Spinach Strawberry Salad Fresh (Printable)

Tender spinach and juicy strawberries tossed with nuts and a sweet poppy seed dressing.

# What You Need:

→ Salad

01 - 5 oz fresh baby spinach leaves
02 - 9 oz strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - ½ cup toasted pecans or sliced almonds
04 - ½ cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
05 - 2 tablespoons thinly sliced red onion (optional)

→ Sweet Poppy Seed Dressing

06 - ¼ 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 - ¼ teaspoon sea salt
12 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Steps:

01 - In a large salad bowl, mix the spinach, strawberries, nuts, feta cheese, and red onion if using.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until smooth and emulsified.
03 - Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Serve immediately to maintain freshness and crunch.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes, which means you can go from craving salad to eating it before your enthusiasm fades.
  • The poppy seed dressing tastes special enough that people ask for the recipe, even though it's just a few pantry staples whisked together.
  • It's naturally flexible—swap the nuts, add feta or skip it, throw in grilled chicken if you need more protein.
02 -
  • Don't dress the salad more than a few minutes before eating—the spinach wilts quickly once it hits the vinegar, and that delicate crunch is half the appeal.
  • If your strawberries taste like nothing, the whole salad will taste like nothing; this recipe only works if the berries are actually ripe and flavorful, so taste one before you commit.
03 -
  • Toast your own nuts if you have time—it takes five minutes and transforms their flavor from pleasant to memorable.
  • Make the dressing the morning of if you're hosting, keep it separate, and dress the salad only when everyone's ready to eat; this simple step is the difference between crisp and sad.
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