This strawberry spinach salad is full of pecans, feta, and a tangy poppy seed dressing. Good for spring or summer season, it is easy and contemporary.
This strawberry spinach salad is ideal for spring and early summer season. It begins with a base of contemporary spinach—one of many first greens to seem at my farmers market every spring—and is topped off with juicy strawberries, crisp pink onion, toasty pecans, and salty feta cheese. My candy and tangy poppy seed dressing ties all of it collectively.
I feel it’s honest to say that this mixture is fairly basic (doesn’t Panera have a strawberry poppyseed salad on its menu?), however I nonetheless needed to share this recipe as a result of it’s so easy and contemporary, with an exquisite pop of sweetness and coloration from the strawberries. It feels particular sufficient to serve at vacation gathering or potluck (I’m making it for Easter on Sunday!), but it surely’s so fast and simple that you could possibly toss it collectively for any spring meal.
You’ll find the entire strawberry spinach salad recipe on the backside of this put up. Alongside the best way, I’m sharing enjoyable swaps and variations, make-ahead ideas, and extra. I hope you’re keen on this salad as a lot as I do!
What’s In This Strawberry Spinach Salad
Right here’s what you’ll must make this spinach and strawberry salad:
- Strawberries, after all! They add sweetness, ruby pink coloration, and tender, juicy texture. Reasonably than chop them, I thinly slice them for this salad. I like consuming the skinny slices alongside the spinach leaves, and so they look so fairly!
- Contemporary spinach – Use child spinach for those who can—its small leaves and tender texture are nice right here. Mature spinach additionally works, however chances are you’ll wish to chop it earlier than you assemble the salad.
- Purple onion – For savory, oniony taste.
- Toasted pecans – For crunch and wealthy, nutty taste.
- And feta cheese – It provides a tangy, salty pop that contrasts completely with the candy berries.
Discover the entire recipe with measurements under.
Potential Swaps
- Change the strawberries with one other contemporary fruit like blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, orange segments, thinly sliced apples, or pears.
- Use spring combine as a substitute of spinach. Butter lettuce would work properly too!
- Strive one other nut. Change the pecans with toasted walnuts, pine nuts, or almonds.
- Swap out the feta for crumbled goat cheese or blue cheese. You could possibly even substitute diced avocado to make this recipe dairy-free!
Let me know what variations you strive!
My Straightforward Poppy Seed Dressing
A candy and tangy poppy seed dressing brings this salad collectively.
It’s straightforward to make with white wine vinegar, shallot, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, extra-virgin olive oil, and poppy seeds. If you happen to’d wish to make the dressing evenly creamy, you’ll be able to add just a little mayo too.
Simply whisk the components collectively in a bowl, or place them in a lidded jar and shake to mix.
Potential Swaps
Need to strive one other dressing on this salad? Any of those recipes could be nice:
What to Serve with This Strawberry Spinach Salad
This strawberry spinach salad is a good addition to any spring or early summer season meal! Serve it alongside your favourite protein or with any of those recipes:
It might even be a implausible facet dish for an Easter brunch.
To make this salad meal by itself, add a cooked grain like farro or quinoa and/or a handful of crispy roasted chickpeas.
Make-Forward and Storage Suggestions
The spinach strawberry salad and poppy seed dressing are finest saved individually.
- You may toss collectively the salad components—minus the dressing—as much as 1 day prematurely. Retailer the salad in an hermetic container within the fridge till able to serve.
- You can also make the dressing as much as 5 days prematurely. Retailer it in an hermetic container within the fridge till able to serve. The olive oil within the dressing might solidify because it chills within the fridge. Simply permit it to sit down at room temperature for a couple of minutes to melt earlier than drizzling it over the salad!
Undressed leftovers hold nicely within the fridge for as much as 3 days. As soon as dressed, this salad is finest eaten inside just a few hours.
Extra Spring Salad Recipes
If you happen to love this strawberry spinach salad, strive one among these contemporary spring salads subsequent:
Strawberry Spinach Salad
Serves 4 to six
This scrumptious strawberry spinach salad is ideal for spring and summer season! The strawberries, greens, and tangy poppy seed dressing make it style tremendous brilliant and contemporary. Be happy to assemble it as much as 1 day forward for those who’re making it for a potluck or big day. Simply wait so as to add the dressing till proper earlier than serving!
- 5 ounces contemporary spinach
- 1 cup thinly sliced strawberries
- ⅓ cup thinly sliced pink onion
- 1 recipe Poppy Seed Dressing
- ½ cup toasted pecans
- 2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
- Sea salt and freshly floor black pepper
Forestall your display from going darkish
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In a big bowl, place the spinach, strawberries, and pink onion. Add a number of the dressing and toss to mix.
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Add the pecans and feta and gently toss. Add extra dressing, as desired. Season to style with salt and pepper and serve.
