Strawberry Spinach Pecan Salad (Printable Version)

A vibrant salad with strawberries, spinach, toasted pecans, and tangy balsamic dressing for bright flavors.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad Components

01 - 6 cups fresh baby spinach, washed and thoroughly dried
02 - 1 pint (approximately 2 cups) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - 1/2 cup pecan halves, toasted until fragrant
04 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced into rings
05 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)

→ Balsamic Vinaigrette

06 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
08 - 1 teaspoon honey or pure maple syrup
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
11 - 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# Step-by-Step:

01 - Place pecan halves in a dry skillet over medium heat. Toast for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning, until fragrant and lightly browned. Remove from heat immediately and transfer to a plate to cool completely.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey or maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper. Whisk vigorously until fully emulsified and slightly thickened, about 30 seconds.
03 - In a large serving bowl, layer the washed and dried spinach as the base. Arrange sliced strawberries and red onion strips evenly over the spinach.
04 - Scatter the cooled toasted pecans across the salad. Drizzle the balsamic vinaigrette evenly over all ingredients. Toss gently with salad servers or clean hands to coat without bruising the spinach. Top with crumbled feta if using and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between juicy berries and crisp spinach creates this incredible texture that keeps every bite interesting
  • It comes together in fifteen minutes flat but looks like something from a restaurant menu
02 -
  • The dressing must go on right before serving or the spinach will collapse into a limp disappointing mess
  • I once made the mistake of adding the pecans while they were still warm and ended up with partially wilted greens
03 -
  • If your strawberries are not very sweet a pinch more honey in the dressing will balance everything out
  • Massaging a tiny bit of olive oil into the spinach before dressing makes it incredibly tender

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