This spinach strawberry salad with poppy seed dressing is one of my favorites. It has such a phenomenal taste. It’s sweet, tangy, salty, and earthy all at once!
Plus, it’s fast, fresh, and easy to make. It also boasts a gorgeous array of vibrant colors and various mouth-pleasing textures.
But the real star is the easy poppy seed vinaigrette!
Made with olive oil, honey, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and poppy seeds, it strikes the ideal balance of sweet and tart.
Why You’ll Love This Spinach Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
Quick and Easy: You can assemble this salad in just a few minutes. It’s perfect for days when you want something quick and easy.
Versatile Pairing: You can serve this salad with grilled chicken, fish or seafood, steak, ribs, or even kebabs. It can also be the main course for your vegetarian friends.
Seasonal Delight: This salad tastes best with fresh, seasonal strawberries. It’s a delightful way to celebrate the flavors of spring and summer.
Deliciously Healthy: Despite being super yummy, the salad is also nutritious! Luckily, it tastes so good that even the kiddos won’t mind that they’re eating something healthy.
Ingredients
- Fresh Baby Spinach: The nutrient-packed base of the salad. It’s high in fiber, folate, potassium, and vitamin B.
- Strawberries: Select fresh, ripe strawberries for a juicy burst of sweetness and a bright red splash of color.
- Small Red Onion: Slice it into thin ribbons for a subtle touch of heat and crunchiness.
- Crumbled Feta: For tanginess, saltiness, and a creamy contrast to the other ingredients.
- Almonds or Pecans: Be sure to toast them first to bring out their earthy, nutty flavor.
- Poppy Seed Dressing: To make it, you’ll need balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, honey, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, kosher salt, and black pepper. It’s sweetly tart and perfect for the strawberries and spinach.
How to Make Spinach Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
Just follow these five steps:
1. Toast the nuts. Toast them in a small skillet over low heat for about 5 minutes. Then, set them aside to cool.
2. Make the dressing. Whisk together the dressing ingredients in a small bowl or jar. Taste and adjust as needed.
3. Assemble. Place the spinach in a large bowl. Top it with the strawberries, red onions, toasted nuts, and feta.
4. Dress and toss. Drizzle the poppy seed dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
5. Serve. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Spinach Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
Here are my top 5 tips for this salad.
- Fresh is best. That means fresh baby spinach leaves, fresh strawberries, etc. The fresher everything is, the better your salad will taste. If you can get them straight from someone’s garden or a farmers’ market, that’s even better.
- Buy block-style feta. Crumble it yourself from a large block for the best taste and texture. Pre-crumbled feta just can’t measure up.
- Mellow the onions. Some people find red onions too pungent and powerful. Soak the slices in cold water for about 10 minutes to tone them down.
- Get a step ahead. You can prepare it several days in advance. Simply refrigerate it until you’re ready to use it. Making it beforehand and chilling it gives the flavors time to meld and will make it taste fantastic.
- Tweak the recipe. As with all salad recipes, the ingredient list for this one is just a guide. Add grilled chicken, sliced mandarin oranges, fresh blueberries, and more. Whatever you want in the salad, toss it in there!
How to Store
Salads don’t do well in the freezer. However, you can store the leftovers for a few days.
To Store: If possible, keep the dressing and salad in separate containers to prevent sogginess. Refrigerate both. The undressed salad will keep for 2 to 3 days. The dressing will stay fresh for up to 1 week.
Spinach Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
6
servings15
minutes221
kcalThis gorgeous spinach strawberry salad with poppy seed dressing is a feast for the senses! It’s easy to make, delicious, and so satisfying.
Ingredients
- For the Salad
6 cups fresh baby spinach
1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup slivered almonds or pecans
- For the Poppy Seed Dressing
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 tablespoons poppy seeds
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Toast the almonds or pecans in a small skillet over low heat until fragrant and lightly golden. (About 5 minutes.) Set aside to cool.
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together all the dressing ingredients until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Place the spinach in a large salad bowl. Top with sliced strawberries, red onions, toasted nuts, and feta cheese.
- Drizzle the desired amount of poppy seed dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
- Serve the salad immediately, and enjoy!
