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Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe with Easy Sweet Poppy Seed Dressing

fresh strawberry spinach salad - featured image
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A quick and fresh salad combining baby spinach, juicy strawberries, and a tangy sweet poppy seed dressing, perfect for a light lunch or side dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups baby spinach leaves, washed and dried
  • 1 pint fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
  • ½ cup toasted pecans or walnuts
  • ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Rinse and dry the baby spinach thoroughly.
  2. Hull and slice the strawberries about ¼ inch thick.
  3. Thinly slice the red onion into half-moons.
  4. Toast pecans or walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until fragrant and slightly golden; let cool.
  5. In a small bowl or jar, combine mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, honey, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, salt, and pepper. Whisk or shake until smooth and creamy.
  6. In a large salad bowl, add spinach, strawberries, and red onion. Drizzle half the dressing over and toss gently to coat.
  7. Add toasted nuts and crumbled feta cheese, then toss lightly again.
  8. Serve immediately. If preparing ahead, keep dressing separate and toss just before serving.

Notes

Use fresh baby spinach with firm leaves. Toast nuts carefully to avoid burning. Keep dressing separate until serving to prevent soggy spinach. Dressing can be made up to 5 days ahead and stored refrigerated. Substitute poppy seeds with chia seeds if needed. For dairy-free, use coconut yogurt and omit or replace feta cheese.

Nutrition

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

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