Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppyseed Dressing (15 Minutes!)

Calling all salad lovers! This strawberry spinach salad is the proper mixture of candy and savory — recent child spinach piled excessive with juicy sliced strawberries, tangy feta crumbles, crispy pink onion, and maple-candied almonds, all drizzled with a creamy selfmade poppyseed dressing.

It’s my go-to summer season salad as a result of it comes collectively in about quarter-hour, works as a lightweight lunch or a beautiful aspect dish, and tastes like one thing you’d order at a restaurant. The mixture of candy strawberries, salty feta, and crunchy candied almonds hits each word.

Under I’m breaking down each part — the candied almonds, the from-scratch dressing, storage suggestions, straightforward swaps, and what to serve alongside it to make it a full meal.

The Good Summer season Salad

Are you aware these recipes that deliver you again in time? This strawberry spinach salad takes me again to highschool after I would spend all day at my neighbor’s home. Their mother would purchase essentially the most wonderful poppyseed dressing and it felt like there was all the time an enormous bowl of berry salad of their fridge — a complete free for all!

As an grownup, I’ve discovered that my palate for salads has modified just a bit bit. I now want a stability of candy and savory, in addition to a superb combination of texture in each salad I eat. That’s precisely what this strawberry spinach salad delivers — and it’s turn out to be one of the vital common salad recipes on Match Foodie Finds.

Strawberry Spinach Salad Elements

If you happen to’re planning on having a salad for a full meal, it’s essential to pack it with nutritious substances that may maintain you going all day. I selected each ingredient on this salad as a result of they complement one another fantastically and each brings one thing completely different to the desk.

Spinach: Spinach is the leafy inexperienced of leafy greens! It’s nice with virtually any dressing and you may eat it chilly or scorching. Spinach is full of iron, vitamin B, calcium, and folic acid. You get a whole lot of bang on your buck with any spinach-based salad.

Contemporary strawberries: Not solely are strawberries completely candy and scrumptious, however in addition they provide a whole lot of dietary worth to any meal. Strawberries are wealthy in nutritional vitamins C and Okay, and so they’re additionally a fantastic supply of potassium! Be happy so as to add additional strawberries to this salad or chop them in another way. I like to go away larger chunks, however bite-sized items work nice too. If you happen to love strawberries in salads, strive my strawberry broccoli salad and strawberry quinoa salad subsequent.

Feta crumbles: Tangy, salty feta is the proper counterbalance to the candy strawberries. If you happen to desire a creamier cheese, goat cheese is a scrumptious swap (it really works fantastically in my arugula salad).

Crimson onion: I do know uncooked pink onion might be polarizing! If you happen to’re not a uncooked onion particular person, try my the right way to make caramelized onions put up and use these as a substitute. Uncooked pink onion provides a scrumptious crunch and chew to any salad, plus it’s full of antioxidants, vitamin C, and potassium. Somewhat goes a good distance!

Poppyseed dressing: Don’t be afraid — making selfmade poppyseed dressing is SO straightforward. I take advantage of a mixture of Greek yogurt, lemon juice, poppy seeds, and vinegar for a lightweight, creamy dressing that’s method higher than store-bought. Poppy seeds are recognized to help digestion and are full of antioxidants!

Find out how to Make Candied Almonds

These candied almonds had been impressed by my oil-free maple roasted pecans! You’re not going to imagine how straightforward they’re to make — simply three substances and eight minutes within the oven.

1. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Toss slivered almonds with maple syrup and a pinch of salt.
3. Unfold them in a single layer on the baking sheet.
4. Bake at 400ºF for 8 minutes till golden and aromatic.

They arrive out candy, salty, crunchy, and fully addicting. Almonds additionally add a wholesome dose of fiber and protein to this strawberry spinach salad!

Find out how to Make Strawberry Spinach Salad

This salad couldn’t be easier to throw collectively. Right here’s the step-by-step:

1. Make the candied almonds: Toss slivered almonds with maple syrup and salt, then bake at 400ºF for 8 minutes. Allow them to cool when you prep every little thing else.
2. Whisk the dressing: Mix olive oil, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, honey, poppy seeds, and salt. (Full recipe in my poppyseed dressing put up.)
3. Assemble the salad: Divide recent spinach amongst 4 bowls. High with sliced strawberries, feta crumbles, sliced pink onion, and candied almonds.
4. Costume and serve: Drizzle about two tablespoons of poppyseed dressing over every bowl and luxuriate in!

