Calling all salad lovers! This strawberry spinach salad is the right mixture of candy and savory — contemporary child spinach piled excessive with juicy sliced strawberries, tangy feta crumbles, crispy pink onion, and maple-candied almonds, all drizzled with a creamy do-it-yourself 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 facet 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 observe.
Under I’m breaking down each part — the candied almonds, the from-scratch dressing, storage ideas, straightforward swaps, and what to serve alongside it to make it a full meal.
The Good Summer time 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 superb poppyseed dressing and it felt like there was at all times 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 steadiness of candy and savory, in addition to an excellent combination of texture in each salad I eat. That’s precisely what this strawberry spinach salad delivers — and it’s turn into one of the in style salad recipes on Match Foodie Finds.
Strawberry Spinach Salad Elements
In the event you’re planning on having a salad for a full meal, it’s necessary to pack it with nutritious components 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 nearly any dressing and you may eat it chilly or scorching. Spinach is full of iron, vitamin B, calcium, and folic acid. You get a number of bang in your buck with any spinach-based salad.
Recent strawberries: Not solely are strawberries completely candy and scrumptious, however in addition they supply a number of dietary worth to any meal. Strawberries are wealthy in nutritional vitamins C and Ok, they usually’re additionally an awesome supply of potassium! Be happy so as to add further strawberries to this salad or chop them in another way. I like to go away larger chunks, however bite-sized items work nice too. In the event you love strawberries in salads, strive my strawberry broccoli salad and strawberry quinoa salad subsequent.
Feta crumbles: Tangy, salty feta is the right counterbalance to the candy strawberries. In the event you favor 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 could be polarizing! In the event you’re not a uncooked onion particular person, try my how one can make caramelized onions publish and use these as an alternative. Uncooked pink onion provides a scrumptious crunch and chunk 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 do-it-yourself 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 means higher than store-bought. Poppy seeds are identified to assist digestion and are full of antioxidants!
Methods 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 components and eight minutes within the oven.
- Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
- Toss slivered almonds with maple syrup and a pinch of salt.
- Unfold them in a single layer on the baking sheet.
- Bake at 400ºF for 8 minutes till golden and aromatic.
They arrive out candy, salty, crunchy, and utterly addicting. Almonds additionally add a wholesome dose of fiber and protein to this strawberry spinach salad!
Methods to Make Strawberry Spinach Salad
This salad couldn’t be easier to throw collectively. Right here’s the step-by-step:
- Make the candied almonds: Toss slivered almonds with maple syrup and salt, then bake at 400ºF for 8 minutes. Allow them to cool whilst you prep all the things else.
- Whisk the dressing: Mix olive oil, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, honey, poppy seeds, and salt. (Full recipe in my poppyseed dressing publish.)
- Assemble the salad: Divide contemporary spinach amongst 4 bowls. Prime with sliced strawberries, feta crumbles, sliced pink onion, and candied almonds.
- Gown and serve: Drizzle about two tablespoons of poppyseed dressing over every bowl and revel in!
Ideas 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 effectively: Extra moisture will dilute the dressing. A salad spinner works nice right here.
- Gown proper earlier than serving: The spinach will wilt if it sits in dressing too lengthy. If meal prepping, maintain the dressing on the facet.
- Let the almonds cool utterly: They’ll crisp up as they cool. In the event you add them whereas heat, they’ll wilt the spinach.
- Thinly slice the pink onion: Paper-thin slices distribute higher and have a milder chunk.
Substitutions and Variations
This salad is endlessly customizable! Listed below 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 instead of (or along with) strawberries.
- Cheese: Strive goat cheese, contemporary mozzarella, or shaved Parmesan as an alternative 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 an alternative.
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 below are my favourite pairings:
- Grilled rooster: My juicy grilled rooster is the best means so as to add protein. Slice it proper on high!
- Salmon: A bit of pan-seared salmon pairs fantastically with the candy berries and tangy feta.
- Grilled California rooster: My grilled California rooster is one other nice summer season protein choice.
- Soup: Preserve it gentle with a cup of soup on the facet for an ideal lunch combo.
- Crusty bread: A slice of heat sourdough by no means hurts alongside an enormous salad!
Methods to Retailer and Meal Prep
This strawberry spinach salad is implausible for meal prep! Right here’s how I do it:
- Meal prep containers: Divide the spinach, strawberries, feta, and pink onion into 4 containers. Preserve the candied almonds and dressing in separate small containers so nothing will get soggy.
- Storage: The prepped parts 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 an excellent 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 the entire parts and retailer them individually within the fridge for as much as 4 days. Preserve 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 effectively with strawberry spinach salad?
Grilled rooster, pan-seared salmon, and shrimp are all wonderful 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 gentle lemon dressing would pair effectively 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 do-it-yourself poppyseed dressing makes use of Greek yogurt as an alternative of mayo, conserving it lighter than most store-bought choices. It’s a nutrient-dense salad that’s additionally naturally gluten-free.
Extra Salad Recipes to Strive
Candied Slivered Almonds
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First, spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Then, lay slivered almonds down on the baking sheet and drizzle with maple syrup and season with a pinch of salt. Bake at 400ºF for 8 minutes.
- Vitamin doesn’t embrace poppy seed dressing.
Energy: 270 kcal, Carbohydrates: 24 g, Protein: 12 g, Fats: 16 g, Fiber: 7 g, Sugar: 12 g
Vitamin info is routinely calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.