Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe with Easy Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing
A vibrant and light salad combining fresh strawberries and baby spinach with a creamy, tangy poppy seed dressing. Perfect for quick meals or entertaining, this salad is fresh, flavorful, and easy to prepare.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 cups fresh baby spinach (washed and dried)
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- ½ cup sliced almonds, toasted
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
- ¼ small red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash and dry the baby spinach thoroughly using a salad spinner or clean towel.
- Hull and slice the fresh strawberries into thin pieces.
- Thinly slice the red onion if using, and set aside.
- Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add sliced almonds and toast, stirring frequently, until golden brown and fragrant (about 3-4 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool.
- In a small bowl or jar, combine mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, honey, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and poppy seeds. Whisk or shake well until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine spinach, sliced strawberries, and red onion.
- Drizzle about half of the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat evenly. Add more dressing if needed, ensuring the salad is lightly coated but not drenched.
- Sprinkle toasted almonds and crumbled feta cheese over the top. Toss gently or serve as is.
Notes
Dry spinach thoroughly to avoid soggy salad. Toast almonds carefully to prevent burning. Dressing can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. For vegan version, substitute mayonnaise and Greek yogurt with vegan alternatives and honey with maple syrup. Dressing tastes better after chilling for 15 minutes or overnight.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 9
- Sodium: 180
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 2.5
- Carbohydrates: 14
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 5
Keywords: strawberry spinach salad, creamy poppy seed dressing, fresh salad, easy salad recipe, healthy salad, summer salad