Strawberry Salad Recipe

Say hello to COLOR, Spinach Strawberry Salad with Balsamic Poppy Seed Dressing style! Whether you need a healthy lunch or are looking for a salad to bring to a party that—this is critical—people actually want to eat, this strawberry spinach salad with poppy seed dressing and feta is the recipe for you!

Strawberry spinach salad is my unofficial start to spring because—and I think it’s important that we are honest about this—a March or early-April spring is not a real thing when you live in the upper Midwest.

Slowly, however, my little yard turns greener, and I notice my salad cravings shifting away from warm toppings like the lentils and roasted vegetables in this Lentil Salad with Roasted Cauliflower or the sautéed potatoes in this Pea Salad to ones that are distinctly lighter and brighter: strawberries, poppy seeds, feta.

Another catalyst for my subjective start to “spring” (and I am not even going to pretend that I am ashamed about this): the strawberry poppy seed salad at Panera returns. Oh happy day!

Today’s healthy spinach strawberry salad is gateway food. It’s a starter to spring (or a continuation of it if you are lucky enough to live in a place where spring arrives on time).

It’s a starter to salad skeptics. Sweet berries, toasted pecans, creamy feta, and a lovely honey balsamic poppy seed dressing make for an easy transition to leafy greens, even if salad isn’t usually something you typically pile willingly onto your plate.

And it’s a starter or side for any spring or summer party menu! Did someone ask you to bring a side for Easter? A potluck? A dinner party where you’re not sure what everyone likes? This spinach strawberry salad is an ideal choice. It’s easy, crowd-pleasing, and flexible too.

Spinach Strawberry Salad

The best ever Spinach Strawberry Salad with balsamic poppy seed dressing, pecans, and feta. Beautiful, healthy, and always a crowd pleaser!

Prep: 15min

Total: 20min

Yield: 6

Serving Size: 1 of 6

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1 of 6, calories 249 kcal, Carbohydrate 16 g, Protein 6 g, Fat 20 g, Saturated Fat 5 g, Cholesterol 17 mg, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 10 g

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup raw pecans
• 1/2 small red onion (very thinly sliced)
• 10 ounces fresh baby spinach (I also love a 50/50 arugula and spinach blend)
• 1 quart strawberries (hulled and quartered (about 1 pound))
• 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (buy the block-style feta, not pre-crumbled; the texture is much better)
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 tablespoons poppy seeds
• 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Instruction:

1. Toast the pecans: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the pecans in a single layer on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the pecans smell fragrant and the center of a pecan is tan when the pecan is broken in half. (Do not walk away from the oven in the last few minutes of cooking. This is when nuts love to burn.) Transfer to a cutting board and roughly chop.
2. Place the sliced onions in a bowl and cover with cold water. Let sit while you prepare the rest of the salad (this keeps their flavor but removes the harsh onion bite).
3. Prepare the dressing: In small mixing bowl or large liquid measuring cup, whisk together all of the dressing ingredients—vinegar, oil, poppy seeds, honey, mustard, salt, and pepper—until well combined. (Alternatively, you can shake the ingredients together in a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid).
4. Assemble the salad: Place the spinach in a great big serving bowl. Add the strawberries. Drain the red onion and add it as well. Drizzle about half of the dressing over the salad and toss to coat the leaves. Assess the amount of dressing. You want the spinach leaves to be nicely moistened but not swimming in dressing. Add a little more if needed to suit your preferences. Add the feta and pecans. Toss lightly to combine. Serve immediately, with extra dressing on the side as desired.

Strawberry Salad with Balsamic

This strawberry salad recipe is perfect for spring and summer! It’s bursting with flavor from cherry tomatoes, basil, creamy mozzarella, and tangy balsamic. Skip the cheese to make it vegan.

Prep: 10min

Total: 20min

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 cup sliced strawberries
• 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup halved mini mozzarella balls
• 1 ripe avocado (pitted and diced)
• ⅓ cup pecans (toasted)
• ⅓ cup loosely packed basil (torn)
• Extra-virgin olive oil (for drizzling)
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instruction:

1. In a small saucepan, bring the balsamic vinegar to a high simmer over medium heat. Stir, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until the vinegar has thickened and reduced by half, about 8 to 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
2. Place the strawberries, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, avocado, pecans and basil in a shallow bowl or platter. Drizzle with olive oil, and season generously with salt and pepper. Gently toss. Drizzle with the reduced balsamic.

Strawberry Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

This easy strawberry salad recipe features a creamy homemade balsamic dressing and sweet ripe berries. It’s the perfect side dish!

Prep: 15min

Total: 15min

Yield: 4

Serving Size: Bowl

Nutrition Facts: servingSize Bowl, calories 210 calories, Sugar 18.1 g, Sodium 162.8 mg, Fat 12.1 g, Saturated Fat 1.4 g, Trans Fat 0 g, Carbohydrate 24.8 g, Fiber 4.5 g, Protein 4.1 g, Cholesterol 0 mg

Ingredients:

• 2 cups ripe strawberries
• 8 cups mixed salad greens
• 1/2 red onion
• 1/3 cup sliced almonds or pecan pieces
• 1/3 cup feta cheese crumbles
• Fresh ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup (or honey)
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 6 tablespoons olive oil

Instruction:

1. Wash and slice the strawberries. Wash and dry the salad greens.
2. Thinly slice the red onion Tip: To mellow the flavor, soak the onion slices in cold water for about 20 minutes prior to serving, then drain.
3. Optional: In a small saucepan over medium heat, toast the nuts for a few minutes until they are golden brown, stirring frequently and watching carefully so that they don’t burn.
4. Make the balsamic vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, and kosher salt. Then gradually whisk in the olive oil 1 tablespoon at a time until fully emulsified and creamy.
5. To serve, spread the greens on a plate and top with strawberries, red onion, almonds, feta cheese crumbles, vinaigrette, and several grinds of black pepper.

Strawberry Salad Recipe (ASMR) – Strawberry Salad With Feta – Strawberry Lettuce Salad

FAQ

What is the secret to making a good salad?

• Be gentle with lettuce. Balsamic dressing. …
• Serve up perfect avocado. Forget lemon juice or cold water – the only way to stop an avocado going brown in a salad is to peel and chop them right before serving. …
• Say goodbye to onion tears. …
• Adore your dressing. …
• Sprinkle in some protein.

What vegetables go well with strawberries?

What goes best with strawberries?

• Produce: apples, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, ginger, kiwi, lemon, limes, mango, melon, nectarines and peaches, oranges, pears, pineapple, raspberries, rhubarb, lettuce and spinach, watermelon.
• Herbs & Spices: basil, mint, cinnamon, vanilla, cardamom, and chili.

Do tomatoes and strawberries go together?