Strawberry Spinach Poppy Seed (Printable)
Bright combination of strawberries, spinach, nuts, and a creamy poppy seed dressing.
# What You'll Need:
→ Salad Components
01 - 5 oz baby spinach, washed and thoroughly dried
02 - 1½ cups fresh strawberries, hulled and thinly sliced
03 - ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
04 - ½ cup sliced almonds or pecans, toasted until fragrant
05 - ½ small red onion, very thinly sliced
→ Poppy Seed Dressing
06 - ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
08 - 1 tbsp honey or pure maple syrup
09 - 1½ tsp poppy seeds
10 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
11 - ¼ tsp kosher salt
12 - ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper
# Steps:
01 - Place the washed and dried baby spinach in a large salad bowl. Add the sliced strawberries, crumbled feta cheese, toasted nuts, and thinly sliced red onion on top.
02 - Combine olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl or Mason jar. Whisk vigorously or shake until fully emulsified and creamy.
03 - Drizzle the poppy seed dressing evenly over the salad just before serving. Toss gently with salad servers to coat all ingredients without bruising the spinach. Serve immediately while vegetables remain crisp.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The dressing comes together in seconds but tastes like something from a fancy restaurant
- Every bite hits that perfect sweet salty crunchy balance that keeps you going back for more
02 -
- Soggy spinach will ruin this faster than anything so spin those leaves completely dry before you start
- The dressing keeps for a week in the fridge but the assembled salad needs to be eaten immediately
03 -
- Buy the strawberries the same day you plan to make this they decline fast after sitting around
- Toast more nuts than you need and keep them in a jar for snacking or future salads