SERVES 4 – 6
This salad is packed with nutrition—baby spinach provides lutein and zeaxanthin, wheat germ lends vitamin E, walnuts offer vitamin E and zinc, oranges have vitamin C (helping you absorb the spinach’s iron), and goji berries contain zeaxanthin, a carotenoid. Toasting the walnuts releases the oils and intensifies the flavor; leaving them raw will maximize the potential health benefits. Goji berries are a nutritionally rich superfruit from a shrub native to China. They can be found in health food and gourmet markets.
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
Pinch of sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
6 cups baby spinach
½ cup finely chopped walnuts
⅓ cup dried goji berries (or substitute cranberries)
2 tablespoons wheat germ
2 segmented navel oranges (see Preparing Citrus Fruit)
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Season with salt and pepper and set aside. In a salad bowl, combine the spinach, walnuts, goji berries, and wheat germ. Toss with the vinaigrette. Add the orange segments. Season to taste and serve.
| Nutritional Profile | |
| Serving size: 1 cup | |
|---|---|
| Calories: | 366 |
| Protein: | 4 g |
| Fiber: | 4 g |
| Fat: | 31 g |
| Saturated fat: | 4 g |
| Sodium: | 121 mg |
| Vitamin A: | 1,170 IU |
| Vitamin C: | 37 mg |
| Vitamin E: | 5 IU |
| Zinc: | 1 mg |
| Beta-carotene: | 661 µg |
| Lutein and zeaxanthin: | 1,595 µg |
| Omega-3 fatty acids: | 1 g |