Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad (Print version)

A refreshing blend of strawberries, spinach, nuts, and creamy poppyseed dressing.

# 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

# How to Make:

01 - In a large salad bowl, combine the 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 the dressing over the salad just before serving and gently toss to combine and coat all ingredients.
04 - Immediately serve the salad, garnishing with extra nuts or feta cheese if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The dressing tastes like something from a fancy restaurant, but you're making it in a jar while the salad sits waiting.
  • It comes together in the time it takes to wash your hands, perfect for when you need something beautiful on the table but didn't plan ahead.
  • Every bite has a different texture—creamy cheese, crunchy nuts, sweet berries—so it never gets boring.
02 -
  • Don't dress this salad more than a few minutes before serving, or the spinach will start to soften and the whole thing becomes less vibrant.
  • If you're making this ahead for a party, keep the dressing in a jar and the salad components separate, then combine them right before guests arrive.
03 -
  • Toast your own nuts if you have time—it takes five minutes and they taste so much better than the pre-toasted ones, plus your kitchen smells incredible.
  • Keep the dressing in a jar in your fridge, and you can throw together this salad any time you need something that feels special but tastes effortless.
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