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Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing

fresh strawberry spinach salad - featured image
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A light, refreshing salad combining fresh spinach and ripe strawberries with a creamy poppy seed dressing, perfect for summer and easy to prepare.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups (180g) baby spinach leaves, cleaned
  • 2 cups (300g) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup (60g) toasted pecans or sliced almonds
  • 1/2 cup (75g) feta cheese or goat cheese, crumbled
  • For the Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing:
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) mayonnaise or Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Rinse and dry baby spinach leaves thoroughly using a salad spinner or paper towels.
  2. Hull and slice strawberries into halves or quarters.
  3. Thinly slice the red onion and set aside.
  4. Toast pecans or almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and lightly browned. Remove from heat and cool.
  5. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together mayonnaise or Greek yogurt, vinegar, honey, poppy seeds, and Dijon mustard until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper. Add a teaspoon of water if dressing is too thick.
  6. In a large salad bowl, gently toss spinach, strawberries, red onion, and toasted nuts.
  7. Add cheese crumbles last to avoid breaking them up.
  8. Drizzle half of the creamy poppy seed dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat leaves lightly. Add more dressing if desired.
  9. Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.

Notes

Keep dressing separate until just before serving to prevent soggy greens. Dressing can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Use fresh berries for best flavor; frozen can be substituted in winter. For vegan version, use plant-based mayo/yogurt and maple syrup instead of honey. Avoid over-tossing to keep strawberries and nuts intact. Toast nuts lightly to enhance flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: strawberry spinach salad, poppy seed dressing, summer salad, fresh salad, easy salad recipe, healthy salad, creamy dressing

Find it online: https://elvafood.com/fresh-strawberry-spinach-salad-recipe-with-creamy-poppy-seed-dressing-easy-and-perfect-for-summer/