Recently I was at Whole Foods and saw a new salad in their deli case. The minute I tasted a sample I knew I wanted to recreate it at home. Recreating Whole Foods and Starbucks recipes is something I do when I need a challenge.
Their salad was a great jumping off point but mine tastes better and is more flavorful. Not that I’m partial.
It reminds me of this Twelve Superfoods Salad which is a reader favorite. There are so many wonderful textures and flavors in every bite of this hearty salad filled with superfoods. Spinach, blueberries, dried cranberries, almonds, and more.
It’s easy, satisfying, healthy, and most importantly – it tastes amazing.
The salad is incredibly flexible based on what you have on hand and enjoy. I used wheatberries but you can try quinoa, wild rice, couscous, barley, or mix and match the grains. I used dried cranberries and raisins but you can swap them for dried cherries or omit. I didn’t have basil on hand but had cilantro so in it went. Add green onions or red onions if you like. Skip the cheese and use agave rather than honey in the dressing if you want to keep it vegan rather than vegetarian.
For the dressing I used the same dressing I used in Apple, White Cheddar, and Grilled Chicken Salad which originally came from Apple, White Cheddar, and Spinach Salad with Honey-Apple Cider Vinaigrette. It’s light, tangy-yet-sweet from the apple cider vinegar, honey, and Dijon mustard gives it a little bite. The best part is you just shake it together in a jar and any extra will keep for a week in the fridge.
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Spinach Blueberry Superfoods Salad
This Whole Foods Copycat salad is incredibly flexible based on what you have on hand and enjoy. There are so many wonderful textures and flavors in every bite of this hearty salad filled with superfoods. Spinach, blueberries, dried cranberries, almonds, and more. Easy, satisfying, healthy, and most importantly – it tastes amazing. The dressing is light, tangy-yet-sweet from the apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard gives it a little bite and simply shake it together.
Ingredients
Salad
- about 2 cups cooked grains (I used wheatberries; try quinoa, wild rice, couscous, barley, etc. and mix and match if desired)
- about 2 cups fresh spinach leaves, loosely packed
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 3/4 to 1 cup grated white cheese (I used goat gouda; aged white cheddar, crumbled feta, blue cheese, etc. may be substituted)
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup raisins or dried cherries
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup fresh basil or cilantro, finely minced
Honey-Apple Cider Vinaigrette
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 3/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 3/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- Salad – To a large bowl add all ingredients in the order listed; set aside.
- Honey-Apple Cider Vinaigrette – To a small glass jar or container with a lid, add all ingredients, put the lid on and shake vigorously until combined; taste vinaigrette and tweak as necessary to taste. Drizzle about half the dressing over salad, toss to combine, and see if you prefer it moister and add more, to taste. If you don’t use all the vinaigrette, extra will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 1 week. Serve salad immediately or place into an airtight container, refrigerate, and serve chilled. The spinach wilts as time passes but the dried fruit softens and the flavors marry and I enjoy this salad for up to 3 days after preparing.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 555Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 742mgCarbohydrates: 70gFiber: 7gSugar: 55gProtein: 13g
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We made this for dinner tonight and it was SO GOOD. I think I told my husband like 4 times after we finished that I really liked it! We’re adding it to our rotation of meals!
That’s awesome you’re adding it to your rotation and I’m so glad you loved it! Also try the 12 Superfoods Salad that’s linked in the post – similar yet different enough – but the same general approach.
Great photo. Makes me want to eat that salad now. As for fresh blueberries – they’re not in season for at least 3 more months. Too long to wait for salad. I’d think frozen blueberries would work just as well. Thanks for the recipe.
I used fresh and they tasted great! Maybe a little a head of the season, but they weren’t too expensive either. Unfortunately in the salad for me frozen would be a little too mushy but you could try and see what you think.
This looks so good! Blueberries in salads are so refreshing. Mmmmm! Such a spring-y salad.
Thank you!
I need to make this to keep in the fridge for lunch. Mel and I were just talking about Superfoods today..this looks like a keeper!
Both this salad and my other superfoods salad are perfect lunch options to have around! Funny you guys were just talking about superfoods!
DANG that looks delicious. I love blueberries in salad – I am a huge fan ever since I discovered that combo a few months ago. This looks like a particularly super (sorry, couldn’t resist) salad. I love your use of wheat berries too, love those things, even if I’m not 100 percent clear on what they actually are ;-)
This looks so fresh and tasty! I’m on a spinach kick so this immediately caught my eye.
It’s fresh and light and perfect for spring!
What a lovely fresh salad! I absolutely love hearty grains like wheatberries and farro so I’ll definitely have to try this. The perfect lunch dish!
I love hearty grains too! Wheatberries, farro, etc. just give salads like this that extra boost! Reminds me of the salad I ate when we were in Santa Monica together!
Your 12 superfoods salad is a favorite of mine and this one looks just as delicious and healthy! It’s also a great excuse to splurge a little on some fancy cheese. Blue, feta, gouda….love ’em all!!
I know you love my 12 Superfoods salad and you’ll have to tell me how this one stacks up if you try it!
I love this one just as much and can’t pick a favorite! There are similarities (lots of taste and texture from nuts, fresh and dried fruits) but yet the ingredients and dressings are different so it’s another wonderful combination of flavors. I had to go with barley for this one but want to pick up some wheat berries next time I’m at our local co-op. I did find a nice aged gouda which always pairs well with fruit. As always, I adore your salads:)
So glad you loved this one just as much as the other – and I know what a big fan you’ve been of that one since I posted it – so I’m glad the newbie can hang in there :) And also great to hear you find them similar yet different, I tried! The wheatberries were SO good here, hope you can get your hands on some! I am spoiled bc they have them premade daily at the Whole Foods salad bar :)