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Spinach Strawberry Salad

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This Spinach Strawberry Salad combines fresh, vibrant ingredients like sweet strawberries, crunchy pecans, creamy feta, and a tangy balsamic poppy seed dressing. It’s the perfect side dish or light meal that’s both healthy and crowd-pleasing.

Ingredients

For the Strawberry Spinach Salad:

¾ cup raw pecans

½ small red onion, very thinly sliced

10 ounces fresh baby spinach (or a 50/50 blend of arugula and spinach)

1 quart strawberries, hulled and quartered (about 1 pound)

¾ cup crumbled feta cheese (buy block-style feta for better texture)

For the Poppy Seed Dressing:

¼ cup balsamic vinegar

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 ½ tablespoons poppy seeds

1 ½ tablespoons honey

½ teaspoon Dijon mustard

½ teaspoon kosher salt

⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Toast the pecans: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and bake for 8–10 minutes until fragrant and golden. Once toasted, remove from the oven, transfer to a cutting board, and roughly chop.
  2. Soak the onions: Place thinly sliced red onions in cold water to remove sharpness.
  3. Prepare the dressing: Whisk together balsamic vinegar, olive oil, poppy seeds, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth. Alternatively, shake in a mason jar.
  4. Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine spinach, strawberries, and drained red onions. Drizzle half of the dressing over and toss to coat. Taste and adjust as necessary.
  5. Add the finishing touches: Top with crumbled feta and toasted pecans. Toss lightly and serve immediately with extra dressing on the side if desired.

Notes

Substitute pecans with walnuts, almonds, or pistachios for a different texture.

Use goat cheese, blue cheese, or shaved Parmesan instead of feta for variety.

For extra sweetness, add fresh orange or apple slices.

For a vegan version, skip the feta or use dairy-free alternatives like cashew cheese or nutritional yeast.

Swap balsamic dressing for a lemon vinaigrette or honey mustard for a flavor change.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://chocolatecoveredamy.com/spinach-strawberry-salad/