Strawberry Spinach Balsamic Poppy Seed (Printable Version)
Sweet strawberries meet baby spinach in a refreshing salad with tangy balsamic poppy seed dressing.
# What You Need:
→ Salad Components
01 - 6 cups baby spinach, washed and thoroughly dried
02 - 1 pint (2 cups) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced into rings
04 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
05 - 1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted until golden
06 - 1/4 cup sunflower seeds (optional)
→ Balsamic Poppy Seed Dressing
07 - 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
08 - 1 tablespoon honey or pure 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
# How-To Steps:
01 - Place baby spinach, sliced strawberries, red onion rings, crumbled feta, toasted almonds, and sunflower seeds in a large salad bowl.
02 - Whisk together balsamic vinegar, honey or maple syrup, and Dijon mustard in a small bowl. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking continuously until fully emulsified. Stir in poppy seeds, then season with salt and pepper.
03 - Drizzle dressing over salad just before serving. Toss gently with tongs to coat all ingredients evenly without damaging the strawberries. Serve immediately.
# Helpful Tips:
01 -
- The sweet strawberries cut through the tangy feta in a way that keeps every bite interesting
- The dressing comes together in minutes but tastes like something from a fancy restaurant
02 -
- Dress this salad immediately before serving, the spinach starts to wilt after about 15 minutes
- The dressing tastes better after it sits for 10 minutes, so make it first while you prep everything else
03 -
- Dry your spinach really thoroughly, wet leaves make dressing slide right off
- Toast the almonds in a dry pan over medium heat until fragrant, watching closely so they don't burn