Spinach Strawberry Salad is a bright and fresh salad recipe, made with baby spinach, sweet strawberries, toasted pecans, and a sweet poppy seed dressing. Everyone should know how to make this classic salad!
The Best Ever Strawberry Spinach Salad!
I am a total sucker for adding strawberries to salad recipes, especially when they have a sweet dressing. Case in point? This easy spinach strawberry salad. It’s the perfect blend of sweet, fresh, and slightly savory ingredients. So perfect for when fresh strawberries are in season!
With the crunch of rich pecans and a bed of healthy, robust baby spinach, this recipe also packs a punch of healthy nutrition. Even if you’re not crazy about salad, this recipe is one you should try. I’ve seen strict meat-and-potatoes-only people go crazy for it!
Why Is Spinach a Superfood?
Spinach is famously a “superfood,” meaning that it contains a lot of nutrition compared to other foods. Spinach is high in vitamin A, and it also delivers a generous dose of iron, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin C. All of that in a low-calorie, easy-to-eat ingredient like spinach? Yep, that’s a superfood!
What’s in This Spinach Salad?
The ingredients you will need for making spinach strawberry salad aren’t complicated – this is a plain and simple (but super tasty!) recipe.
For the Salad:
- Spinach: Baby spinach is my favorite – no need to tear the leaves or remove the stems.
- Strawberries: Hull and quarter the berries.
- Onion: Thinly slice a small amount of red onion. This adds a great punch of flavor to your salad.
- Pecans: Lightly toast the pecans in the oven or a skillet. You could also use candied pecans for a sweeter salad.
- Cheese: Any crumbled, creamy cheese like feta, goat cheese, or blue cheese. This is optional, but very tasty!
For the Poppy Seed Dressing:
- Vinegar: White wine vinegar is my go-to. You could also use plain white vinegar, or apple cider vinegar.
- Sugar: White granulated sugar. If you would rather use honey or maple syrup, those work well also.
- Grape Seed Oil: This neutral-tasting oil works nicely in salad dressings where you want the other flavors to shine through. You can also use olive oil or avocado oil.
- Poppy Seeds: These are usually sold near the spices and seasonings.
- Mustard: Ground mustard, optional, but gives your dressing a depth of flavor.
- Salt: To taste
How to Make Spinach Strawberry Salad
Time for the best part: making the salad! You can assemble this salad in advance, if you like, and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. The dressing can also be prepared ahead.
- Prep the Salad Ingredients. First, prep all of your salad ingredients and arrange them on a serving platter, or in a large bowl.
- Make the Dressing. Next, whisk the dressing ingredients together in a measuring cup (or combine them in a mason jar and shake them up). Taste the dressing and adjust the seasonings, if needed.
- Dress the Salad and Enjoy! Just before serving, drizzle the dressing over the salad, and toss gently. Serve the salad immediately.
Recipe Notes
Like most salads, this one is very flexible – you can make whatever changes work for your tastes or pantry. These are just a few helpful notes to remember:
- Salad Greens: Instead of spinach, you can also try kale or arugula.
- Oil: If you don’t have grape seed oil, you can use another light-tasting oil. Olive oil and avocado oil will both also work.
- Onions: If you don’t want such a strong onion flavor in your salad, slice the red onions thin, soak in cold water for 10-15 minutes, then drain and dry on paper towels. They will still taste like onion, but not have such a punch.
- Berries: You can use any fresh berries you like. Strawberries and spinach is a classic combination, but I make this salad often with whatever fresh berries we have in the fried. Blackberries, blueberries and raspberries are all great.
- Nuts: While I love toasted pecans, just about any nut will do! You could even use candied nuts for a sweeter bite.
Serving Suggestions
You can serve this spinach strawberry salad with all of your favorite main dishes, from chicken to pork to beef to vegetarian. Need some inspiration? I’ve got you covered!
- Chicken: This fresh salad would be perfect with a dish of simple baked chicken. My recipe for the Best Baked Chicken is one you’ll make again and again.
- Pork: Zesty pork chops are always a hit at dinnertime, so be sure to check out this Chuleta Frita (Fried Pork Chops)! Add a healthy salad, and you’ll be in love!
- Beef: Strawberry spinach salad would go wonderfully with a juicy steak, or as a side dish with a savory classic like this juicy Flank Steak.
Can I Prepare This Salad Ahead?
Yes! You can prepare the salad ahead of time, just be sure to not add the dressing until you are ready to serve the salad. Store the salad and salad dressing separately, in air tight containers, in the fridge for up to 24 hours before you are ready to serve it.
How to Store Leftover Salad
Leftover spinach strawberry salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days, as long as you store it without dressing. The dressing can be stored separately for up to five days. Be sure to use airtight storage containers to keep everything fresh and flavorful!
Spinach Strawberry Salad
Ingredients
- 2.5 oz baby spinach
- ½ pound strawberries, hulled and quartered
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
- ½ cup toasted pecans, or candied pecans
- ½ cup crumbled creamy cheese, feta, goat, blue etc, optional
Poppyseed Dressing:
- 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1 ½ tablespoons granulated sugar
- 5 tablespoons grape seed oil
- ½ teaspoon poppy seeds
- ¼ teaspoon ground mustard, optional
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Place all ingredients for salad on a serving platter or in a bowl. Set aside.
- Whisk all ingredients for dressing in a liquid measuring cup or place into a small container with a tight fitting lid (like a mason jar) and shake. Taste and adjust seasonings, if needed.
- Before serving drizzle dressing over the top of the salad and toss gently. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Spinach Substitutions: You could also make this salad with kale, arugula, or other salad greens. Each one will have a different taste and change the salad slightly.
- Red Onions: If you don't want such a strong onion flavor in your salad, slice the red onions thin, soak in cold water for 10-15 minutes, then drain and dry on paper towels. They will still taste like onion, but not have such a punch.
- Add Protein: This also makes a wonderful main-dish salad if you add some sauteed chicken, hard-boiled eggs, or steak.
Nutrition
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More Summery Salad Recipes
- Chickpea Salad
- Mexican Street Corn Salad
- Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad
- Watermelon Feta Salad with Mint
- Fresh Mango Salad
- Dorito Taco Salad
- Creamy Grape Salad
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