Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad (Printable Version)

A crisp mix of strawberries, spinach, nuts, and creamy poppyseed dressing perfect for warm days.

# Needed Ingredients:

→ Salad

01 - 6 cups fresh baby spinach, washed and dried
02 - 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
04 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
05 - 1/3 cup toasted sliced almonds or pecans
06 - 1/4 cup dried cranberries

→ Poppyseed Dressing

07 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
08 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
09 - 1 tablespoon honey
10 - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
11 - 1 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt
12 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Steps:

01 - In a large salad bowl, combine spinach, sliced strawberries, red onion, feta cheese, toasted nuts, and dried cranberries.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, poppy seeds, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until smooth and emulsified.
03 - Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving and toss gently to combine and coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Transfer to serving plates immediately and garnish with extra nuts or feta cheese if desired. Serve chilled.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in fifteen minutes flat, which means you can actually enjoy your guests instead of being stuck in the kitchen.
  • The poppyseed dressing is tangy and creamy without being heavy, and it tastes nothing like bottled versions.
  • Fresh strawberries with spinach is one of those flavor combinations that just works, like you've unlocked some secret your taste buds didn't know they were waiting for.
02 -
  • The dressing can be made up to two hours ahead, but the salad itself must be assembled within minutes of serving or the spinach will wilt and the strawberries will weep juice everywhere.
  • Toasting your own almonds or pecans makes an enormous difference compared to using raw or store-roasted nuts; five minutes in a dry skillet will change your life.
03 -
  • A jar with a tight lid makes dressing preparation instant, and you can shake it right at the table if you want to be that person, which honestly is fun.
  • If your spinach isn't completely dry, pat it down with paper towels before adding it to the salad; even small amounts of excess water will dilute everything and make you regret it.
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