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Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe with Easy Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing

fresh strawberry spinach salad - featured image
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A light and satisfying salad combining fresh baby spinach, juicy strawberries, and a homemade creamy poppy seed dressing that is perfect for summer gatherings and quick meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups (about 180 grams) fresh baby spinach leaves
  • 2 cups (about 300 grams) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • ¼ small red onion, thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup (about 30 grams) slivered almonds, toasted
  • ½ cup (about 75 grams) crumbled feta cheese (optional)
  • ½ cup (120 grams) plain Greek yogurt (full-fat or low-fat)
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Rinse the baby spinach leaves thoroughly under cold water and spin dry or pat dry with a clean towel (about 5 minutes).
  2. Remove the green leafy tops from strawberries and slice each strawberry lengthwise into ¼-inch thick pieces. Set aside.
  3. Thinly slice ¼ of a small red onion into very thin half-moons. Soak in cold water for 5 minutes if you want to mellow the sharpness, then drain.
  4. Toast the slivered almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly for 3-4 minutes until golden brown and fragrant. Remove immediately to cool.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, honey, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy (about 3 minutes). Adjust sweetness or acidity as needed.
  6. In a large salad bowl, combine spinach, sliced strawberries, red onion, and toasted almonds.
  7. Drizzle about half of the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat evenly. Add more dressing as desired, but avoid overdressing.
  8. Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese over the top if using and give a final light toss.
  9. Serve immediately. If not serving right away, keep the dressing separate and toss just before serving to avoid soggy greens.

Notes

Use fresh, firm baby spinach to avoid sogginess. Toast almonds carefully to avoid burning. Make dressing ahead and whisk before use. Toss salad gently to avoid bruising spinach and strawberries. For dairy-free or vegan versions, substitute Greek yogurt and mayonnaise with plant-based alternatives and omit feta or use vegan cheese.

Nutrition

Keywords: strawberry spinach salad, creamy poppy seed dressing, summer salad, fresh salad, healthy salad, easy salad recipe

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