Fresh Spinach Salad with Brie, Cherries and Pistachios
A bright, composed salad featuring tender spinach, fresh cherries, crisp celery, and creamy brie cheese, tossed with a tangy mustard-yogurt dressing and finished with roasted pistachios. The combination of sweet fruit, sharp greens, and rich cheese creates a balanced side dish or light lunch.
Ingredients
- 3 ¼ oz fresh spinach, washed and dried
- 4 sticks celery, quartered lengthwise and cut into bite-sized pieces
- 7 oz cherries, pitted and halved
- 1 oz shelled pistachios, chopped
- 5 ½ oz Brie, sliced
- 2 tbsp French mustardDijon mustard1:1condimentsharp
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- 2 tbsp Greek yogurt
- 5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 4 tbsp balsamic vinegar of Modena
- salt(optional)
- pepper(optional)
Instructions
- 1
Wash and dry the spinach thoroughly.
- 2
Wash the celery stalks, quarter them lengthwise, and cut into bite-sized pieces.
- 3
Wash and dry the cherries, pit them, and cut in half.
- 4
Prepare the dressing by shaking mustard, yogurt, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper together in a lidded jar until combined.
- 5
Place spinach, celery and cherries in a large bowl, add half the dressing and mix to combine.
- 6
Divide the salad between plates and top with chopped pistachios and sliced brie.
- 7
Drizzle with remaining dressing and additional balsamic vinegar before serving.
Tips
Pit cherries over a bowl to capture juices that can be added to the dressing.
Prepare the dressing up to 2 hours ahead for flavors to meld.
Dress only the spinach, celery and cherries; add toppings just before serving to prevent sogginess.
Good to Know
Store dressed salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. Store undressed salad components separately for up to 2 days.
Wash and dry spinach, prepare celery, pit and halve cherries, and make dressing up to 4 hours ahead. Assemble salad just before serving.
Serve immediately after assembly on chilled plates to maintain crisp texture.
Common Mistakes
Do not dress the entire salad ahead of serving to avoid wilted spinach and soggy texture.
Do not skip drying the spinach thoroughly to prevent excess water diluting the dressing.