There is just something so special about a wilted spinach salad, especially when it involves strawberries and goat cheese! When I first created this recipe it was during the winter months. Wilted salads are a great way to get your veggies in during the cold months (and of course during the warm months as well ).

Here’s what I originally wrote about this delicious salad:

I’m really feeling the winter theme when it comes to veggies! Since eating veggies always gives a good energy boost and adds so much needed nutrition, I like to eat as many as possible even in the winter. Today I have one more delicious and quick cold weather wonder: Wilted Winter Salad!

Where I live it’s almost impossible to find good lettuce in the winter. I can, however, find cold weather greens such as spinach, kale and spring mixes. Adding them to a salad brings tons of good nutrition and a rich flavor. Add that to a deep balsamic dressing and some strawberries and you have a masterpiece on your hands!

One of the best parts about this salad is that it is a complete meal! The greens are your veggie, strawberries are the fruit, chickpeas, bacon and grains are the protein and fiber. Pumpkin seeds are a great source of healthy fat and mushrooms can have cancer fighting properties. On top of all this nutrition, this salad is very quick to put together.

A few quick notes before the recipe: One of our bacon frying tips is to cook it in a deep sauce pan. This way it doesn’t splash as much and the cleanup is much easier. Also, the recipe calls for strawberries but you can use raspberries instead if you prefer. Both taste great!

Wilted Spinach Salad with Strawberries and Goat Cheese

6-8 bacon slices, chopped

4-5 mushrooms, chopped (optional)

¼ red onion, diced

¾ cup balsamic vinegar

¼ cup honey

1 ½ cups cooked chickpeas

6 cups spinach (or similar greens)

1 ½ cups cooked grains (quinoa, millet, wheat berries, etc.)

1 cup pumpkin seeds

2 cups strawberries, sliced

Goat cheese (feta cheese also works well)

Fry bacon pieces in a large skillet until almost done. Add onions and sauté until they sweat. Add mushrooms and continue to sauté until mushrooms are tender. By this time your bacon should be completely cooked. Stir in balsamic vinegar and honey. Stir until the pan is completely deglazed. Keep warm. In a large bowl combine chickpeas, spinach, grains and pumpkin seeds. Pour warm vinegar mixture over the greens etc. and gently toss to coat all ingredients. Top with strawberries and cheese.

Ingredients