Strawberry Spinach Salad (Printable)

Fresh strawberries and spinach combine with nuts and balsamic dressing for a bright, crunchy dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad Components

01 - 6 cups fresh baby spinach, washed and thoroughly dried
02 - 1 ½ cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced into quarters
03 - ½ small red onion, thinly sliced into half-moons
04 - ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
05 - ½ cup roasted pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped
06 - ¼ cup sliced cucumber (optional)

→ Balsamic Vinaigrette

07 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
08 - 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1 teaspoon honey or pure maple syrup
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Place spinach, strawberries, red onion, feta cheese, nuts, and cucumber in a large salad bowl. Arrange ingredients evenly for visual appeal.
02 - Whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl or jar. Continue whisking until mixture is fully emulsified and slightly thickened.
03 - Drizzle balsamic vinaigrette evenly over salad immediately before serving. Use salad tongs to toss ingredients gently, ensuring all components are lightly coated.
04 - Transfer salad to individual serving plates or present family-style in the bowl. Serve promptly while spinach remains crisp and strawberries retain freshness.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The dressing comes together in seconds but tastes like something from a fancy restaurant
  • Its that rare salad that actually satisfies as a full meal, especially with some crusty bread on the side
02 -
  • Never dress this salad ahead of time. The components hold up fine separately, but once the dressing hits the spinach, you have about fifteen minutes before it starts looking tired and sad.
  • Dry your spinach completely, even if it says pre washed. Any water clinging to the leaves will prevent the dressing from coating properly and make the whole bowl water logged.
03 -
  • If youre making this for a picnic, keep the dressing in a separate container and toss everything together right before eating. The components will stay fresh for hours this way.
  • Massage a tiny bit of olive oil into the spinach leaves with clean hands before adding anything else. This sounds strange, but it makes the greens taste less raw and more luxurious.

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