This vibrant spinach strawberry salad is a true showstopper, perfect for bringing a touch of freshness and color to any spring potluck or summer gathering. With its delightful combination of crisp greens, sweet berries, and a tangy poppy seed dressing, it’s a dish that consistently earns rave reviews.
You’ll love how easy it is to assemble this tossed salad recipe, making it an ideal choice when you want to impress your guests without spending hours in the kitchen. It’s a delicious and simple way to brighten up your meal, offering a fantastic balance of flavors and textures that everyone will enjoy.
Table of Contents
- What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
- Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
- Time Needed From Start To Finish
- How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
- Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
- Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
- How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
- Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe
Spinach Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
This vibrant spinach strawberry salad is a true showstopper, perfect for bringing a touch of freshness and color to any spring potluck or summer gathering. With its delightful combination of crisp greens, sweet berries, and a tangy poppy seed dressing, it’s a dish that consistently earns rave reviews. You’ll love how easy it is to assemble this tossed salad recipe, making it an ideal choice when you want to impress your guests without spending hours in the kitchen. It’s a delicious and simple way to brighten up your meal, offering a fantastic balance of flavors and textures that everyone will enjoy.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Prepare the Spinach: Start by gently washing the baby spinach if it’s not pre-washed. Use a salad spinner to thoroughly dry the leaves. Excess water can dilute the dressing, so ensure the spinach is as dry as possible. Place the dried spinach in a large mixing bowl.
2. Hull and Slice the Strawberries: Wash the fresh strawberries under cool water. Use a small paring knife to hull them (remove the green leafy top and the white core). Slice the hulled strawberries into uniform pieces, about 1/4-inch thick. Add them to the bowl with the spinach.
3. Add Optional Red Onion and Pecans: If using, thinly slice the red onion and add it to the bowl. Roughly chop the pecans and sprinkle them over the spinach and strawberries. You can toast the pecans lightly in a dry skillet for a few minutes before adding them if you prefer a deeper, nuttier flavor, but this is optional.
4. Whisk Together the Dressing Ingredients: In a separate small bowl or a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, granulated sugar, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper.
5. Emulsify the Dressing: Whisk the dressing ingredients vigorously until they are well combined and the sugar has dissolved. If using a jar, simply shake it well until the dressing is emulsified and slightly creamy. Taste the dressing and adjust the seasoning if needed, adding a little more sugar for sweetness or vinegar for tang.
6. Dress and Toss the Salad: Just before serving, pour the prepared poppy seed dressing over the spinach, strawberries, red onion, and pecans in the large mixing bowl.
7. Serve Immediately: Gently toss the salad until all the ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing. Serve the salad immediately to ensure the spinach remains crisp and fresh.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: salad
- Method: no cook
- Cuisine: american
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
Keywords: spinach salad, strawberry salad, poppy seed dressing, spring salad, summer salad, potluck, easy salad, healthy salad, vegetarian, side dish
What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
This spinach strawberry salad is a fantastic recipe for so many reasons, making it a staple in our family for warm-weather meals. It’s incredibly quick to put together, often taking less than 20 minutes from start to finish, which is perfect for busy weeknights or when you need a last-minute dish for a gathering. The combination of fresh spinach and sweet strawberries creates a naturally appealing flavor profile that even picky eaters tend to enjoy, especially with the bright, slightly sweet, and tangy poppy seed dressing tying it all together.
It’s an ideal recipe for anyone looking for a healthy, light, and refreshing side dish or even a light lunch. The vibrant colors make it visually appealing, which is always a plus when serving guests. This salad shines at spring potlucks, summer BBQs, and even as a beautiful addition to a Memorial Day spread, as mentioned in the description. It’s a crowd-pleaser that fits seamlessly into almost any casual or semi-casual meal, offering a refreshing contrast to richer main courses. If you’re new to making salads from scratch, this is a wonderful entry point because it’s hard to get wrong and always tastes fantastic.
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Gathering your ingredients for this spinach strawberry salad is straightforward, focusing on fresh produce and pantry staples for the dressing. You won’t need any obscure items, making it an accessible recipe for any home cook.
INGREDIENTS:
- 10 ounces fresh baby spinach
- 1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1/2 cup pecans, roughly chopped or candied
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Pinch of black pepper
For the baby spinach, look for vibrant green leaves that are crisp and free from wilting or yellowing. Pre-washed spinach in a bag or container works perfectly for convenience. When selecting strawberries, choose berries that are bright red, plump, and firm, with green caps still attached. If you can’t find pecans, walnuts or even slivered almonds make a great substitute, offering a similar crunch. For the red onion, if you find its flavor too strong, you can soak the slices in cold water for 10-15 minutes before adding them to the salad to mellow their intensity. The dressing ingredients are all standard pantry items, so you likely have most of them on hand already.
