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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 vibrant and refreshing salad combining fresh strawberries, tender baby spinach, and a creamy sweet poppy seed dressing. Perfect for quick meals, potlucks, or as a light side dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 5 cups fresh baby spinach, washed and dried
  • 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted (optional)
  • 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese (optional)
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Rinse and dry 5 cups of baby spinach thoroughly. Place the spinach in a large salad bowl.
  2. Hull and slice 2 cups of fresh strawberries. Add them gently to the spinach.
  3. Heat a dry skillet over medium heat and toast 1/2 cup of sliced almonds for 2-3 minutes until golden and fragrant. Let cool.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, and 1 tablespoon poppy seeds. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Drizzle about half of the dressing over the spinach and strawberries. Toss gently until lightly coated.
  6. Add the toasted almonds and optional crumbled feta cheese. Toss once more.
  7. Serve immediately for best texture. If prepping ahead, keep dressing separate and add before serving.

Notes

Dry spinach thoroughly to avoid soggy salad. Toast almonds carefully to prevent burning. Adjust dressing sweetness to taste. For dairy-free, omit cheese or use plant-based alternatives. Dressing can be made ahead and tastes better after chilling. Toss salad gently to keep strawberries intact.

Nutrition

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

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