Strawberry Spinach Poppy Seed (Printable)
Tender spinach, sweet strawberries, nuts, and zesty poppy seed dressing create a refreshing and colorful dish.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Salad
01 - 5 oz baby spinach, washed and dried
02 - 8 oz fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
04 - ½ cup toasted pecans or sliced almonds
05 - 2 tablespoons thinly sliced red onion
→ Poppy Seed Vinaigrette
06 - ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
08 - 2 teaspoons honey
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How-To Steps:
01 - Whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, salt, and pepper in a small bowl or jar until emulsified. Set aside.
02 - Combine baby spinach, sliced strawberries, crumbled feta, toasted nuts, and red onion in a large salad bowl.
03 - Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad just before serving and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Serve immediately for optimal freshness and texture.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It's ready in 15 minutes, no cooking required, just assembly and you're done.
- The poppy seed vinaigrette is tangy-sweet and somehow makes every vegetable taste more like itself.
- It looks impressive enough to serve at a dinner party but honest enough for a Tuesday lunch.
- Fresh spinach and strawberries mean you're eating something genuinely good for you.
02 -
- Make the dressing before you even cut the vegetables so it's ready to go the moment you finish tossing everything together.
- If you're making this ahead, keep the salad and vinaigrette completely separate and combine them only right before serving or the spinach will go dark and sad.
03 -
- Whisk the vinaigrette in a jar with a tight lid and shake it vigorously right before serving to re-emulsify it if it's been sitting.
- Pat your spinach completely dry after washing or the excess water will dilute the dressing and make everything taste watered down.