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Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing

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A quick and easy fresh strawberry spinach salad tossed with a creamy homemade poppy seed dressing, toasted almonds, and crumbled feta cheese. Perfect for a light, vibrant meal or side dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups fresh baby spinach (about 180 grams), washed and dried
  • 2 cups fresh strawberries (about 300 grams), hulled and sliced
  • ½ cup toasted sliced almonds (about 50 grams)
  • ½ cup crumbled feta cheese (about 75 grams)
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise (60 ml)
  • ¼ cup plain full-fat Greek yogurt (60 ml)
  • 2 tablespoons honey (30 ml)
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (15 ml)
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds (9 grams)
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (5 ml)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Rinse 6 cups of baby spinach under cold water and spin or pat dry thoroughly.
  2. Slice 2 cups of fresh strawberries into thin slices.
  3. Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add ½ cup sliced almonds and toast, stirring frequently, for about 3–4 minutes until golden and fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool.
  4. In a mixing bowl, combine ¼ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon poppy seeds, and 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard. Whisk together until completely smooth. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. If too thick, add water 1 teaspoon at a time to reach desired consistency.
  5. In a large salad bowl, add the dried spinach and sliced strawberries. Drizzle about three-quarters of the dressing over the salad. Toss gently but thoroughly to coat all leaves and fruit evenly.
  6. Sprinkle the toasted almonds and crumbled feta cheese over the top. Add extra dressing on the side if desired.
  7. Serve immediately to keep spinach crisp and dressing vibrant. Store dressing separately if making ahead.

Notes

Use fresh strawberries for best texture; frozen strawberries can make the salad watery. Toast almonds carefully to avoid burning. Dry spinach thoroughly to prevent watery salad. Dressing can be made up to 3 days ahead and stored in the fridge. For dairy-free version, substitute mayo and Greek yogurt with vegan alternatives and omit feta cheese. Nut-free option: replace almonds with pumpkin or sunflower seeds.

Nutrition

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

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