Strawberry Spinach Salad (Printable)
Vibrant blend of strawberries, spinach, nuts, and tangy poppy seed dressing—ideal for light, fresh meals.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Salad Components
01 - 5 oz fresh baby spinach, washed and thoroughly dried
02 - 8 oz fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced into quarters
03 - 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
04 - 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced into half-moons
05 - 1/3 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped
06 - 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds, optional
→ Poppy Seed Dressing
07 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
08 - 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
09 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
10 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
11 - 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
12 - 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
13 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste
# How-to Steps:
01 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, salt, and pepper until thoroughly emulsified. Set aside at room temperature.
02 - In a large salad bowl, layer the spinach, sliced strawberries, red onion, crumbled feta cheese, and toasted nuts.
03 - Drizzle the poppy seed dressing evenly over the salad just before serving. Toss gently using salad servers to coat all ingredients without bruising the spinach.
04 - Sprinkle sunflower seeds over the top if desired. Serve immediately to maintain optimal texture and freshness.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sweet and salty combination hits every crave at once
- It comes together in fifteen minutes flat
- The homemade dressing tastes better than anything from a bottle
02 -
- Never dress this salad ahead of time or the spinach will wilt sadly
- The dressing needs to be whisked vigorously or it will separate on you
- Toasting the nuts yourself makes an enormous difference in flavor
03 -
- Dry your spinach thoroughly after washing or the dressing will slide right off
- Let the dressing sit for ten minutes before using to let the flavors develop