If you’re looking for a fresh, vibrant dish, I have just the recipe for you: Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppyseed Dressing! This delightful salad bursts with color and flavor, perfect for any meal. With crisp spinach, juicy strawberries, and a sweet poppyseed dressing, it’s a tasty way to enjoy your greens. Read on for a simple guide to making this healthy and satisfying dish that everyone will love!
Ingredients
Fresh Produce
– 4 cups fresh baby spinach
– 1 cup strawberries
Dairy & Nuts
– ½ cup feta cheese
– ¼ cup walnuts
Flavor Enhancers
– ¼ cup red onion
– ½ cup sunflower seeds
Poppyseed Dressing Components
– ¼ cup olive oil
– 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
– 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
– 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
– Salt and pepper, to taste
For a vibrant Strawberry Spinach Salad, fresh ingredients shine. You need baby spinach, as it gives a soft, base layer. Strawberries add a sweet pop. Feta cheese provides a creamy, tangy bite. Walnuts give a nice crunch and rich flavor.
Next, red onion brings sharpness, while sunflower seeds add extra crunch. Now, let’s talk about the dressing. Olive oil creates a smooth texture. Apple cider vinegar adds tang, while honey or maple syrup balances the flavors with sweetness. Finally, poppy seeds give a delightful crunch and a unique look.
You can find the full recipe with all the steps to make this salad at home. Enjoy making this delicious dish!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Preparing the Dressing
To make the dressing, first grab a small bowl. Whisk together the olive oil and apple cider vinegar. Add honey or maple syrup for sweetness. Then, sprinkle in the poppy seeds. Finally, season with salt and pepper to taste. This simple dressing adds a great flavor.
Assembling the Salad
In a large salad bowl, create a base with the fresh baby spinach. This makes a nice green layer. Next, layer the sliced strawberries on top. Follow that with crumbled feta cheese for a creamy touch. Add toasted walnuts for crunch. Then, sprinkle thinly sliced red onion for a bit of bite. Finally, finish with sunflower seeds for extra texture.
Final Touch
Now comes the fun part! Drizzle the poppyseed dressing generously over the salad. Be sure to coat all the ingredients. Gently toss the salad to combine everything well. This helps the flavors mix perfectly. Serve immediately for the freshest taste. You can find the Full Recipe to guide you through this delightful dish.
Tips & Tricks
Choosing Fresh Ingredients
To make a great Strawberry Spinach Salad, start with fresh ingredients. When picking strawberries, look for bright red ones. They should feel firm and smell sweet. Avoid berries with green or white spots. Fresh spinach is just as important. Choose vibrant, crisp leaves. They should not have any brown edges or wilting. Fresh spinach adds a nice crunch to your salad.
Dressing Tips
The poppyseed dressing makes the salad shine. You can adjust the sweetness by adding more honey or maple syrup. Taste it as you mix. If you want a sweeter dressing, add more. To store the dressing, keep it in a jar with a lid. It stays fresh in the fridge for about a week. Just give it a shake before using it again.
Serving Suggestions
This salad tastes best when served right away. The spinach stays crisp, and the flavors pop. If you want to add protein, grilled chicken or salmon works well. These pair nicely with the sweet strawberries and tangy feta. Enjoy your salad as a light meal or side dish! For the full recipe, check out the details above.
Variations
Adding More Flavor
You can easily change this salad to fit your taste. Try adding other fruits like blueberries or diced apples. They add sweetness and color. You can also switch cheeses. Goat cheese or mozzarella can bring new flavors. These small changes can make the salad feel fresh and exciting.
Nutritional Adjustments
If you want a vegan option, swap honey for maple syrup. This keeps the salad sweet without using animal products. If you are gluten-free, you can choose different nuts. Pecans or pumpkin seeds work well and add crunch.
Seasonal Adjustments
You can change the salad with the seasons. In winter, try using kale instead of spinach. Kale is hearty and works well with the dressing. In summer, add more veggies like cucumbers or bell peppers. This keeps the salad light and refreshing. For the full recipe, check out the Sweet & Crunchy Strawberry Spinach Salad.
Storage Info
How to Store Leftover Salad
To keep your leftover salad fresh, store it in an airtight container. Place it in the fridge right away. This helps keep the spinach crisp and the strawberries juicy. If you want to avoid sogginess, do not add the dressing until you are ready to eat. This keeps everything crunchy.
Dressing Storage
You can store homemade poppyseed dressing in a jar. Seal it tightly and keep it in the fridge. It will stay fresh for about one week. If you notice any change in smell or texture, it’s best to toss it out.
Meal Prep Ideas
You can prep your salad ingredients ahead of time. Wash and dry the spinach, slice the strawberries, and chop the nuts. Store them separately in the fridge. This makes it easy to grab and assemble your salad for quick lunches. You can even make the salad a day in advance, but remember to add the dressing just before serving for the best taste.
For the full recipe, check out [Full Recipe].
FAQs
Can I make the Strawberry Spinach Salad ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the salad ahead of time. To do this, keep the dressing separate until you are ready to serve. Wash and slice the strawberries and keep them in the fridge. Store the spinach and other salad items in airtight containers. This way, they stay fresh and crisp. When you are ready to eat, mix everything together and add the dressing.
What other dressings go well with this salad?
This salad is very versatile. You can try other dressings like balsamic vinaigrette, honey mustard, or citrus dressings. Each dressing adds a new twist to the flavors. A creamy ranch or a yogurt-based dressing can also work well. Feel free to explore and find your favorite!
How long can I store the salad in the fridge?
If stored correctly, the salad can last for about two days in the fridge. Keep the dressing separate to avoid sogginess. Once you add the dressing, aim to eat it within a few hours for the best taste. Always check for freshness before serving.
