Strawberry Spinach with Dressing (Printable version)
Fresh spinach and strawberries combined with feta and pecans, drizzled in tangy poppy seed dressing.
# List of ingredients:
→ Salad
01 - 6 cups fresh baby spinach, washed and dried
02 - 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
04 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
05 - 1/2 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped
06 - 1/4 cup sunflower seeds (optional)
→ Poppy Seed Dressing
07 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
08 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
09 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
11 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
12 - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# Directions:
01 - Whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and poppy seeds in a small bowl or jar. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
02 - In a large bowl, mix baby spinach, sliced strawberries, red onion, crumbled feta, toasted pecans, and optional sunflower seeds.
03 - Drizzle the prepared poppy seed dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat evenly.
04 - Serve immediately and enjoy fresh.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together in minutes but tastes like you spent an hour fussing over it.
- The poppy seed dressing has just enough tang to balance the sweetness without overwhelming the greens.
- Every bite gives you crunch, creaminess, and a little burst of fruit.
02 -
- Dress the salad at the last possible moment or the spinach will wilt and the strawberries will weep into the bowl.
- Toasting the nuts makes a huge difference, even just three minutes in a dry pan transforms their flavor completely.
03 -
- If your strawberries are not quite sweet enough, a tiny drizzle of honey directly on the slices before adding them can work wonders.
- Use a salad spinner to dry your spinach completely, wet greens will dilute the dressing and make everything taste watery.