Have you ever craved something fresh and bright? This Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing is just the dish to brighten up your table. It’s colorful, crisp, and the perfect way to showcase juicy strawberries.
Provides a quick, light, nourishing salad with spinach and strawberries, supporting meal prep, kid-friendly meals, and budget-friendly ingredients.
I know how hard it can be to get everyone to agree on a salad. Sometimes, it can feel like a lost cause! But trust me, this recipe hits all the right notes. The sweet strawberries and tangy dressing make it a hit, no matter the occasion.
What I love about this salad is how quick it is to whip up, needing just 15 minutes of prep. You can easily adjust the ingredients, so it suits whatever you have on hand or your taste preferences. It’s ready in about 25 minutes total, and your friends and family will be raving about it!
If you want to try something even sweeter, you might enjoy making my Mixed Berry Caprese Orzo Salad for a fun twist!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Sweet and Tangy Flavor The mix of strawberries and the poppy seed dressing creates a delightful sweetness that’s balanced by a nice tang from the balsamic. It’s refreshing, yet satisfying.
- Fresh Ingredients Using seasonal produce makes this salad a real winner. The spinach and strawberries are so vibrant and fresh, giving you that farm-to-table feel.
- Quick and Easy Prep Prep time is only about 15 minutes, so you can whip this up in no time, whether you’re having a casual meal or a special occasion.
- Convenient Storage Leftovers can be stored easily without the dressing for up to four days, so you can enjoy this salad multiple times without losing its freshness.
Fresh Spinach Strawberry Salad Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cool Time: 0 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: salad
- Method: mixing
- Cuisine: vegetarian
- Diet: vegetarian
Description
A delightful and refreshing salad featuring strawberries and spinach, topped with a homemade poppy seed dressing.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup raw pecans, toasted
- ½ small red onion, very thinly sliced
- 10 ounces fresh baby spinach, cleaned and dried
- 1 quart strawberries, hulled and quartered
- ¾ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ tablespoons poppy seeds
- 1 ½ tablespoons honey
- ½1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Toast & Cool Nuts: Start by toasting your pecans in a dry pan over medium heat until they are golden and fragrant. You will know they are ready when they give off a nutty aroma, about 5 minutes. Keep an eye on them, as they can burn quickly.
- Prepare Salad Base: Grab a large bowl and toss in your fresh spinach and strawberries, ensuring the spinach is clean and dry to avoid a soggy salad. The vibrant colors should pop for an appealing visual display.
- Mix Poppy Seed Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together balsamic vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil, poppy seeds, honey, Dijon mustard, kosher salt, and ground black pepper until smooth. Adjust the thickness by adding a splash of water if needed.
- Combine Lettuce & Dressing: Drizzle the poppy seed dressing over the spinach and strawberries, ensuring that the greens glisten with dressing. Dress only what you plan to eat immediately to keep leftovers fresh.
- Top with Nuts: Sprinkle your toasted pecans over the top of the salad to add a satisfying crunch that complements the tender spinach and juicy strawberries. Avoid adding too many nuts to not overwhelm the other flavors.
- Serve & Enjoy: Serve the salad on plates while it is fresh, showcasing the vibrant colors and aromas. To keep leftovers, store the undressed salad in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Notes
- Storage Tips: Store leftovers undressed in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Refrigerate any leftover dressing for up to 5 days.
- Expert Tips: Toast nuts for enhanced flavor and texture. If your salad seems overly sweet, adding a touch more balsamic vinegar can help create a nice contrast. Soak the sliced red onion in cold water for a few minutes to reduce its sharpness.
- Reheating Instructions: This salad is best served fresh. Do not reheat as it is a cold dish.
- Serving Suggestions: Pair with grilled chicken for a protein boost. Serve alongside crusty bread to complement the salad. Adding cooked quinoa will make this a heartier meal.
- Recipe Variations: Mix in blueberries or raspberries for a berry medley. Swap spinach for kale for a different texture. Adding grilled shrimp or chicken will make for a complete meal.
- Ingredient Notes: When selecting strawberries, look for ones that are bright red and firm. For the pecans, you can substitute slivered almonds or chopped walnuts, toasting them for better flavor. Feta cheese can be replaced with goat cheese or gorgonzola for a different taste, crumbling it yourself for better creaminess.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 249
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: null
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: null
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 17mg
Recipe Tips
- If nuts start to darken too much while toasting, consider lowering the oven temperature to 325°F and keeping an eye on them.
- When preparing your salad, consider dressing only the portion you plan to eat at that time to avoid sogginess.
- If your salad seems overly sweet, adjusting the dressing with a touch more balsamic vinegar can help create a nice contrast.
- For a more subtle onion flavor, soaking the sliced red onion in cold water for a few minutes can reduce its sharpness.
- If you want to mix things up, adding a handful of blueberries can introduce another layer of flavor without overloading on sugar.
Serving Suggestions
Pair this strawberry spinach salad with grilled chicken for added protein. Serve it alongside crusty bread or cooked quinoa for a heartier meal.
This salad can also accompany dishes like roasted salmon, shrimp skewers, or a vegetable quiche. Consider serving it at gatherings like spring celebrations, potlucks, or summer parties.
A drizzle of poppy seed dressing enhances the flavors of the salad. Add toasted nuts or seeds for additional texture and interest.
Recipe variations
- You can use kale instead of spinach to change the texture and add a hearty crunch to your salad.
- Add 1 teaspoon garlic powder or ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper for a little extra flavor kick in the dressing.
- Either add grilled shrimp or chicken for protein, or toss in some toasted chickpeas for a vegetarian option.
- If serving a larger group, simply double all ingredients, using 6 cups of spinach and 2 quarts of strawberries for sufficient portions.
Save This Recipe!
How to Store?
To keep your strawberry spinach salad with poppy seed dressing fresh, follow these storage tips:
Refrigeration: Store leftovers undressed in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Dressing Storage: Keep any leftover dressing in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezing: For longer storage, place the undressed salad in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving.
Other Recipes You’ll Love
- Mixed Berry Caprese Orzo Salad
- Rainbow Orzo Salad
- Grilled Summer Vegetable Orzo Salad with Peaches
- Orzo Pesto Pasta Salad
If you enjoyed this Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I appreciate taking time to read about this recipe, thank you!
