Tossed together and ready in only 10 minutes, it’s a crowd-pleasing summer recipe!
Easy Spinach and Strawberry Salad
Strawberries are one of my favorite summer fruits, and while I love sweet treats like strawberry shortcake trifles and a freshly baked strawberry rhubarb crumb bars, one of the best ways to put them to use is in this strawberry and spinach salad. It’s made with a base of fresh spinach and strawberries tossed in a homemade poppyseed dressing, and you may love to include almonds and feta cheese, too. You’ll find it comes together in minutes and makes a large batch perfect for feeding a crowd. Whether you need a quick side dish or a nutritious meal (with added rotisserie chicken), this salad always has your back. Plus, the dressing can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge so you can make this salad on repeat. This may quickly become a go-to summer recipe for you! It’s a breeze to throw together, has such a refreshing satisfying flavor, and you can easily modify the recipe using ingredients you have on hand (think spring salad blend, or blueberries or raspberries work well too). So much to love about this super fresh salad!
Spinach Strawberry Poppyseed Salad Ingredients
Poppyseed Dressing
Mayonnaise – This forms the base of the dressing, making it creamy and hearty.
Honey – Used to sweeten the mixture and enhance the natural flavor of the strawberries.
Apple cider vinegar – This creates the zesty taste we want in a poppyseed dressing! If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, you can use lemon juice or white wine vinegar instead. However, the flavor will be a bit different.
Poppy seeds – You can typically find these in the spice section at your local grocery store. Or, order them online.
Spinach and Strawberry Salad
Baby spinach – You’ll find that baby spinach has a sweeter flavor and a more tender texture than more mature spinach.
Fresh strawberries – I don’t recommend using frozen varieties for this recipe, as they will become soggy.
Optional ingredients – Personally, I love to include sliced almonds and crumbled feta cheese for extra texture and satiating fats, but the salad still tastes great without them.
How to Make a Quick Spinach and Strawberry Salad
Helpful Tips
Wash the strawberries. Strawberries are known for being on the list of dirty dozen ingredients, meaning they often contain high amounts of dirt and pesticides. So, be sure to thoroughly wash and dry your strawberries before adding them to the salad. And don’t forget to remove the tops!
Taste test the dressing. Add the honey a little bit at a time, and adjust the amount used to suit your flavor preferences. In addition, you can also add a pinch of salt to enhance the flavor and tone down some of the sweetness.
Omit the mix-ins. If you aren’t planning on eating your strawberry and spinach salad right away, I recommend leaving out the strawberries and feta until just before serving. Otherwise, they may become slightly soggy.
Recipe Variations
Protein: You’ll find this side salad can easily be turned into a complete meal with the addition of protein such as coconut shrimp, grilled chicken, or roasted chicken.
Vegetables: If you want to add even more nutrients, try incorporating a variety of fresh vegetables like baby kale, shredded red cabbage, shredded carrot, avocado, or sliced red onion.
Grains: Add bulk to this strawberry and spinach salad, making it extra filling with grains like brown rice, quinoa, farro, or bulgur wheat.
Toppings: Any number of toppings will taste great in this recipe. Try including bacon bits, more fresh or dried fruit, or plain croutons for extra flavor and crunch.
Serving Suggestions
This easy strawberry and spinach salad can be served as a wonderful side dish alongside all your favorite entrees. Some delicious pairings include lemon garlic herb grilled salmon, grilled steak, and grilled honey lime chicken. However, no matter what you serve it with, you really can’t go wrong! If you want to really impress your guests with a restaurant-worthy meal, add warm homemade bread or Dutchess potatoes to the table, too.
Can I Make This Strawberry and Spinach Salad in Advance?
Prepare the poppyseed dressing up to 1 week in advance, and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. The salad without the sliced strawberries can be placed in an airtight container and kept in the fridge for up to 4 days. For the best results, leave out the strawberries and feta until just before serving. To serve, toss everything together, and enjoy!
More Salad Recipes To Try
Strawberry Spinach Salad with Candied Pecans, Feta and Balsamic Vinaigrette Strawberry Crunch Spinach Salad Strawberry Avocado Spinach Salad with Grilled Chicken and Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing Mandarin Orange Spinach Salad with Chicken and Lemon Honey Ginger Dressing Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Feta and Lemon Dressing Berry Avocado Quinoa and Kale Salad with Honey-Lime Poppy Seed Dressing
