Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad (Print Version)

Bright blend of spinach, strawberries, 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

# How to Make It:

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 fully 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 if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes, which means you can throw it together on a busy weeknight without stress.
  • The sweet and tangy dressing makes even people who claim they don't like salad ask for seconds.
  • You get that perfect balance of textures: crispy nuts, creamy cheese, juicy berries, and tender greens in every bite.
02 -
  • Don't dress the salad more than five minutes before eating, or the spinach will wilt and the strawberries will release their juice—this is a last-minute dish, and that's actually a feature, not a bug.
  • If the dressing separates or looks broken, it's usually because the vinegar was too cold; just whisk in a teaspoon of water and it'll come back together.
03 -
  • Chill your salad bowl and plates in the freezer for five minutes before serving—cold salad stays fresh longer and tastes more refreshing on a warm day.
  • Make the dressing in a mason jar and shake it instead of whisking if your hands are tired; the vigorous shaking actually helps everything emulsify beautifully.
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