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Refreshing Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe with Easy Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing

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A light, crisp, and slightly sweet strawberry spinach salad paired with a sweet and tangy homemade poppy seed dressing. Perfect for quick, healthy meals and crowd-pleasing occasions.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups fresh baby spinach leaves (loosely packed)
  • 2 cups strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/3 cup slivered almonds, toasted
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
  • For the dressing:
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Toast the almonds: Place 1/3 cup slivered almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat. Stir frequently for about 3-4 minutes until golden and fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
  2. Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon poppy seeds, and 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Whisk until smooth and creamy. Add a teaspoon of water if dressing is too thick.
  3. Wash and dry spinach: Rinse 6 cups of baby spinach leaves thoroughly under cold water. Spin dry in a salad spinner or pat gently with paper towels.
  4. Slice strawberries: Hull and slice 2 cups of fresh strawberries into thin pieces.
  5. Thinly slice red onion: Slice about 1/4 cup of red onion very thinly. Soak in cold water for 5 minutes if desired to mellow flavor, then drain.
  6. Assemble the salad: In a large salad bowl, add spinach, sliced strawberries, and red onion. Toss gently to combine.
  7. Add the dressing: Drizzle the poppy seed dressing over the salad. Toss carefully to coat all ingredients. Start with half the dressing and add more to taste.
  8. Top with almonds and feta: Sprinkle toasted slivered almonds and 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese on top just before serving.
  9. Final taste check: Adjust seasoning with salt or pepper if needed. Serve immediately for best texture.

Notes

Dry spinach thoroughly to keep salad crisp. Toast almonds carefully to avoid burning. Whisk dressing well to combine honey and mustard evenly. Add dressing just before serving to maintain freshness. Dressing can be made ahead and stored up to 3 days refrigerated.

Nutrition

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

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