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Spinach Salad with Pesto and Peas

May 25, 2018 By msmart 3 Comments

Spinach Salad with Pesto and Peas, Please!

Spinach saladIf you’re hosting friends for a backyard BBQ this weekend — or heading to a lake house, the beach or the mountains — make this easy spinach salad. It’s my go-to summer salad, full of flavor, easy to put together and always a crowd pleaser.

I found this recipe through Ina Garten about 10 years ago and have been making it ever since. Over time, I’ve added more spinach, lemon juice and my own pesto recipe. You could add cooked quinoa for a touch of protein or top it with roasted salmon or sliced grilled chicken.

Recently, Caroline Harper Knapp asked me to provide the menu for an easy Memorial Day gathering. This spinach salad was of course on the menu, along with purchased fried chicken, my orange blossom honey butter, buttermilk biscuits and watermelon slices. Easy (spinach salad) peasy.

Father's Day Menu
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5 from 1 vote

Spinach Salad with Pesto and Peas

Quick to put together and bright with citrus and basil pesto, this is one of my favorite summer salads. I prefer to use homemade pesto (recipe linked to in ingredient list), but good quality store bought pesto works in a pinch.
Prep Time10 mins
Total Time10 mins
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Marcia W. Smart

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons pine nuts toasted
  • 2 cups frozen peas
  • 3 cups baby spinach leaves
  • 2/3 cup pesto
  • 1 lemon
  • ¼ cup grated pecorino cheese

Instructions

  • Warm a sauté pan over medium heat and add the pine nuts; stir for 2-3 minutes until toasted.
  • Defrost the peas at room temperature or in a microwave safe bowl for 30-45 seconds at a time, until just thawed.
  • Place the spinach, peas and pine nuts in a salad bowl. Add the pesto and squeeze the lemon over the salad greens; toss to combine.
  • Sprinkle with pecorino and serve.
  • Note: Adapted over time from an Ina Garten recipe.

Filed Under: All Recipes, Entertaining, Gluten-free/Gluten-free adaptable, Salads, Spring, Summer, Vegetable Side Dish Tagged With: memorial day entertaining, pesto pea salad, spinach salad, summer salad

Previous Post: « Quick Vegetable Stir Fry
Next Post: Father’s Day Menu »

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Comments

  1. Leah

    August 6, 2018 at 11:03 pm

    5 stars
    This was incredible! I used your recipe for the pesto and it was the best pesto ever. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • msmart

      August 8, 2018 at 2:34 am

      Thank you so much for leaving a note! I’m so happy to hear that you liked it!!

      Reply
  2. Kristen Buck

    May 9, 2020 at 2:23 pm

    Making this tonight with the lemon-caper grilled chicken! Cannot wait. Thanks for the inspiration❤️

    Reply

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Marcia Smart
Marcia Smart is a cooking instructor, recipe developer and food writer who wants to help you make good, simple meals for your family and friends. She craves food that's seasonal and delicious and wants to share it with you. A California girl living in a Houston world with her husband and three children.

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