Description
Strawberry Spinach Salad combines sweet, juicy strawberries with fresh baby spinach, crunchy candied pecans, tangy feta cheese, and thinly sliced red onionsโall tossed in a light, tangy poppy seed dressing.
Ingredients
For the Salad:
10 oz baby spinach (about 8–10 cups)
1 lb fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
ยฝ cup red onion, thinly sliced
ยฝ cup crumbled feta cheese
ยฝ cup candied pecans or glazed walnuts
Optional: ยผ cup sliced almonds, toasted
For the Poppy Seed Dressing:
โ cup olive oil or avocado oil
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
ยผ teaspoon salt
โ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. In small bowl or jar with lid, combine olive oil, vinegar, honey, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Whisk vigorously (or shake) for 30 seconds until smooth and emulsified.
2. Hull strawberries by cutting off green tops, then slice into ยผ-inch thick slices. Keep slices uniform for even distribution.
3. Slice red onion as thinly as possible into half-moons. For milder flavor, soak in cold water 5 minutes, then drain and pat dry.
4. Place baby spinach in a large salad bowlโmake sure bowl is big enough to toss without mess.
5. Scatter sliced strawberries, red onion, crumbled feta, and candied pecans evenly over the spinach.
6. Right before serving, drizzle about half the poppy seed dressing over salad. Toss gently with hands or salad tongs, lifting from bottom to coat all leaves evenly.
7. Taste and add more dressing if needed, a tablespoon at a time. Every leaf should be lightly coated, not swimming in dressing.
8. Serve immediately while spinach is crisp. If prepping ahead, keep components separate and toss just before serving.
Notes
Make dressing ahead and refrigerate for up to a weekโshake well before using.
Dry spinach thoroughly after washingโwet leaves won’t hold dressing.
Always dress salad right before serving to prevent wilting.
Store leftover components separatelyโdon’t dress leftover salad.
For a complete meal, top with grilled chicken, shrimp, or hard-boiled eggs.
Substitute strawberries with blueberries, raspberries, or mandarin oranges when not in season.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad, Side Dish
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 245
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 15mg