Print

Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe with Easy Sweet Poppy Seed Dressing

fresh strawberry spinach salad - featured image
Print Recipe

A quick and fresh salad combining baby spinach, ripe strawberries, and a homemade sweet poppy seed dressing that is creamy, tangy, and perfectly balanced.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups baby spinach (about 180g), washed and dried
  • 2 cups fresh strawberries (about 300g), hulled and sliced
  • 1/4 medium red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup slivered almonds (about 50g), lightly toasted
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise (60ml), full-fat
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (30ml)
  • 2 tablespoons honey (40g)
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar (12g)
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds (9g)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt (1.5g)
  • Pinch of freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Rinse the baby spinach under cold water and spin or pat dry thoroughly. Hull and thinly slice the strawberries. Set both aside. (5 minutes)
  2. Peel and cut 1/4 of a medium red onion into very thin slices. If raw onion is too sharp, soak slices in cold water for 10 minutes, then drain well. (5 minutes)
  3. Place the slivered almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat. Stir frequently for 3-5 minutes until fragrant and lightly golden. Remove from heat and let cool. (5 minutes)
  4. In a medium bowl or jar, combine mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, honey, granulated sugar, poppy seeds, salt, and black pepper. Whisk vigorously or shake until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust sweetness or acidity as desired. (5 minutes)
  5. In a large bowl, gently toss the spinach, sliced strawberries, and red onion until combined. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss lightly, trying not to bruise the spinach leaves. (2-3 minutes)
  6. Sprinkle the toasted almonds over the salad just before serving for maximum crunch. (1 minute)

Notes

For lighter dressing, swap half the mayo for plain Greek yogurt. Soak red onion slices if raw flavor is too strong. Toast almonds just before serving to maintain crunch. Dressing can be made up to 3 days ahead and stored in fridge. Keep dressing separate if prepping salad ahead to avoid sogginess. For vegan version, use vegan mayo and maple syrup or agave nectar instead of honey.

Nutrition

Keywords: strawberry spinach salad, poppy seed dressing, fresh salad, quick salad, healthy salad, summer salad, easy salad recipe

Find it online: https://pokirecipes.com/fresh-strawberry-spinach-salad-recipe-with-easy-sweet-poppy-seed-dressing/