Strawberry Spinach Salad Vinaigrette (Printable)

Sweet strawberries and baby spinach tossed with crunchy nuts and tangy poppy seed dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad Components

01 - 6 cups baby spinach, washed and thoroughly dried
02 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and thinly sliced
03 - 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
04 - 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced into rings
05 - 1/3 cup toasted pecans or sliced almonds

→ Poppy Seed Vinaigrette

06 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
07 - 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
08 - 1 tablespoon honey or pure maple syrup
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Steps:

01 - In a small bowl or jar, combine olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, salt, and pepper. Whisk vigorously or shake with lid until emulsified and well blended. Set aside at room temperature.
02 - Place baby spinach, sliced strawberries, red onion rings, and crumbled feta cheese in a large salad bowl. Arrange ingredients evenly for visual appeal.
03 - Drizzle the prepared poppy seed vinaigrette evenly over the salad immediately before serving to maintain crisp texture.
04 - Gently toss salad using salad tongs or large spoons until all components are lightly coated. Sprinkle toasted pecans or almonds across the top as finishing garnish.
05 - Transfer to individual serving plates or present family-style in the large bowl. Enjoy while ingredients remain fresh and crisp.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sweet-tangy vinaigrette clings to every leaf, so boring bites simply don't happen here
  • You can prep everything ahead except the final toss, making it your go-to for feeding a crowd without stress
02 -
  • The dressing will keep in the fridge for a week, but bring it to room temperature before using since cold oil makes everything taste weirdly muted
  • If you're making this ahead, combine everything except the nuts and dressing, then add those right before serving to maintain that fresh crisp texture
03 -
  • Dry your spinach thoroughly, either with a salad spinner or between towels, because water on those leaves means dressing that slides right off instead of coating
  • Taste a strawberry before you start adding salt to the dressing, since sweeter berries need less seasoning to reach perfect balance

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