Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad (Printable)

Vibrant salad featuring strawberries, spinach, nuts, and creamy poppyseed dressing for spring freshness.

# What You 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:

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 toss gently to combine and coat all ingredients.
04 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra nuts or feta if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes flat, which means you can have a restaurant-quality salad on the table faster than you'd expect.
  • The contrast between sweet strawberries, creamy feta, and that tangy-smooth dressing creates layers of flavor that keep you coming back for another bite.
  • It's naturally gluten-free and vegetarian, so it works for almost any gathering without requiring explanations or substitutions.
02 -
  • Don't dress the salad more than a few minutes before serving, or the spinach will begin to wilt and the nuts will lose their crunch—this isn't a make-ahead dish, and that's actually part of its charm.
  • If your dressing looks separated or broken, it means your yogurt was too cold; let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes and whisk again, and it should come back together beautifully.
03 -
  • If strawberries aren't at their peak, a light drizzle of honey over them while they sit at room temperature for ten minutes will coax out their natural sweetness and juices.
  • The secret to an emulsified dressing is whisking steadily while adding the oil gradually—rush this step and you'll end up with something that separates, so take your time and let the ingredients become friends.
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