Quick and Easy Steak Spinach Salad 🥗

Check out our simple and delicious Steak Spinach Salad recipe! It’s a brilliant mix of fresh spinach, tangy grapefruit, and juicy steak. This salad is loaded with protein and fiber, making it a fantastic low-calorie meal!

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Preparation and cooking overview

Just follow these simple steps: sear the seasoned steak to your liking, slice it thinly, and layer it on a bed of freshly cut vegetables tossed in a vinaigrette dressing. In just 20 minutes, you’ll have a refreshing salad.

Chef’s note

Feel free to add more low-carb vegetables, such as sliced avocado, cucumbers, and radishes. You can add crumbled feta cheese or blue cheese for extra protein. Feel free to play with textures and herbs to add exciting flavors.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 Minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy
Recipe Makes 2 Servings

Steak, bell peppers, onions, grapefruit made ready to prepare keto salad recipe.

🥗 Ingredients for this steak spinach salad recipe

Here is the ingredient list for this delicious salad:

½ pound steak
½ medium red onion, sliced
2 cups baby spinach leaves
1 sweet long red pepper (or ¼ red bell pepper)
¼ grapefruit, cut into segments
½ lemon juice, freshly squeezed
2-3 sprigs of fresh thyme
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Sea salt, to taste

Ingredient substitutions

Here are some delicious substitutions you can try:

For the steak: If you’re up for a change, grill chicken breast, shrimp, or even tuna as a different protein option. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly.
For red onion: Replace red onion and use thinly sliced shallots instead. They have a subtle and sweet taste that beautifully complements the salad.
For soft baby spinach leaves: Opt for arugula or mixed greens. These alternatives add a delightful peppery kick.
For red wine vinegar: You can swap it with apple cider vinegar. It’s got a tangy, slightly sweet flavor that pairs really well with the salad.
For olive oil: Get creative and experiment with avocado oil. It has a buttery flavor and a high smoke point, making it an excellent choice for grilling steaks.

Additional ingredients

Enhance your salad with these delightful additions:

Avocado: Slice up some creamy avocado and toss it into the salad to enjoy a dose of healthy fats.
Cherry tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes add a burst of color and bring a refreshing touch to the salad.
Cucumber: Add hydrating elements to the salad by including crisp cucumber slices.
Nuts: Sprinkle toasted walnuts, almonds, or pumpkin seeds over the salad for an irresistible crunch that adds an extra layer of texture.
Olives: For a Mediterranean twist, incorporate black olives into the salad to infuse a salty and savory element that elevates the flavors.

Salad containing steak, bell peppers, onions, spinach, olive oil.

Cooking tools required

To make this Steak Spinach Salad recipe, you’ll need the following cooking tools:

Knife
Cutting board
Mixing medium bowl
Cast-iron pan
Stove
Tong

Tools substitute options

Here are some handy alternatives that can rescue you in the kitchen.

Mixing bowl: If you don’t have a mixing bowl on hand, large, deep saucepans or pots can mix your ingredients together.
Cast-iron pan: If you don’t have a cast-iron pan, a heavy-bottomed skillet or a stainless steel pan can be used as alternatives. Just keep in mind that cooking times and heat distribution may vary slightly.
Tongs: If tongs aren’t available, you can use a sturdy spatula or a fork to flip your food.

How to make Steak Spinach Salad: step-by-step guide

Cooking methods

Pan-frying

Preparation steps

Take the steak from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes. This will allow it to cook more evenly.
Rinse the baby spinach leaves thoroughly under cold water and pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel.
Slice the red onion into thin slices and set them aside.
If using a sweet long red pepper, wash it, remove the stem and seeds, and slice it into thin strips. If using red bell pepper, remove the stem and seeds and cut them into thin strips.
Cut the grapefruit into segments by removing the peel and pith, then carefully separating the parts from the membranes. Set them aside.
Squeeze the juice from half a lemon and set it aside.
Get a small jar or container with a tight-fitting lid for the vinaigrette.
Measure out the red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper, and keep them nearby.

Cooking instructions

Season the steaks with pepper, salt, and olive oil.
Sear the steaks on a cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Cook it with thyme sprigs to your desired level of doneness. Set aside a few minutes, then slice the steaks into thin strips.
In a small jar, combine red wine vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Shake the jar vigorously to mix everything.
Combine the fresh baby spinach, sliced red onion, sliced red pepper, and grapefruit segments in a large bowl.
Pour the vinaigrette dressing over the salad and toss everything together until it is evenly coated.
Top the salad with the slices of steak.
Serve the salad immediately in a salad bowl, and enjoy your delicious and healthy spinach salad with steak!

