Loaded Spinach Salad                                                  

Makes: 2 servings, about 4 cups each

Active time: 30 minutes | Total: 40 minutes

To make ahead: The recipe makes 1 1/4 cups dressing (Step 1); cover and refrigerate extra dressing for up to one week. Stir before using.

Like many spinach salads, this one features lots of chopped-up hard-boiled egg. But since most of the calories in an egg are in the yolk, this recipe uses just two whole eggs, plus the whites from six additional eggs, for a satisfying spinach salad that keeps the calories in check.

Creamy Blue Cheese Dressing

1/3 cup low-fat mayonnaise

1/3 cup buttermilk or nonfat milk

1/3 cup nonfat plain yogurt

2 tablespoons tarragon vinegar or white vinegar

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese

Salad

8 large eggs

6 cups baby spinach

4 tablespoons Creamy Blue Cheese Dressing, divided

1 8-ounce can beets, rinsed and sliced

1 cup shredded carrots

2 tablespoons chopped pecans, toasted (see tip)

1. To prepare dressing: Whisk mayonnaise, buttermilk (or milk), yogurt, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper in a medium bowl until smooth. Add cheese and stir, mashing with a spoon until the cheese is incorporated.

2. To prepare salad: Place eggs in a single layer in a saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook at the lowest simmer for 10 minutes. Pour off the hot water and run cold water over the eggs until they are completely cooled. Peel the eggs; discard six of the yolks. Chop the remaining yolks and whites.

3. Toss spinach and 2 tablespoons of the dressing in a large bowl. Divide between two plates. Top with the chopped eggs, beets, carrots and pecans. Drizzle with two more tablespoons dressing. (Refrigerate the extra dressing for up to one week.)

Per serving: 270 calories; 12 g fat (3 g sat, 5 g mono); 189 mg cholesterol; 20 g carbohydrate; 0 g added sugars; 23 g protein; 6 g fiber; 803 mg sodium; 1,098 mg potassium. Nutrition bonus: Vitamin A (359% daily value), folate (61% dv), vitamin C (55% dv), potassium (32% dv), iron (31% dv), calcium (20% dv).

Tip: To toast chopped nuts, cook in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.

Submitted by:  MSU Extension

Source:  eatingwell.com