Strawberry Spinach with Pecans (Printable)

Bright mix of strawberries, spinach, pecans, and tangy vinaigrette perfect for light, fresh meals.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Salad Components

01 - 6 cups baby spinach, washed and thoroughly dried
02 - 1 ½ cups fresh strawberries, hulled and thinly sliced
03 - ½ small red onion, thinly sliced into rings
04 - ¾ cup pecan halves
05 - ½ cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)

→ Balsamic Vinaigrette

06 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
08 - 1 tablespoon honey or pure maple syrup
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add pecan halves and toast for 3–4 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant and lightly golden. Remove from heat immediately and transfer to a plate to cool completely.
02 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey (or maple syrup), and Dijon mustard until emulsified. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Whisk again just before dressing.
03 - Place the washed and dried baby spinach in a large salad bowl. Add the sliced strawberries and thinly sliced red onion on top. Do not toss yet.
04 - Drizzle half of the vinaigrette evenly over the salad. Using salad tongs or large spoons, toss gently to coat all leaves without bruising the spinach.
05 - Sprinkle the toasted pecans and crumbled feta cheese (if using) over the dressed salad. Drizzle the remaining vinaigrette over the top. Toss lightly once more immediately before serving to maintain texture and freshness.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The warm, buttery pecans create this incredible contrast against cool, juicy strawberries that feels like spring on a fork.
  • You can throw it together in twenty minutes but it looks like you spent forever arranging something beautiful.
02 -
  • I once added all the dressing too far ahead of time and ended up with a wilted, sad salad, so save that final drizzle for the last possible moment.
  • The pecans keep their crunch for hours if you toast them properly, but they lose that magic texture if you dress them too early.
03 -
  • Room temperature strawberries have way more flavor than cold ones straight from the fridge, so let them sit out for about 20 minutes before slicing.
  • If your vinaigrette separates, just whisk in a tiny drop of warm water and it'll come right back together.

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