Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad (Printable format)

Vibrant mix of strawberries, spinach, nuts, and creamy poppyseed dressing for a refreshing, light dish.

# List of ingredients:

→ 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, optional

→ 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 or mayonnaise
12 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
13 - Pinch of salt
14 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How to make it:

01 - In a large salad bowl, combine spinach, sliced strawberries, red onion, feta cheese, toasted nuts, and dried cranberries if using.
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 fully emulsified.
03 - Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving. Toss gently with salad tongs to combine and evenly coat all ingredients.
04 - Serve immediately while chilled, garnished with additional nuts or feta cheese if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes, which means you can go from zero to impressive without even turning on the stove.
  • The poppyseed dressing is smooth, slightly sweet, and nothing like the watery store-bought versions that disappoint.
  • Fresh strawberries and creamy feta create this perfect sweet-salty moment that somehow never gets old.
02 -
  • Never dress the salad until you're ready to serve it, or the spinach will wilt and the strawberries will release their juice—timing this right is what separates a fresh, crisp salad from a soggy disappointment.
  • The poppy seeds sink to the bottom of the dressing if you let it sit, so give it a quick whisk or shake right before drizzling to distribute them evenly throughout.
03 -
  • Toast your nuts in a dry skillet right before you make the salad—those few minutes of heat transform them from okay to absolutely worth noticing.
  • If your strawberries aren't as sweet as you'd like, a tiny pinch of extra honey in the dressing can help, or you can macerate them in a spoon of honey while you prep everything else.
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