Description
A refreshing and vibrant Strawberry Spinach Salad featuring fresh baby spinach, sweet strawberries, crunchy toasted pecans, tangy feta cheese, and thinly sliced red onions. Tossed in a homemade poppy seed balsamic dressing with hints of honey and Dijon mustard, this salad makes a perfect side dish for any meal or a light, healthy lunch.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 10 ounces fresh baby spinach
- 1 cup pecans
- 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 Spinach: If your spinach hasn’t been prewashed, wash it thoroughly and dry it on paper towels to remove any excess moisture.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to toast the pecans for enhanced flavor and crunch.
- Toast Pecans: Spread the raw pecans in a single layer on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for 6-8 minutes, or until aromatic but not burnt. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Cool and Chop Pecans: Remove the toasted pecans from the oven and let them cool completely. Once cooled, coarsely chop them and set aside.
- Soak Onions: Place the thinly sliced red onions into a small bowl of cold water to mellow their sharpness while maintaining flavor. Let them soak during the remaining preparation steps.
- Prepare Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together balsamic vinegar, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, extra virgin olive oil, honey, salt, and ground black pepper until well combined and emulsified.
- Assemble Salad: In a large salad bowl, combine the baby spinach, quartered strawberries, crumbled feta cheese, chopped toasted pecans, and drained red onions.
- Toss Salad: Drizzle the prepared poppy seed balsamic dressing over the salad and gently toss to evenly coat all ingredients.
- Serve: Serve immediately as a fresh side salad for up to 6 servings.
Notes
- Ensure pecans are watched carefully during toasting to prevent burning.
- Soaking red onions in cold water helps to reduce sharpness without losing flavor.
- This salad is best served fresh but can be refrigerated for a few hours with dressing separate.
- Substitute goat cheese for feta for a creamier texture.
- For added protein, grilled chicken can be served alongside this salad.