Time Needed From Start To Finish
This salad is truly a quick assembly job, making it perfect for when time is of the essence.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
There is no cooking involved, so the entire process is focused on washing, slicing, and mixing. This makes it an excellent choice for a last-minute addition to any meal or gathering.
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Creating this vibrant spinach strawberry salad is a breeze. Follow these simple steps for a perfect result every time.
- Prepare the Spinach: Start by gently washing the baby spinach if it’s not pre-washed. Use a salad spinner to thoroughly dry the leaves. Excess water can dilute the dressing, so ensure the spinach is as dry as possible. Place the dried spinach in a large mixing bowl.
- Hull and Slice the Strawberries: Wash the fresh strawberries under cool water. Use a small paring knife to hull them (remove the green leafy top and the white core). Slice the hulled strawberries into uniform pieces, about 1/4-inch thick. Add them to the bowl with the spinach.
- Add Optional Red Onion and Pecans: If using, thinly slice the red onion and add it to the bowl. Roughly chop the pecans and sprinkle them over the spinach and strawberries. You can toast the pecans lightly in a dry skillet for a few minutes before adding them if you prefer a deeper, nuttier flavor, but this is optional.
- Whisk Together the Dressing Ingredients: In a separate small bowl or a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, granulated sugar, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper.
- Emulsify the Dressing: Whisk the dressing ingredients vigorously until they are well combined and the sugar has dissolved. If using a jar, simply shake it well until the dressing is emulsified and slightly creamy. Taste the dressing and adjust the seasoning if needed, adding a little more sugar for sweetness or vinegar for tang.
- Dress and Toss the Salad: Just before serving, pour the prepared poppy seed dressing over the spinach, strawberries, red onion, and pecans in the large mixing bowl.
- Serve Immediately: Gently toss the salad until all the ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing. Serve the salad immediately to ensure the spinach remains crisp and fresh.
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
This spinach strawberry salad is wonderfully versatile and can be adapted to suit different tastes and occasions. For a kid-friendly twist, you might omit the red onion entirely or offer it on the side. Adding a sprinkle of crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese can introduce a creamy, salty element that pairs beautifully with the sweet strawberries and tangy dressing. If you want to make it more substantial, grilled chicken breast or shrimp can be added, transforming it into a light main course.
For a party or buffet, consider serving the dressing on the side so guests can add it just before eating, which helps prevent the salad from getting soggy. A small bowl of extra toasted pecans or candied pecans can also be offered as an optional topping. Other fruit additions like blueberries or mandarin orange segments can enhance the fruitiness. For a different crunch, try adding some croutons or even some crispy bacon bits. This salad is fantastic alongside grilled salmon, a simple roasted chicken, or as a fresh counterpoint to rich pasta dishes.
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
Even simple recipes can have common pitfalls, but with a few tips, you can ensure your spinach strawberry salad is perfect every time.
One frequent mistake is dressing the salad too early. Spinach, while sturdy, will wilt quickly once coated in dressing, especially with the acidity from the vinegar. To keep your salad crisp and fresh, always wait until just before serving to add and toss with the dressing. If you’re preparing it for a potluck, transport the dressing in a separate container and mix it in on-site.
Another common issue is wet spinach. If your spinach isn’t thoroughly dry after washing, the dressing will become watery and won’t cling properly to the leaves, diluting the flavor. Invest in a good salad spinner or pat the spinach dry with paper towels to avoid this.
Over-slicing the strawberries can also be a mistake. If the strawberry pieces are too small, they can become mushy when tossed. Aim for slices that are about 1/4-inch thick to maintain their texture and presence in the salad.
Finally, not tasting the dressing before adding it to the salad is a missed opportunity. The balance of sweet, tangy, and savory in the poppy seed dressing is key. Always give it a quick taste and adjust the sugar, vinegar, or salt as needed to match your preference before pouring it over the greens.
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
Proper storage is key to enjoying your spinach strawberry salad, especially if you want to make some components ahead of time.
To store the assembled salad, it’s best to consume it immediately after dressing. If you have leftovers that have already been dressed, they will likely become soggy within a few hours due to the spinach wilting. You can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a day, but the texture will be significantly softer.
For make-ahead preparation, you can wash and dry the spinach and store it in an airtight container lined with a paper towel in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Hull and slice the strawberries up to a day in advance and store them in a separate airtight container in the fridge. The red onion can also be sliced and stored separately. The poppy seed dressing is excellent for making ahead; prepare it and store it in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to a week. Give it a good shake or whisk before using, as the oil and vinegar may separate.
When you’re ready to serve, simply combine the prepped ingredients in a large bowl, pour the dressing over, toss, and enjoy! This method ensures a fresh, crisp salad every time without the last-minute rush.
Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe
Can I use frozen strawberries?
FAQs
- Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
- How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
- Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
- Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.
