Make-Ahead Spinach Salad in a Jar

Prep these salads once and eat for the week! Make sure to firmly pack the spinach into each jar and they will stay fresh all week. Use extra spinach if necessary. A great use for leftover quinoa!

Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
40 mins
Servings:
5
Yield:
5 servings
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Ingredients

  • 5 (16 oz) pint jars

  • 2 cups water

  • 1 cup quinoa

Dressing:

  • 3 tablespoons fresh squeezed orange juice

  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

  • ¼ teaspoon grated orange zest

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • ¼ teaspoon curry powder

  • teaspoon black pepper

  • ¼ cup light olive oil

Salad:

  • cup dried cherries

  • ½ cup crumbled goat cheese

  • 5 cups tightly packed fresh spinach

  • 5 tablespoons chopped walnuts

Directions

  1. Bring water and quinoa to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until quinoa is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Allow to cool.

  2. Whisk orange juice, vinegar, orange zest, salt, curry powder, and pepper together in a small bowl. Slowly drizzle in olive oil, whisking continuously until well blended.

  3. Line up 5 pint jars in an assembly line fashion.

  4. Place 1 1/2 tablespoons of dressing into the bottom of each jar. Place 1/2 cup cooked quinoa into each jar, and top with 2 tablespoons cherries. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons goat cheese on top of the cherries. Top with 1 cup of spinach per jar and pack down tightly to remove air pockets; jars should be filled to the top. Finish each jar with 1 tablespoon walnuts. Cover jars and refrigerate until ready to eat.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

396 Calories
22g Fat
39g Carbs
11g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 5
Calories 396
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 22g 29%
Saturated Fat 5g 26%
Cholesterol 11mg 4%
Sodium 220mg 10%
Total Carbohydrate 39g 14%
Dietary Fiber 5g 19%
Total Sugars 11g
Protein 11g 22%
Vitamin C 13mg 15%
Calcium 110mg 8%
Iron 3mg 17%
Potassium 436mg 9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.