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Fresh spinach strawberry salad with feta cheese, pecans, and balsamic dressing.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

A fresh and vibrant strawberry spinach salad that combines sweet strawberries, crunchy nuts, and creamy cheese, all tossed in an easy poppy seed dressing.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Lunch, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Salad
  • 4 cups Fresh baby spinach, washed and spun dry Make sure spinach is dry to keep the salad crisp.
  • 1 cup Strawberries, sliced right before serving Use ripe strawberries for best flavor.
  • 1/2 cup Crumbled feta or goat cheese Choose based on preference.
  • 1/4 cup Thin sliced red onion Soak in cold water if too strong.
  • 1/4 cup Toasted nuts (pecans, walnuts, or sliced almonds) Toast nuts for added flavor.
For the Poppy Seed Dressing
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup Adjust to taste.
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard Essential for emulsifying the dressing.
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds Optional but recommended.
  • 1 pinch salt and black pepper To taste.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Start with a big bowl and add your spinach.
  2. Add sliced strawberries to the bowl.
  3. Sprinkle in thin sliced red onion.
  4. Add crumbled feta or goat cheese.
  5. Add toasted nuts.
  6. Right before serving, drizzle on the poppy seed dressing and toss gently.

Notes

Keep the salad ingredients separate until just before serving to prevent wilting. It keeps well if the dressing is stored separately.