Spinach and Melon Salad with Honey Citrus Vinaigrette

Leave it to my friend Holly Clegg to come up with a wonderful guest post about summer salads. You can check out more of Holly’s trim& TERRIFIC® recipes at hollyclegg.com and The Healthy Cooking Blog.

Summer watermelon

There is nothing quite like a big slice of watermelon on a sizzling summer day. An excellent source of antioxidants, Vitamin C and lycopene, not to mention watermelon is naturally sweet and so juicy! In the Spinach and Melon Salad with Honey Citrus Vinaigrette, melon is a fun surprise ingredient in this delightful, colorful salad. A must-try for that leftover refreshing watermelon! And, now finally the perfect solution to leftover watermelon!!!

Spinach and Melon Salad with Honey Citrus Vinaigrette

Looking for a great summer salad that’s refreshing, colorful, and jam-packed with flavor? Here it is! Give your taste buds a thrill with this fruity spinach salad accented with Maple Pecans, if desired.

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

1 (6-ounce) package fresh baby spinach
1 cup cubed seeded watermelon
1 cup cubed cantaloupe
1 small cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
1/2 cup red onion, halved and thinly sliced
Honey Citrus Vinaigrette (recipe below)
Maple Pecans (optional, recipe below)

Directions:

In large bowl, combine together all ingredients. Toss with Honey Citrus Dressing (recipe below) and Maple Pecans (recipes below).

Honey Citrus Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon lime juice
Salt and pepper
Dash hot sauce

Directions:

In small bowl, whisk together all ingredients.

Nutritional information per serving: Calories 77, Calories from fat (%) 28, Fat (g) 3, Saturated Fat (g) 0, Cholesterol (mg) 0, Sodium (mg) 29, Carbohydrate (g) 14, Dietary Fiber (g) 1, Sugars (g) 11, Protein (g) 2, Diabetic Exchanges: 1 carbohydrate, 1/2 fat

Maple Pecans

Simple and adds that extra enticing crunch and sweetness to any salad or use as a snack.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup pecan halves
1 tablespoon maple syrup

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Coat baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
In small bowl, mix together pecans and maple syrup. Spread on prepared pan. Bake 10 minutes or until lightly browned.

Nutritional information per serving of Maple Pecans: Calories 40, Calories from fat (%) 72, Fat (g) 3, Saturated Fat (g) 0, Cholesterol (mg) 0, Sodium (mg) 0, Carbohydrate (g) 3, Dietary Fiber (g) 0, Sugars (g) 2, Protein (g) 0, Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 fat

Picture courtesy of Holly Clegg and used with permission.

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