Strawberry Spinach Balsamic Poppy Seed (Printable version)
Sweet strawberries meet fresh spinach with zesty balsamic poppy seed dressing.
# What you'll need:
→ Salad Base
01 - 6 cups baby spinach, washed and dried
02 - 1 pint (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 sliced almonds, toasted
06 - 1/4 cup sunflower seeds (optional)
→ Balsamic Poppy Seed Dressing
07 - 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
08 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
# Directions:
01 - In a large salad bowl, add the baby spinach, sliced strawberries, red onion, feta cheese, toasted almonds, and sunflower seeds if using.
02 - In a small mixing bowl or jar, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, honey (or maple syrup), and Dijon mustard. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking constantly until fully emulsified. Stir in the poppy seeds and season with salt and pepper.
03 - Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving. Toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Transfer to individual plates or serve family-style. Garnish with additional strawberries or almonds if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sweet and tangy combination wakes up your palate without feeling heavy
- It comes together in fifteen minutes flat but looks like something from a restaurant
02 -
- Dress this salad right before serving or the spinach will wilt and lose its beautiful crunch
- The dressing keeps in the fridge for a week, so make extra and use it on other salads too
03 -
- A glass jar with a lid works better than a bowl for shaking up the dressing
- Taste your strawberries first and add a pinch of sugar to the dressing if they are tart