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Fresh Strawberry Spinach Pecan Salad with Easy Homemade Poppyseed Dressing

fresh strawberry spinach pecan salad - featured image
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A vibrant and refreshing salad combining fresh baby spinach, juicy strawberries, toasted pecans, and a homemade poppyseed dressing with a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups fresh baby spinach (about 180g), washed and dried
  • 2 cups strawberries (about 300g), hulled and sliced
  • 1 cup pecans (about 120g), roughly chopped and toasted
  • 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta or goat cheese (about 75g), optional
  • For the dressing:
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise (about 75g)
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Toast the pecans: Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add pecans and toast for 3–5 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant and slightly darker. Remove from heat and let cool.
  2. Prepare the strawberries: Rinse, hull, and slice strawberries thinly. Set aside.
  3. Slice the red onion thinly.
  4. Make the dressing: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, honey, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, salt, and pepper. Adjust sweetness or tang as desired.
  5. Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine baby spinach, sliced strawberries, red onion, and toasted pecans. Add crumbled feta or goat cheese if using.
  6. Toss gently: Drizzle dressing over the salad and toss gently with salad tongs or two large spoons to coat evenly without bruising the spinach.
  7. Serve immediately for best freshness. If making ahead, keep dressing separate and add just before serving.

Notes

Toast pecans carefully to avoid burning. Use fresh baby spinach for best texture. Adjust dressing sweetness and tang to taste. Keep dressing separate if making ahead to avoid soggy salad. Frozen strawberries can be used if thawed and drained well.

Nutrition

Keywords: strawberry spinach salad, poppyseed dressing, pecan salad, fresh salad, easy salad recipe, healthy salad, gluten-free salad

Find it online: https://elvafood.com/fresh-strawberry-spinach-pecan-salad-with-easy-homemade-poppyseed-dressing-recipe/