Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad (Printable View)

A refreshing mix of fresh strawberries, spinach, nuts, and creamy poppyseed dressing.

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

# Directions:

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 evenly.
04 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra nuts or feta cheese if desired.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes flat, which means you can make it on a Tuesday night without any fuss.
  • The poppyseed dressing is tangy and creamy without being heavy, and it actually tastes nothing like bottled versions.
  • Fresh strawberries paired with spinach create this unexpected sweetness that keeps people reaching for more.
02 -
  • Never dress the salad more than a few minutes before eating—spinach wilts quickly and the whole thing falls apart.
  • If you make the dressing ahead, it might separate in the jar, but a quick whisk before serving brings it right back together.
03 -
  • Make the dressing in a mason jar, shake it vigorously, and you can store it in that same jar for up to a week—shake again before using.
  • If your strawberries aren't as sweet as you'd hoped, add an extra half-teaspoon of honey to the dressing and it will compensate beautifully.
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