Description
A refreshing and vibrant Strawberry Spinach Salad featuring fresh baby spinach, toasted pecans, crumbled feta, thinly sliced red onions, and juicy strawberries, all tossed in a sweet and tangy balsamic poppy seed dressing. Perfect as a light side salad for any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 10 ounces fresh baby spinach
- 1 cup pecans (raw)
- ¾ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ cup red onion (thinly sliced)
- 1 pound strawberries (hulled and quartered)
Dressing
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 ½ tablespoons poppy seeds
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ tablespoons honey
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the spinach: If your spinach hasn’t been prewashed, thoroughly wash the fresh baby spinach leaves and pat them dry using paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- Toast the pecans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread the raw pecans in a single layer on an ungreased baking sheet.
- Bake pecans: Bake the pecans for 6-8 minutes or until they become fragrant, being careful to watch closely to avoid burning.
- Cool and chop pecans: Remove the pecans from the oven and let them cool completely. Once cooled, coarsely chop the pecans and set aside.
- Soak the red onions: Place the thinly sliced red onions in a small bowl of cold water to mellow their sharpness while you prepare the rest of the salad.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together balsamic vinegar, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and black pepper. Slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil while whisking continuously until the dressing is well combined and emulsified.
- Assemble the salad: In a large salad bowl, combine the baby spinach, quartered strawberries, soaked and drained red onions, crumbled feta cheese, and toasted pecans.
- Toss and serve: Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss everything together until the ingredients are evenly coated. Serve immediately for the freshest flavor and crunch.
Notes
- Soaking red onions in cold water reduces their sharpness but retains flavor.
- Watch pecans closely while baking to prevent burning.
- This salad is best served fresh to maintain the crispness of the spinach and texture of the pecans.
- For added protein, grilled chicken or tofu can be added.
