Spinach Strawberry Salad Fresh (Print Version)

A fresh mix of spinach, strawberries, nuts, and a sweet, tangy dressing for light, crisp flavors.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad

01 - 5 oz fresh baby spinach leaves
02 - 9 oz strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - ½ cup toasted pecans or sliced almonds
04 - ½ cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
05 - 2 tablespoons red onion, thinly sliced (optional)

→ Sweet Poppy Seed Dressing

06 - ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
08 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
09 - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
10 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
11 - ¼ teaspoon sea salt
12 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Steps to Follow:

01 - In a large salad bowl, mix spinach, strawberries, nuts, feta cheese, and red onion if using.
02 - Whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, sea salt, and pepper in a small bowl or jar until emulsified.
03 - Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving and toss gently to coat all ingredients.
04 - Serve immediately to preserve freshness and texture.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It comes together in fifteen minutes flat, which means you can impress people without spending your whole afternoon in the kitchen.
  • The poppy seed dressing is genuinely addictive—sweet, tangy, and nothing like the heavy bottled versions you've probably tasted before.
  • It's naturally vegetarian and gluten-free, so it works for almost every dinner table without making anyone feel like an afterthought.
02 -
  • Never dress the salad more than five minutes before serving, or the spinach will collapse and the strawberries will start leaking juice into everything.
  • Always whisk the dressing hard enough to see it change texture and pale slightly—that's how you know the mustard has emulsified the oil and vinegar properly.
03 -
  • Invest in good poppy seeds from the bulk section rather than using dried ones that have been sitting on a shelf for months—the flavor difference is remarkable and worth every penny.
  • If your dressing separates while sitting, simply whisk it again for a few seconds and it will come right back together, proving that a little mustard is pure kitchen magic.
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