Suggestions for the Finest Strawberry Spinach Salad

• Use ripe, in-season strawberries: They’re naturally sweeter and juicier, which makes an enormous distinction on this salad.
• Dry your spinach properly: Extra moisture will dilute the dressing. A salad spinner works nice right here.
• Costume proper earlier than serving: The spinach will wilt if it sits in dressing too lengthy. If meal prepping, maintain the dressing on the aspect.
• Let the almonds cool fully: They’ll crisp up as they cool. If you happen to add them whereas heat, they will wilt the spinach.
• Thinly slice the pink onion: Paper-thin slices distribute higher and have a milder chew.

Substitutions and Variations

This salad is endlessly customizable! Listed here are some straightforward swaps:

• Greens: Swap spinach for arugula, blended greens, or a mixture. My arugula salad makes use of an analogous taste profile.
• Berries: Blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries all work fantastically rather than (or along with) strawberries.
• Cheese: Attempt goat cheese, recent mozzarella, or shaved Parmesan as a substitute of feta.
• Nuts: Candied pecans, walnuts, or pistachios are all scrumptious alternate options. My summer season salad with honey roasted pistachios makes use of an analogous idea.
• Dressing: A easy balsamic French dressing or any of my favourite dressings would work right here too.
• Make it vegan: Skip the feta and Greek yogurt within the dressing — use a easy olive oil and lemon French dressing as a substitute.

What to Serve with Strawberry Spinach Salad

This salad works as a lightweight lunch by itself, however if you wish to flip it into a much bigger meal, listed here are my favourite pairings:

• Grilled hen: My juicy grilled hen is the best method so as to add protein. Slice it proper on high!
• Salmon: A chunk of pan-seared salmon pairs fantastically with the candy berries and tangy feta.
• Grilled California hen: My grilled California hen is one other nice summer season protein possibility.
• Soup: Hold it mild with a cup of soup on the aspect for an ideal lunch combo.
• Crusty bread: A slice of heat sourdough by no means hurts alongside a giant salad!

Find out how to Retailer and Meal Prep

This strawberry spinach salad is incredible for meal prep! Right here’s how I do it:

• Meal prep containers: Divide the spinach, strawberries, feta, and pink onion into 4 containers. Hold the candied almonds and dressing in separate small containers so nothing will get soggy.
• Storage: The prepped elements will final 3–4 days within the fridge. Add the almonds and dressing proper earlier than consuming.
• Dressing: The poppyseed dressing retains for as much as 1 week in an hermetic jar within the fridge. Give it a superb shake earlier than utilizing.
• Candied almonds: Retailer in an hermetic container at room temperature for as much as 1 week. They’ll keep good and crunchy!

Strawberry Spinach Salad FAQ

Can I make strawberry spinach salad forward of time?

Sure! Prep all the elements and retailer them individually within the fridge for as much as 4 days. Hold the dressing and candied almonds in their very own containers and add them proper earlier than serving so nothing will get soggy.

What protein goes properly with strawberry spinach salad?

Grilled hen, pan-seared salmon, and shrimp are all glorious choices. Even a handful of chickpeas or some edamame will enhance the protein if you wish to maintain it vegetarian.

Can I take advantage of a unique dressing?

Completely! A easy balsamic French dressing, raspberry French dressing, or perhaps a mild lemon dressing would pair properly with the strawberries and spinach. Try my favourite salad dressing recipes for extra concepts.

Is strawberry spinach salad wholesome?

Sure! Spinach is full of iron, nutritional vitamins, and calcium. Strawberries are wealthy in vitamin C and antioxidants. The selfmade poppyseed dressing makes use of Greek yogurt as a substitute of mayo, protecting it lighter than most store-bought choices. It’s a nutrient-dense salad that’s additionally naturally gluten-free.

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