Strawberry Spinach Balsamic Poppy Seed (Printable)

Fresh strawberries and spinach with tangy balsamic poppy seed dressing come together in this vibrant 15-minute salad.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad Components

01 - 6 cups baby spinach, washed and thoroughly dried
02 - 1 pint fresh strawberries (approximately 2 cups), hulled and thinly sliced
03 - ½ small red onion, thinly sliced into rings
04 - ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
05 - ⅓ cup sliced almonds, lightly toasted
06 - ¼ cup sunflower seeds, optional

→ Balsamic Poppy Seed Dressing

07 - 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
08 - 1 tablespoon honey or pure maple syrup
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
12 - Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - Place the washed and dried baby spinach in a large salad bowl. Layer the sliced strawberries, red onion rings, crumbled feta cheese, toasted almonds, and sunflower seeds (if using) on top of the spinach.
02 - In a small mixing bowl or glass jar, combine the balsamic vinegar, honey (or maple syrup), and Dijon mustard. Whisk vigorously until smooth. While continuously whisking, slowly drizzle in the extra-virgin olive oil to create an emulsified dressing. Stir in the poppy seeds and season with salt and pepper to taste.
03 - Immediately before serving, pour the dressing over the salad. Use salad tongs to gently toss the ingredients, ensuring even coating of the dressing. Serve right away while the spinach remains crisp and the strawberries are fresh.

# Tips from dashanddishes:

01 -
  • The homemade poppy seed dressing comes together in two minutes and keeps for a week in your refrigerator
  • Every forkful hits perfect notes of sweet, salty, tangy, and creamy without any heavy ingredients
02 -
  • Dress this salad immediately before serving, as the acid will break down the spinach and make it soggy if it sits too long
  • Toast your nuts ahead of time and store them separately, then add them right before serving so they stay perfectly crunchy
03 -
  • Dry your spinach thoroughly with a salad spinner or paper towels, or the dressing will slide right off
  • Let the dressing come to room temperature and give it a good shake before using if it has separated

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