This strawberry spinach salad is stuffed with pecans, feta, and a tangy poppy seed dressing. Good for spring or summer time, it is easy and contemporary.
This strawberry spinach salad is ideal for spring and early summer time. It begins with a base of contemporary spinach—one of many first greens to look at my farmers market every spring—and is topped off with juicy strawberries, crisp purple onion, toasty pecans, and salty feta cheese. My candy and tangy poppy seed dressing ties all of it collectively.
I believe it’s honest to say that this mixture is fairly basic (doesn’t Panera have a strawberry poppyseed salad on its menu?), however I nonetheless needed to share this recipe as a result of it’s so easy and contemporary, with an exquisite pop of sweetness and shade from the strawberries. It feels particular sufficient to serve at vacation gathering or potluck (I’m making it for Easter on Sunday!), nevertheless it’s so fast and simple that you can toss it collectively for any spring meal.
You’ll find the whole strawberry spinach salad recipe on the backside of this put up. Alongside the way in which, I’m sharing enjoyable swaps and variations, make-ahead suggestions, and extra. I hope you’re keen on this salad as a lot as I do!
What’s In This Strawberry Spinach Salad
Right here’s what you’ll must make this spinach and strawberry salad:
- Strawberries, after all! They add sweetness, ruby purple shade, and tender, juicy texture. Moderately than chop them, I thinly slice them for this salad. I like consuming the skinny slices alongside the spinach leaves, and so they look so fairly!
- Contemporary spinach – Use child spinach when you can—its small leaves and tender texture are nice right here. Mature spinach additionally works, however chances are you’ll wish to chop it earlier than you assemble the salad.
- Crimson onion – For savory, oniony taste.
- Toasted pecans – For crunch and wealthy, nutty taste.
- And feta cheese – It provides a tangy, salty pop that contrasts completely with the candy berries.
Discover the whole recipe with measurements under.
Potential Swaps
- Exchange the strawberries with one other contemporary fruit like blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, orange segments, thinly sliced apples, or pears.
- Use spring combine as a substitute of spinach. Butter lettuce would work properly too!
- Attempt one other nut. Exchange the pecans with toasted walnuts, pine nuts, or almonds.
- Swap out the feta for crumbled goat cheese or blue cheese. You can even substitute diced avocado to make this recipe dairy-free!
Let me know what variations you strive!
My Simple Poppy Seed Dressing
A candy and tangy poppy seed dressing brings this salad collectively.
It’s simple to make with white wine vinegar, shallot, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, extra-virgin olive oil, and poppy seeds. For those who’d prefer to make the dressing calmly creamy, you may add slightly mayo too.
Simply whisk the elements collectively in a bowl, or place them in a lidded jar and shake to mix.
Potential Swaps
Need to strive one other dressing on this salad? Any of those recipes could be nice:
What to Serve with This Strawberry Spinach Salad
This strawberry spinach salad is a good addition to any spring or early summer time meal! Serve it alongside your favourite protein or with any of those recipes:
It could even be a improbable facet dish for an Easter brunch.
To make this salad meal by itself, add a cooked grain like farro or quinoa and/or a handful of crispy roasted chickpeas.
Make-Forward and Storage Suggestions
The spinach strawberry salad and poppy seed dressing are finest saved individually.
- You may toss collectively the salad elements—minus the dressing—as much as 1 day upfront. Retailer the salad in an hermetic container within the fridge till able to serve.
- You may make the dressing as much as 5 days upfront. Retailer it in an hermetic container within the fridge till able to serve. The olive oil within the dressing could solidify because it chills within the fridge. Simply permit it to take a seat at room temperature for a couple of minutes to melt earlier than drizzling it over the salad!
Undressed leftovers preserve nicely within the fridge for as much as 3 days. As soon as dressed, this salad is finest eaten inside a couple of hours.
Extra Spring Salad Recipes
For those who love this strawberry spinach salad, strive considered one of these contemporary spring salads subsequent:
Strawberry Spinach Salad
Serves 4 to six
This scrumptious strawberry spinach salad is ideal for spring and summer time! The strawberries, greens, and tangy poppy seed dressing make it style tremendous vivid and contemporary. Be at liberty to assemble it as much as 1 day forward when you’re making it for a potluck or special day. Simply wait so as to add the dressing till proper earlier than serving!
- 5 ounces contemporary spinach
- 1 cup thinly sliced strawberries
- ⅓ cup thinly sliced purple onion
- 1 recipe Poppy Seed Dressing
- ½ cup toasted pecans
- 2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
- Sea salt and freshly floor black pepper
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In a big bowl, place the spinach, strawberries, and purple onion. Add among the dressing and toss to mix.
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Add the pecans and feta and gently toss. Add extra dressing, as desired. Season to style with salt and pepper and serve.