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Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad with Zesty Poppy Seed Dressing

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A quick and easy fresh strawberry spinach salad featuring a zesty, creamy poppy seed dressing. Perfect for light meals, picnics, or as a side dish with a delightful sweet-tart flavor and crunchy nuts.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups baby spinach, washed and dried
  • 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • ½ cup sliced almonds, toasted
  • ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
  • ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
  • ⅓ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Rinse about 6 cups of baby spinach under cold water and spin dry or pat dry with paper towels to keep leaves crisp.
  2. Hull and slice 2 cups of fresh strawberries into thin, uniform pieces.
  3. Slice about ¼ cup of red onion as thin as possible; soak in cold water for 5 minutes if a milder flavor is desired, then drain.
  4. Toast ½ cup sliced almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently until golden and fragrant. Remove and let cool.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together ⅓ cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon poppy seeds, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, a pinch of salt, and freshly cracked black pepper until smooth and creamy.
  6. In a large salad bowl, combine the baby spinach, sliced strawberries, toasted almonds, and sliced red onion. Toss gently to mix.
  7. Drizzle the zesty poppy seed dressing over the salad and toss lightly to coat without bruising the berries or crushing the spinach leaves.
  8. Sprinkle ½ cup crumbled feta cheese on top and toss gently or serve with cheese on top as a finishing touch.

Notes

To keep the salad fresh and crisp, prepare the dressing separately and add just before serving. Toast almonds carefully to avoid burning. Use fresh strawberries for best texture and flavor. For a lighter dressing, substitute mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt. For a dairy-free version, use vegan mayo and coconut sugar instead of honey.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://sunnysavory.com/fresh-strawberry-spinach-salad-recipe-easy-zesty-poppy-seed-dressing-guide/