Cinnamon Honey Vinaigrette with Sweet Green Salad Recipe
A homemade salad with a fresh dressing to go with it is a perfect appetizer or side for a romantic dinner or special holiday or event. This recipe for sweet green salad with honey vinaigrette dressing is as unique as it is easy.
This salad works because it’s got a great combo of flavors and textures: sweet and soft from the fruit, savory from the cheese, crunchy from the nuts and lettuce, and tangy from the sweet vinaigrette.
What I love about this recipe is that it is flexible. You can adjust it to fit your meal and whatever you have around the house. Start with mixed greens, add in something crunchy like nuts, a flavorful cheese and one or more fruits like berries, pears or apples. The finishing touch is the homemade vinaigrette flavored with a splash of cinnamon!
Alternative mix-in ideas are listed below the recipe.
Sweet Green Salad
Salad Recipe:
- 2 cups mixed greens
- 1/4 cup blueberries
- 1/4 cup strawberries
- 1/4 cup chevre, cut into chunks
- 2 tablespoons dried pistachios
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinaigrette
This recipe makes one serving of salad.
Place mixed greens in salad bowl, add toppings, and toss gently. Drizzle vinaigrette just before serving.
Make the salad up to a day in advance, but don’t add the vinaigrette until just before serving to prevent it from becoming weighed down and soggy.
Cinnamon Honey Vinaigrette
Vinaigrette Recipe:
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
You can make this vinaigrette up to a week in advance, just bring it to room temperature and give it a vigorous shake (with the lid securely fastened!) to make sure the oil and vinegar—with its benefits— are blended when it’s served.
Alternative Ad-Ins
You need something crunchy, something chewy, some fruit and a flavorful cheese in the salad. Here are some suggestions to get you started.
Crunchy: pistachios, pine nuts, candied nuts such as pecans or almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, croutons
Chewy: dried cranberries, dried dates, candied oranges
Fruits: pears, apples (green, Gala, Fuji are some good options), purple grapes, pomegranates, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries
Cheese: goat cheese, blue cheese, feta cheese, Wisconsin cheddar, fresh Parmesan
Other: grilled chicken, English cucumbers, avocado, thinly sliced red onion
Sweet Green Salad with Cinnamon Honey Vinaigrette
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 2 cups mixed greens
- 1/4 cup blueberries
- 1/4 cup strawberries
- 1/4 cup chevre, cut into chunks
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Vinaigrette Recipe
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
Salad
Place mixed greens in salad bowl, add toppings, and toss gently.
Drizzle vinaigrette just before serving.
Vinaigrette
Add all the ingredients - except for the oil - into a bowl.
After adding all the other ingredients, whisk the oil into the vinaigrette slowly to fully blend.
Notes
You can make this vinaigrette up to a week in advance, just bring it to room temperature and give it a vigorous shake (with the lid securely fastened!) to make sure the oil and vinegar are blended when it’s served.