Seasoning steaks with salt, pepper, and olive oil.

Slicing the grilled steaks into thin strips.

Adding baby spinach and sliced red pepper to a large bowl.

Pouring vinaigrette over the salad containing baby spinach, chopped red bell peppers, grapefruit, and red onions.

Chef’s pro tip

Be sure not to cook the steak too much. A meat thermometer can help you check if it’s right at 145°F for medium. You can also push lightly on the middle of the steak to see if it’s ready. Once it’s done on the grill, let the steak sit a bit so it can soak up the juices, making it tender and tasty.

What to serve with steak spinach salad?

Add some crunch: Top your salad with some keto-friendly nuts or seeds, like almonds, walnuts, or sunflower seeds, for added texture and flavor.
Serve with keto bread: Enjoy your salad with a slice of homemade keto bread or a low-carb wrap for a more substantial meal.

Topping keto salad with the sliced steak pieces.

How to make it healthier?

Here are a couple of tweaks to enhance the healthiness of this recipe:

Trim the fat: Opt for lean meat like tenderloin or sirloin steak. Trim any visible fat before seasoning to reduce the saturated fat content.
Opt for organic produce: Whenever possible, choose organic ingredients, especially fresh baby spinach, red pepper, and grapefruit.

Time-saving tips

Follow these time-saving tips and ease the cooking process.

Go for bagged baby spinach: Grab some pre-washed and pre-packed baby spinach leaves from the store.
Grab pre-made dressing: Pick up a pre-made, low-carb steak salad dressing. Just make sure to check the label for any sneaky sugars or carbs.
Use your leftover steak: If you’ve got some steak left from another meal, just slice it thin and keep it in the fridge. When you’re ready for a salad, you can skip the grilling and use it.

Steak spinach salad on kitchen table next to cutleries.

What can I prepare ahead of time?

Here are some awesome things to do beforehand to make your cooking process a breeze.

Season the steak: Add your favorite seasonings to the steak a few hours ahead of time and pop it in the fridge. This will really bring out those tasty flavors.
Prepare the salad dressing: Make the dressing and store it in a small jar or container in the refrigerator. When it’s time for salad, just give it a good shake and drizzle it on top.

Storage and reheating instructions

Put any leftover salad in a sealed container and keep it in the fridge for up to 2 days. Keep the dressing, steaks, and the rest apart. Mix them in just before eating to stop the salad from getting mushy.

Recipe wrap-up and conclusion

Alright, food lovers, it’s time to wrap up our Keto Spinach Steak Salad cooking session! This recipe proves that healthy can be tasty. You might even make this a regular in your kitchen. So, pick up your forks and enjoy this yummy dish. It’s all about enjoying great food and fun times!

Frequently asked questions

Absolutely! Feel free to mix it with other leafy greens like kale, arugula, or romaine lettuce.

The sky’s the limit! You can add nuts, seeds, cheese, avocado, or even grilled veggies for extra flavor and texture. Just ensure they are keto-friendly.

To clean the spinach, wash the leaves well under cold tap water to get rid of any dirt. You can also soak them in a bowl of water for a bit, then rinse and drain. Dry the leaves with a fresh towel.

Of course! You can omit the grapefruit from the recipe if you’re not a grapefruit fan or don’t have it. The salad will still taste amazing!

📖 Recipe

Steak Spinach Salad

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This is a quick and easy Steak Spinach Salad, bursting with flavors and packed with protein and fiber.

Course Main Course, Salad

Cuisine American

Keyword 30-minute, keto salad, low carb salad, steak dish

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 10

Servings

Calories 412kcal

Ingredients

½ pound steak
½ medium red onion sliced
2 cups baby spinach leaves
1 sweet long red pepper or ¼ red bell pepper
¼ grapefruit cut into segments
½ lemon juice freshly squeezed
2-3 sprigs of fresh thyme
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
Sea salt to taste

Instructions

Season the steaks with pepper, salt, and olive oil.
Sear the steaks on a cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Cook it with thyme sprigs to your desired level of doneness. Set aside a few minutes, then slice the steaks into thin strips.
In a small jar, combine red wine vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Shake the jar vigorously to mix everything.
Combine the fresh baby spinach, sliced red onion, sliced red pepper, and grapefruit segments in a large bowl.
Pour the vinaigrette dressing over the salad and toss everything together until it is evenly coated.
Top the salad with the slices of steak.
Serve the salad immediately in a salad bowl, and enjoy your delicious and healthy spinach salad with steak!

Video

Nutrition

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