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Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe with Sweet Poppy Seed Vinaigrette

fresh strawberry spinach salad - featured image
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A light and satisfying salad featuring fresh baby spinach, juicy strawberries, toasted pecans, and a creamy sweet poppy seed vinaigrette. Perfect for quick, healthy meals and summer gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups fresh baby spinach leaves (about 180g)
  • 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced (about 300g)
  • 1/2 cup toasted pecans (about 60g), walnuts can be a substitute
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese or goat cheese crumbles (about 75g), optional
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise (60ml), full-fat or light
  • 2 tablespoons honey (30ml)
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (30ml), white wine vinegar works too
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (30ml)
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (5ml)
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds (9g)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Rinse baby spinach under cold water and dry thoroughly using a salad spinner or paper towels.
  2. Hull and slice strawberries into thin, even pieces.
  3. Thinly slice red onion; soak in cold water for 5 minutes if you want to mellow the sharpness, then drain.
  4. Toast pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently until fragrant and lightly browned (3-4 minutes). Remove from heat and cool.
  5. In a small bowl or mason jar, combine mayonnaise, honey, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, salt, and pepper. Whisk or shake until smooth and emulsified. Adjust sweetness or acidity as needed.
  6. In a large bowl, gently toss spinach, sliced strawberries, toasted pecans, and red onion slices.
  7. If using cheese, sprinkle crumbles on top.
  8. Drizzle the poppy seed vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently but thoroughly to coat all ingredients.
  9. Serve immediately for best freshness and texture.

Notes

Use fresh baby spinach for best texture. Toast pecans carefully to avoid burning. Prepare dressing ahead and store in fridge. Toss salad gently to avoid bruising strawberries. Dress salad just before serving to keep greens crisp. Frozen strawberries can be used if thawed and drained well. For dairy-free, use vegan mayo and omit cheese.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://lucastable.com/fresh-strawberry-spinach-salad-recipe-with-sweet-poppy-seed-vinaigrette-easy-and-healthy/