Tossing crisp greens with sweet berries and crunchy pecans creates a vibrant, refreshing meal. This Spinach Strawberry Salad comes together quickly for a light lunch that James requested just yesterday. Learning How To Make Spinach And Strawberry Salad is a wonderful way to enjoy fresh seasonal produce without spending hours in the kitchen.
What Makes This Spinach Strawberry Salad Special
You will appreciate how this Spinach Strawberry Salad balances sweet and savory notes in every single bite. The primary benefit is the homemade dressing that ties the fresh ingredients together without being overly heavy. Additionally, soaking the onions removes their harsh bite, leaving a mild crunch that Ethan actually enjoys. Having a reliable Spinach And Strawberry Salad Recipe on hand ensures you can quickly assemble a beautiful dish for any gathering.
Jump to:
- What Makes This Spinach Strawberry Salad Special
- What You'll Need
- How to Make Spinach Strawberry Salad (Step-by-Step)
- Kitchen Wisdom
- Creative Modifications
- Keeping It Fresh
- What to Serve With Spinach Strawberry Salad
- Common Questions About Spinach Strawberry Salad
- More Recipes You'll Love
- Spinach Strawberry Salad
- Pairing
- More DINNER
What You'll Need
Gathering these simple, fresh components ensures your Spinach Strawberry Salad comes together with beautifully balanced flavors. Knowing exactly How To Make Strawberry Spinach Salad starts with choosing vibrant produce and quality nuts.
Scroll to the recipe card for ingredients and step-by-step directions.
Main Ingredients
- Baby spinach: Provides a tender, crisp base for the heavy toppings.
- Strawberries: Hulled and quartered for sweet bursts of flavor.
- Raw pecans: Toasted to add a deep, nutty crunch.
- Feta cheese: Block-style crumbled for a creamy, salty contrast.
- Red onion: Thinly sliced for a mild, savory bite.
- Balsamic vinegar & Olive oil: Forms the base of the tangy dressing.
- Poppy seeds & Honey: Adds texture and natural sweetness to the vinaigrette.
Optional Extras
You can easily add grilled chicken strips or sliced almonds to give this dish a heartier, protein-rich finish. If you want a mixed berry flavor, tossing in a handful of fresh blueberries creates a wonderful Strawberry Blueberry Salad variation.
How to Make Spinach Strawberry Salad (Step-by-Step)
This simple assembly method ensures a beautifully dressed Spinach Salad With Strawberries that stays crisp and vibrant.
Toast The Pecans Bake the pecans on a sheet at 350 degrees F for 8 to 10 minutes until they become fragrant. Toasting releases their natural oils for a deeper flavor, resulting in nuts that are a warm tan color inside.
Soak The Onions Place the thinly sliced onions in a bowl and cover them completely with cold water while you prep.
Why do I need to soak the red onions? Soaking removes the harsh, pungent bite while retaining their crisp texture, leaving mild, translucent slices behind.
Mix The Dressing Whisk the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, poppy seeds, honey, mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until fully emulsified. Combining these vigorously ensures the oil and vinegar bind together, creating a thick, dark dressing.
Combine Base Ingredients Place the baby spinach, quartered strawberries, and drained red onions into a large serving bowl. Layering these first ensures the delicate greens are ready to catch the dressing, presenting a bright, colorful base.
Dress And Serve Drizzle half the dressing over the greens, toss lightly, then gently fold in the feta and toasted pecans. Coating the leaves before adding the cheese prevents the feta from turning pink, yielding a glossy, vibrant salad ready for the table.
Kitchen Wisdom
Getting the right texture for your Spinach Strawberry Salad relies on balancing the dressing and the delicate greens.
Don't over-toss → protects the delicate berries → look for intact, juicy strawberry quarters.
Dry the greens → prevents a watered-down dressing → look for leaves that hold the oil well.
Buy block feta → crumbles into creamier chunks → look for distinct, soft white pieces.
Watch the pecans → prevents bitter, burnt nuts → look for a fragrant, light brown center.
Dress right before serving → keeps the Strawberry Spinach Salad With Balsamic crisp → look for firm, lifted leaves.
Follow Aliana on Pinterest →Creative Modifications
You can easily adapt this dish to incorporate different greens or nuts based on what is in your pantry. For a robust Strawberry Kale Salad style, swap half the spinach for finely chopped kale and massage it slightly. Walnuts or slivered almonds also work beautifully if you do not have pecans available.
Keeping It Fresh
Store the undressed greens, berries, and nuts in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to three days. A fully mixed Strawberry Salad With Balsamic Dressing will wilt quickly, so always keep the dressing in its own jar. Shake the dressing vigorously to recombine the oil and vinegar before serving.
What to Serve With Spinach Strawberry Salad
This Spinach Strawberry Salad pairs beautifully with grilled chicken, baked salmon, or a warm slice of crusty bread. The bright acidity of a Strawberry Salad With Poppyseed Dressing cuts through the richness of roasted meats, creating a balanced and satisfying meal. Serve it alongside a light quiche for a wonderful weekend brunch.
Common Questions About Spinach Strawberry Salad
Can I use pre-crumbled feta?
You can use pre-crumbled feta, but buying a block and crumbling it yourself yields a much creamier texture. Pre-packaged crumbles contain an anti-caking agent that makes them slightly dry and powdery, which can alter the mouthfeel of your dish.
How do I prevent the spinach from wilting?
The key to crisp greens is making sure they are completely dry after washing before you assemble the dish. Additionally, only pour the dressing over the portions you plan to eat immediately to maintain that fresh, firm snap.
Can I use a different vinegar?
Yes, apple cider vinegar or white balsamic vinegar are excellent substitutes if you want a lighter-colored dressing. They maintain the necessary acidity for Spinach Strawberry Salad Recipes Balsamic Dressing while offering a slightly different fruity undertone.
How far in advance can I make the dressing?
You can whisk the dressing together and store it in a sealed mason jar in the fridge for up to a week. The oil will likely solidify slightly when cold, so let it sit at room temperature for ten minutes before shaking.
More Recipes You'll Love
Dinner feels lighter and more vibrant when you include a fresh Spinach Strawberry Salad. If you enjoyed this dish, you will love exploring other Spinach Salad Recipes Easy options in our collection.
- Grilled Peach and Burrata Salad
- Classic Caesar Salad with Homemade Croutons
- Apple Walnut Salad with Vinaigrette
Gave this recipe your own spin? Share it on Pinterest @AlianaRecipes - I can't wait to see your take on it!
Spinach Strawberry Salad
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for 8 to 10 minutes until they become fragrant. Toasting releases their natural oils for a deeper flavor, resulting in nuts that are a warm tan color inside.
- Place the thinly sliced onions in a bowl and cover them completely with cold water while you prep. "Why do I need to soak the red onions?" Soaking removes the harsh, pungent bite while retaining their crisp texture, leaving mild, translucent slices behind.
- Whisk the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, poppy seeds, honey, mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until fully emulsified. Combining these vigorously ensures the oil and vinegar bind together, creating a thick, dark dressing.
- Place the baby spinach, quartered strawberries, and drained red onions into a large serving bowl. Layering these first ensures the delicate greens are ready to catch the dressing, presenting a bright, colorful base.
- Drizzle half the dressing over the greens, toss lightly, then gently fold in the feta and toasted pecans. Coating the leaves before adding the cheese prevents the feta from turning pink, yielding a glossy, vibrant salad ready for the table.
Nutrition
Notes
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Spinach Strawberry Salad:
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