Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad (Printable)

Vibrant blend of strawberries, spinach, nuts, and creamy poppyseed dressing for a refreshing dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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 - Pinch of salt
14 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Preparation 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 pepper until smooth and emulsified.
03 - Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving. Toss gently to combine and coat all ingredients.
04 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra nuts or feta if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 15 minutes, which means you can actually make it on a weeknight without stress.
  • The poppyseed dressing is tangy and creamy at the same time, nothing like the heavy bottled versions you find at the store.
  • It feels fancy enough to serve at a dinner party but tastes like something you'd happily eat alone at your kitchen counter.
02 -
  • Don't dress the salad more than a few minutes before serving, or the spinach will start to wilt and release its water into the bowl.
  • If you're making this ahead for a party, keep the dressing separate and toss everything together just before guests arrive.
03 -
  • Make extra dressing and keep it in a jar in the refrigerator—it's just as good on roasted vegetables or drizzled over a grain bowl later in the week.
  • If your dressing breaks or looks separated, just shake it again vigorously or whisk in another teaspoon of Greek yogurt to bring it back together.
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