Fall

Sautéed Mushroom Spinach Salad

by:
January 16, 2012
3.8
4 Ratings
  • Serves 2
Author Notes

This salad will change your life. I'm not even kidding. It's the recipe everyone I know asks for. It's the dish everyone raves about. It's perfect for a dinner date or a dinner party or a dinner alone.

The dressing is a slightly modified version of Gwyenth Paltrow's Standby Vinaigrette from her cookbook, My Father's Daughter. It's excellent and versatile and perfect for so many things. Which is probably why she named it her Standby Vinaigrette. Just a guess. —Shea

Continue After Advertisement
Ingredients
  • The Salad
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 medium red onion, sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pint crimini mushrooms, sliced
  • 1/4 cup dry red wine
  • salt + pepper to taste
  • 2 cups baby spinach
  • 2 tablespoons freshly grated parmigiano reggiano
  • Gwyneth Paltrow's Standby Vinaigrette
  • 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons real Vermont maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • salt + pepper to taste
Directions
  1. In a large skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and sauté until softened, 3-5 minutes. Add garlic, mushrooms, red wine and salt and pepper and continue to cook for another 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
  2. Mix the dressing by whisking together the mustard, maple syrup, and red wine vinegar. Slowly whisk in the oil and mix thoroughly.
  3. In a large bowl, add the spinach, mushroom and onion mixture and parmesan cheese. Drizzle the salad dressing (start with about half and add more to meet your liking) and toss to combine. Save the extra dressing for later. Eat that salad. Lick the plate. Drink some wine. Bask in the glory of it all.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

4 Reviews

susan January 21, 2020
This was too soupy--there is too much wine. And made as written, there are way too many onions. A big disappointment.
Susan N. April 3, 2019
This is very good. The mushrooms provide an umami flavor, making the salad seem substantial. The dressing has become a standard for sales, not just this one. The balance of sweet and savory is really good.
Susan N. April 3, 2019
Salads, not sales. Autocorrect.
T April 11, 2016
OMG!!! you are so correct. this simple salad is out of this world. Thank you.