Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe with Easy Sweet Poppy Seed Dressing
A refreshing and quick strawberry spinach salad featuring fresh baby spinach, juicy strawberries, crunchy nuts, and a sweet poppy seed dressing that balances flavor and texture perfectly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 6 cups fresh baby spinach (about 180 grams), washed and dried
- 1 pint fresh strawberries (about 350 grams), hulled and sliced
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced (about 40 grams)
- 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, roughly chopped and toasted (about 60 grams)
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled (about 75 grams) – optional
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise (regular or light, 120 ml)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (30 ml)
- 2 tablespoons honey (30 ml)
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds (15 ml)
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard (2.5 ml)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse spinach gently under cold water and pat dry with paper towels or use a salad spinner (about 5 minutes).
- Hull and slice strawberries into halves or quarters depending on size; set aside.
- Thinly slice the red onion using a sharp knife (about 2 minutes).
- Toast the walnuts or pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and lightly golden. Remove immediately to cool.
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, honey, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy (1-2 minutes).
- In a large bowl, combine spinach, strawberries, and sliced onion. Pour the dressing over and toss gently but thoroughly to coat evenly.
- Sprinkle toasted nuts and crumbled feta cheese on top. Toss lightly or leave on top for presentation.
- Serve immediately to keep spinach crisp and fresh.
Notes
Toast nuts carefully over medium-low heat and stir constantly to avoid burning. Slice onions very thin to avoid overpowering the salad; soak in cold water for 5 minutes if raw onion is too sharp. Toss salad just before serving to prevent spinach from wilting. Use fresh, firm strawberries for best texture. Dressing can be thinned with a teaspoon of water or more vinegar if too thick. For vegan version, substitute mayo with vegan mayo or blended silken tofu and honey with maple syrup.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/4 of the sal
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 10
- Fat: 16
- Carbohydrates: 14
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 5
Keywords: strawberry spinach salad, poppy seed dressing, fresh salad, quick salad recipe, healthy salad, easy salad, summer salad, light meal