Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad (Print Version)

Vibrant mix of spinach, strawberries, nuts, and creamy poppyseed dressing for a refreshing light dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad

01 - 6 cups fresh baby spinach, washed and dried
02 - 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
04 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
05 - 1/3 cup toasted sliced almonds or pecans
06 - 1/4 cup dried cranberries

→ Poppyseed Dressing

07 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
08 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
09 - 1 tablespoon honey
10 - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
11 - 1 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt
12 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
13 - Pinch of salt
14 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Cooking Steps:

01 - In a large salad bowl, combine spinach, sliced strawberries, red onion, feta cheese, toasted nuts, and dried cranberries.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, poppy seeds, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth and emulsified.
03 - Drizzle dressing over salad just before serving. Toss gently to combine and coat all ingredients evenly. Serve immediately, garnished with extra nuts or feta if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes flat, which means you can go from wanting dinner to eating it faster than you'd think possible.
  • The poppyseed dressing hits that sweet, tangy, creamy spot that makes you want to scrape the bowl when no one's looking.
  • It's the kind of salad that feels fancy enough for guests but simple enough that you won't stress making it on a Tuesday night.
02 -
  • Don't make this salad ahead and dress it thinking it'll sit pretty, because by an hour later the spinach collapses and the whole thing tastes watered down from the berries bleeding.
  • The dressing keeps for days in the fridge but the salad components only stay fresh about 2 hours once everything's mixed, so assemble just before you eat.
03 -
  • Toast your own nuts instead of buying them pre-toasted because they'll taste fresher and crunchier, and it only takes five minutes in a dry pan on the stove.
  • Make a double batch of dressing because it's honestly delicious on roasted vegetables, grains, and even boring weeknight dinners that need some personality.
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