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Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing

fresh strawberry spinach salad - featured image
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A quick and easy fresh strawberry spinach salad with a creamy, sweet, and tangy poppy seed dressing. Perfect for light lunches, picnics, or as a side dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups fresh baby spinach, washed and dried
  • 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/3 cup slivered almonds, toasted
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise (full-fat recommended)
  • 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Pinch of freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Wash and prep your greens and fruit: rinse the baby spinach thoroughly and spin dry or pat with paper towels. Hull and thinly slice the strawberries. Thinly slice the red onion. This should take about 10 minutes.
  2. Toast the almonds: place slivered almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat. Stir frequently for about 3-5 minutes until golden brown and fragrant. Watch closely to avoid burning. Remove from heat and let cool.
  3. Make the dressing: in a small bowl or jar, combine mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, honey, poppy seeds, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Whisk or shake vigorously until smooth and creamy. The dressing should be thick but pourable.
  4. Assemble the salad: in a large bowl, gently toss the spinach, sliced strawberries, and red onion. Drizzle about half the dressing over the salad and toss lightly to coat. Add more dressing as desired.
  5. Add the finishing touches: sprinkle toasted slivered almonds and crumbled feta cheese on top. Give the salad one last gentle toss or leave the toppings on top as a garnish.
  6. Serve immediately: best enjoyed fresh to keep the spinach crisp and the dressing bright. Takes about 5 minutes to plate and serve.

Notes

Keep dressing separate if prepping ahead to prevent spinach from wilting. Toast almonds carefully to avoid burning. Adjust honey and vinegar in dressing to balance sweetness and tanginess. Use ripe strawberries for best flavor. Can substitute poppy seeds with chia seeds or omit.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://eliplate.com/fresh-strawberry-spinach-salad-recipe-with-creamy-poppy-seed-dressing-easy-and-best-2/