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Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing

fresh strawberry spinach salad - featured image
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A quick and easy fresh salad combining sweet strawberries, tender baby spinach, crunchy pecans, and a creamy homemade poppy seed dressing. Perfect for a light, healthy meal or side dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups (180g) fresh baby spinach, washed and dried
  • 2 cups (300g) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • ½ cup (50g) pecans, roughly chopped (toasted preferred)
  • ¼ cup finely sliced red onion (about half a small onion), optional
  • ½ cup (75g) crumbled feta cheese
  • For the creamy poppy seed dressing:
  • ½ cup (120ml) mayonnaise or Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) honey or maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) poppy seeds
  • 1 teaspoon (5ml) Dijon mustard
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Rinse and dry the baby spinach well using a salad spinner or towel.
  2. Hull and slice the strawberries into thin pieces (about ¼ inch thick).
  3. Finely slice the red onion, if using, and roughly chop the pecans. Set all aside.
  4. In a small bowl or jar, combine mayonnaise or Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, honey, poppy seeds, and Dijon mustard. Stir or shake well until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Thin with water if too thick.
  5. In a large bowl, gently combine spinach, sliced strawberries, red onion slices, and chopped pecans, mixing carefully to avoid bruising the spinach.
  6. Pour the creamy poppy seed dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat evenly.
  7. Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese on top last to keep its texture.
  8. Serve immediately for the freshest taste and texture.

Notes

Dry spinach thoroughly to avoid soggy salad. Thinly slice strawberries for better flavor distribution. Shake dressing in a jar for easy emulsification. Toss salad gently to avoid bruising spinach. Dressing can be made 2-3 days ahead and stored in fridge. Keep dressing and salad separate if prepping ahead.

Nutrition

Keywords: strawberry spinach salad, poppy seed dressing, healthy salad, easy salad recipe, fresh salad, summer salad, quick salad

Find it online: https://blairrecipes.com/fresh-strawberry-spinach-salad-with-creamy-poppy-seed-dressing-recipe-for-easy-healthy-meals/