salad incredibly indulgent and truly delicious. Don’t be afraid to get a little messy – the resulting creaminess is absolutely worth it!
Boost Your Plate: More Hearty Salad Ideas
If you love the concept of a salad that can stand as a full meal, you’ll be thrilled with these other fantastic options. Each recipe is designed to be nourishing, satisfying, and packed with flavor, making healthy eating both easy and exciting.
- Sesame Soba Noodle + Veggies Salad: A delightful fusion of Asian-inspired flavors with hearty soba noodles and crisp vegetables.
- Roasted Veggie Chopped Salad: Warm, caramelized roasted vegetables combined with fresh greens for a deeply flavorful and comforting salad.
- Crunchy Quinoa Salad: A protein-rich quinoa base combined with an array of crunchy vegetables and a zesty dressing for a texturally exciting meal.
Simple Spinach Salad Recipe
This simple spinach salad is a testament to how fresh, whole ingredients can come together to create a profoundly flavorful and incredibly nutritious meal. It boasts vibrant flavors from fresh herbs, satisfying crunch from vegetables and nuts, and essential nutrition from every single component. Perfectly aligning with Paleo and Whole30 dietary guidelines, this salad is not just a healthy choice but a truly delicious and fulfilling dining experience. Enjoy it as a light lunch or a complete dinner.
Author: Debra Klein
Prep Time: 8 minutes
Additional Time: 12 minutes (for eggs/chilling)
Total Time: 20 minutes
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Calories: 385 kcal per serving
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 4 cups baby spinach
- 4 hard-boiled eggs
- 5 radishes, thinly sliced
- 1 ripe avocado, sliced
- 2 Tablespoons pine nuts
- 1 cucumber, thinly sliced
For the Lemon Dill Dressing:
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 2 lemons, juiced (approximately ⅓ cup)
- ¼ cup fresh dill, chopped
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl, use a fork to vigorously whisk the fresh lemon juice and olive oil together until emulsified. Stir in the chopped fresh dill, sea salt, and white pepper. Mix until all ingredients are well combined.
- Slice Ingredients: Carefully thin-slice the hard-boiled eggs, radishes, avocado, and cucumber. Uniform slices enhance both the presentation and the texture of the salad.
- Assemble the Salad: Arrange the baby spinach leaves evenly on the bottom of a large platter or in individual serving bowls. Artfully arrange the sliced eggs, radishes, avocado, and cucumber over the spinach. Sprinkle the pine nuts evenly across the top. Drizzle a portion of the prepared lemon dill dressing over the salad. Serve the remaining dressing in a separate small container or cruet on the side, allowing everyone to add more to their preference.
Recipe Notes
For a CHOPPED/DRESSED salad: If you prefer a more integrated and creamy salad, transfer all the salad ingredients (spinach, eggs, radishes, avocado, cucumber, pine nuts) into a large mixing bowl. Add about ¼ cup of the lemon dill dressing. Toss everything together gently but thoroughly, allowing the soft avocado and creamy egg yolks to break down slightly and coat the spinach leaves. This creates a wonderfully creamy and cohesive salad. Taste for seasoning and add more sea salt, white pepper, or dressing as needed to achieve your desired flavor.
Nutrition Information (per serving, estimated)
| Calories: | 385 kcal |
| Carbohydrates: | 14g |
| Protein: | 10g |
| Fat: | 35g |
| Saturated Fat: | 5g |
| Polyunsaturated Fat: | 5g |
| Monounsaturated Fat: | 21g |
| Cholesterol: | 187mg |
| Sodium: | 387mg |
| Potassium: | 714mg |
| Fiber: | 6g |
| Sugar: | 4g |
| Vitamin A: | 3441 IU |
| Vitamin C: | 48mg |
| Calcium: | 94mg |
| Iron: | 3mg |
Note: The nutrition calculations provided are estimates based on online tools and the ingredients listed. For the most accurate and precise nutritional information, it is recommended to calculate the values using the specific brands and quantities of ingredients you use in your own kitchen. You are ultimately responsible for verifying the accuracy, completeness, and usefulness of any nutritional data.
Did you enjoy this Simple Spinach Salad?
If you tried and loved this recipe, please consider leaving a review below to help others discover it! We’d also love to see your culinary creations. Snap a picture of your delicious salad and tag me @dkhealthcoach or use the hashtag #dkhealtcoach on Instagram so I can see and share your beautiful dishes!