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Refreshing Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe with Easy Poppy Seed Dressing

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A vibrant and mouthwatering salad combining sweet strawberries, tender spinach, and a creamy, tangy poppy seed dressing. Perfect for a quick, healthy lunch or a crowd-pleasing side dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups fresh baby spinach (about 180g), washed and dried
  • 1 pint strawberries (about 300g), hulled and sliced
  • ¼ cup red onion (about 30g), thinly sliced
  • ½ cup toasted pecans or sliced almonds (about 50g)
  • ½ cup crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese (about 75g), optional
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise (60ml)
  • 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt (30g)
  • 2 tablespoons honey (30ml)
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (15ml)
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (15ml)
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds (9g)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Rinse the baby spinach under cold water and spin dry using a salad spinner or pat dry with paper towels.
  2. Hull the strawberries by cutting off the green caps, then slice them into thin pieces.
  3. Peel and slice the red onion thinly, about 1/8-inch thick. Soak in cold water for 5 minutes if desired to reduce sharpness, then drain.
  4. Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add the pecans or almonds and toast for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and lightly golden. Remove from heat and let cool.
  5. In a small bowl or jar, combine mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, honey, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, poppy seeds, salt, and pepper. Whisk or shake until smooth and creamy. Adjust sweetness or acidity to taste.
  6. In a large bowl, combine the spinach, sliced strawberries, red onion, and toasted nuts. Add cheese if using.
  7. Pour the poppy seed dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat evenly. Serve immediately.

Notes

Toast nuts lightly in a dry skillet for 3-4 minutes to enhance flavor. Dry spinach thoroughly to avoid soggy salad. Toss salad with dressing just before serving to keep leaves crisp. Dressing can be made up to 3 days ahead and stored in the fridge. For dairy-free version, omit cheese and use coconut-based yogurt.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://tessierecipes.com/refreshing-fresh-strawberry-spinach-salad-recipe-with-easy-poppy-seed-dressing/