This salad combines fresh spinach, strawberries, and feta for a burst of flavor. You learned how to make a tasty poppyseed dressing and assemble the salad step-by-step. Remember to choose ripe produce for the best taste. Enjoy this salad fresh, but feel free to customize it with other fruits or nuts. Store leftovers correctly to keep them crisp. With these tips and variations, you can savor this dish all year round.
![- 4 cups fresh baby spinach - 1 cup strawberries - ½ cup feta cheese - ¼ cup walnuts - ¼ cup red onion - ½ cup sunflower seeds - ¼ cup olive oil - 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar - 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds - Salt and pepper, to taste For a vibrant Strawberry Spinach Salad, fresh ingredients shine. You need baby spinach, as it gives a soft, base layer. Strawberries add a sweet pop. Feta cheese provides a creamy, tangy bite. Walnuts give a nice crunch and rich flavor. Next, red onion brings sharpness, while sunflower seeds add extra crunch. Now, let’s talk about the dressing. Olive oil creates a smooth texture. Apple cider vinegar adds tang, while honey or maple syrup balances the flavors with sweetness. Finally, poppy seeds give a delightful crunch and a unique look. You can find the full recipe with all the steps to make this salad at home. Enjoy making this delicious dish! To make the dressing, first grab a small bowl. Whisk together the olive oil and apple cider vinegar. Add honey or maple syrup for sweetness. Then, sprinkle in the poppy seeds. Finally, season with salt and pepper to taste. This simple dressing adds a great flavor. In a large salad bowl, create a base with the fresh baby spinach. This makes a nice green layer. Next, layer the sliced strawberries on top. Follow that with crumbled feta cheese for a creamy touch. Add toasted walnuts for crunch. Then, sprinkle thinly sliced red onion for a bit of bite. Finally, finish with sunflower seeds for extra texture. Now comes the fun part! Drizzle the poppyseed dressing generously over the salad. Be sure to coat all the ingredients. Gently toss the salad to combine everything well. This helps the flavors mix perfectly. Serve immediately for the freshest taste. You can find the Full Recipe to guide you through this delightful dish. To make a great Strawberry Spinach Salad, start with fresh ingredients. When picking strawberries, look for bright red ones. They should feel firm and smell sweet. Avoid berries with green or white spots. Fresh spinach is just as important. Choose vibrant, crisp leaves. They should not have any brown edges or wilting. Fresh spinach adds a nice crunch to your salad. The poppyseed dressing makes the salad shine. You can adjust the sweetness by adding more honey or maple syrup. Taste it as you mix. If you want a sweeter dressing, add more. To store the dressing, keep it in a jar with a lid. It stays fresh in the fridge for about a week. Just give it a shake before using it again. This salad tastes best when served right away. The spinach stays crisp, and the flavors pop. If you want to add protein, grilled chicken or salmon works well. These pair nicely with the sweet strawberries and tangy feta. Enjoy your salad as a light meal or side dish! For the full recipe, check out the details above. {{image_2}} You can easily change this salad to fit your taste. Try adding other fruits like blueberries or diced apples. They add sweetness and color. You can also switch cheeses. Goat cheese or mozzarella can bring new flavors. These small changes can make the salad feel fresh and exciting. If you want a vegan option, swap honey for maple syrup. This keeps the salad sweet without using animal products. If you are gluten-free, you can choose different nuts. Pecans or pumpkin seeds work well and add crunch. You can change the salad with the seasons. In winter, try using kale instead of spinach. Kale is hearty and works well with the dressing. In summer, add more veggies like cucumbers or bell peppers. This keeps the salad light and refreshing. For the full recipe, check out the Sweet & Crunchy Strawberry Spinach Salad. To keep your leftover salad fresh, store it in an airtight container. Place it in the fridge right away. This helps keep the spinach crisp and the strawberries juicy. If you want to avoid sogginess, do not add the dressing until you are ready to eat. This keeps everything crunchy. You can store homemade poppyseed dressing in a jar. Seal it tightly and keep it in the fridge. It will stay fresh for about one week. If you notice any change in smell or texture, it’s best to toss it out. You can prep your salad ingredients ahead of time. Wash and dry the spinach, slice the strawberries, and chop the nuts. Store them separately in the fridge. This makes it easy to grab and assemble your salad for quick lunches. You can even make the salad a day in advance, but remember to add the dressing just before serving for the best taste. For the full recipe, check out [Full Recipe]. Yes, you can prepare the salad ahead of time. To do this, keep the dressing separate until you are ready to serve. Wash and slice the strawberries and keep them in the fridge. Store the spinach and other salad items in airtight containers. This way, they stay fresh and crisp. When you are ready to eat, mix everything together and add the dressing. This salad is very versatile. You can try other dressings like balsamic vinaigrette, honey mustard, or citrus dressings. Each dressing adds a new twist to the flavors. A creamy ranch or a yogurt-based dressing can also work well. Feel free to explore and find your favorite! If stored correctly, the salad can last for about two days in the fridge. Keep the dressing separate to avoid sogginess. Once you add the dressing, aim to eat it within a few hours for the best taste. Always check for freshness before serving. This salad combines fresh spinach, strawberries, and feta for a burst of flavor. You learned how to make a tasty poppyseed dressing and assemble the salad step-by-step. Remember to choose ripe produce for the best taste. Enjoy this salad fresh, but feel free to customize it with other fruits or nuts. Store leftovers correctly to keep them crisp. With these tips and variations, you can savor this dish all year round.](https://lisadishes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/fdd094fc-795d-471e-9ac3-276e2a32e554-250x250.webp)