Description
A fresh and simple salad featuring baby spinach, ripe strawberries, and a homemade sweet and tangy poppyseed dressing. This recipe is suitable for light meals or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 ounces baby spinach, washed and dried
- 1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
- For the Dressing:
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the vegetable oil, white wine vinegar, sugar, Dijon mustard, onion powder, salt, and pepper until the sugar dissolves.
- Stir in the poppy seeds. Taste the dressing and adjust sugar or vinegar for your preferred balance.
- If using a jar, seal the lid tightly and shake well to combine. Set the dressing aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the washed and dried baby spinach and the sliced strawberries.
- If you are toasting almonds, heat a dry skillet over medium heat and cook the almonds for 3-5 minutes, stirring often, until fragrant and lightly browned. Let them cool.
- Just before serving, drizzle about half of the dressing over the spinach and strawberries. Toss gently to coat the leaves evenly. Add more dressing as needed.
- Divide the salad onto plates. Top with toasted almonds and crumbled feta cheese, if using. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use baby spinach for the best texture; larger spinach leaves can be tougher.
- To prevent the spinach from wilting, keep the dressing separate until you are ready to serve the salad.
- For a heartier meal, add grilled chicken breast or 1/2 cup of chopped pecans along with the almonds.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 5 min
- Category: Salad
- Method: Tossing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (without optional feta)
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 280
- Fat: 24
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Unsaturated Fat: 21
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 5
- Cholesterol: 0