Strawberry Spinach Salad (Printable Version)
Bright blend of strawberries, spinach, pecans, and tangy poppy seed dressing in a fresh salad.
# What You'll Need:
→ Salad
01 - 6 cups baby spinach, washed and dried
02 - 1.5 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - 0.5 small red onion, thinly sliced
04 - 0.5 cup crumbled feta cheese
05 - 0.5 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped
→ Poppy Seed Vinaigrette
06 - 0.25 cup extra virgin olive oil
07 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
08 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
09 - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
10 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
11 - 0.25 teaspoon salt
12 - 0.125 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
# Step-by-Step:
01 - In a large salad bowl, combine the baby spinach, sliced strawberries, red onion, crumbled feta cheese, and toasted pecans or walnuts.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey or maple syrup, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
03 - Drizzle the poppy seed vinaigrette over the salad just before serving. Toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Serve immediately to enjoy optimal freshness.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Ready in 15 minutes with zero cooking, perfect for when you want something fresh but don't have time to fuss.
- The poppy seed vinaigrette is tangy and slightly sweet, nothing like the bottled stuff you've probably forgotten about in your fridge.
- Spinach, strawberries, nuts, and cheese hit every texture and flavor note—it's satisfying enough to eat alone but elegant enough to serve guests.
02 -
- Never dress the salad more than a few minutes before eating it, or the spinach will wilt and the strawberries will release too much liquid—timing matters here.
- The magic happens when you whisk the vinaigrette long enough to see it thicken slightly; that's when the mustard and honey have done their job and everything hangs together in perfect suspension.
03 -
- Toast your nuts in a dry pan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, then let them cool completely before adding them to the salad—warm nuts can wilt the spinach and release oils that muddy the flavors.
- If you're making this ahead, keep the components separate and assemble just before serving, or the salad will weep and lose its vitality.