Dairy Free Pesto-Walnut Egg Spinach Salad
This salad is a serious weeknight upgrade — vibrant baby spinach and juicy cherry tomatoes get tossed in a bright, herby pesto vinaigrette that you blitz together in minutes from fresh basil, raw walnuts, garlic, and lemon juice. The dressing is built entirely on olive oil, so it's naturally free of any dairy without any substitutions or compromises on flavor. Those jammy 7-minute eggs are the real star, with yolks that are just barely set and impossibly rich, nestled right on top of the greens. Toasted walnuts add a warm, nutty crunch that plays beautifully against the brightness of the lemon-basil dressing. The optional Parmesan shavings make it easy to keep the whole dish completely dairy-free for everyone at the table, or let people add it themselves. It's the kind of salad that actually feels like a meal — satisfying, fresh, and packed with good fats and protein from the eggs and walnuts.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the eggs
- 4 large eggs
For the pesto vinaigrette
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
- ¼ cup raw walnuts
- 1 small garlic clove
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, for the dressing
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For the salad
- 5 oz baby spinach
- ½ cup raw walnuts, roughly chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, for toasting
- ¼ tsp salt, for toasting
For serving
- ¼ cup shaved parmesan (optional)
Can be omittedshaved parmesan
Instructions
- 1
Bring a medium saucepan of water to a full boil. Gently lower the eggs in with a spoon and cook for exactly 7 minutes for jammy, slightly soft yolks. Transfer immediately to a bowl of ice water and let sit for 5 minutes, then peel and halve lengthwise.
- 2
While the eggs cook, heat 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the 1/2 cup roughly chopped walnuts and 1/4 tsp salt and cook, stirring frequently, for 3–4 minutes until the walnuts are fragrant and lightly golden — watch closely, as they can brown quickly. Transfer to a plate to cool.
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