Are you ready for a dish that bursts with flavor and freshness? My Strawberry Spinach Poppyseed Salad is a delightful mix of vibrant spinach, sweet strawberries, and crunchy almonds. It’s simple, healthy, and perfect for any meal. Whether you need a side or a main, this salad fits the bill. Join me as I share my easy steps, tips, and tasty variations to make it your own!

$- 4 cups fresh baby spinach - 2 cups ripe strawberries - 1/2 cup sliced almonds - 1/4 cup creamy feta cheese - 1/4 cup red onion - 1/4 cup poppy seeds - 1/2 cup olive oil - 1/4 cup honey - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar - Salt and pepper to taste When making this Strawberry Spinach Poppyseed Salad, fresh ingredients are key. First, I always choose 4 cups of fresh baby spinach. This adds a lovely green base. Next, I select 2 cups of ripe strawberries. Their bright color and sweet flavor make the salad pop. Then I add 1/2 cup of sliced almonds for crunch. Lightly toasting them boosts their flavor. I also include 1/4 cup of creamy feta cheese for a rich taste. This cheese pairs well with the sweetness of strawberries. Thinly sliced red onion adds a sharp flavor. I use 1/4 cup for a nice bite without overpowering the other tastes. For the dressing, I combine 1/4 cup of poppy seeds for a fun texture. I use 1/2 cup of olive oil as a base. It gives a smooth mouthfeel. I mix in 1/4 cup of honey for sweetness. The honey balances the tang of 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Finally, I season with salt and pepper to taste. This simple mix of ingredients creates a fresh and tasty dish that anyone can enjoy. First, grab a large mixing bowl. Add 4 cups of fresh baby spinach. Then, slice 2 cups of ripe strawberries and toss them in. Next, add 1/2 cup of sliced almonds. These should be lightly toasted for a nice crunch. Crumble in 1/4 cup of creamy feta cheese. Finally, thinly slice 1/4 cup of red onion and mix it all together. Use a gentle motion to avoid bruising the spinach. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together 1/2 cup of high-quality olive oil, 1/4 cup of natural honey, and 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Add 1/4 cup of poppy seeds for a delightful crunch. Keep whisking until the dressing is well mixed. Season it with salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste. Drizzle the poppyseed dressing over the salad. Gently toss everything to coat all the ingredients evenly. Let the salad sit for about 10 minutes. This resting time helps the flavors blend well. Enjoy the fresh taste! - Gently toss ingredients to avoid bruising spinach. - Allow flavors to meld before serving. When you mix your salad, be kind to the spinach. Use a soft touch. This helps the leaves stay fresh and bright. If you mix too hard, they can tear. Next, let the salad rest for about 10 minutes. This helps the flavors blend. The strawberries will release some juice, making it even tastier. - Serve in a shallow bowl for a visual appeal. - Garnish with extra almonds and strawberry slices. To make your salad look great, use a shallow bowl. This way, all the colors pop. Finish it off by adding extra toasted almonds and a few strawberry slices on top. It makes your dish look fancy and inviting. You can even drizzle some dressing over the top for flair. {{image_4}} You can make this salad even better. Adding grilled chicken or shrimp gives it protein. This change makes the salad hearty and filling. If you want a different cheese, try goat cheese instead of feta. If you prefer a vegan option, just leave out the cheese. You still get great taste without it. The dressing is key to this salad's flavor. You can change it up by trying different vinegars. Balsamic vinegar adds a sweet touch. Adding citrus juice gives a nice zing. A splash of lemon or lime juice brightens the taste. Feel free to mix and match until you find your favorite! To keep your salad fresh, store the salad and dressing separately. This way, the spinach stays crisp, and the strawberries do not get mushy. Place the salad in one container and the dressing in another. You can use a jar for the dressing, which makes it easy to pour later. You can store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. After this time, the salad may lose its taste and texture. So, try to enjoy it within two days for the best flavor. Yes, but add the dressing right before serving. This keeps the spinach fresh and crisp. If you mix it too early, the leaves may wilt. Toss the salad with the dressing just before you eat. Try sunflower seeds or chia seeds as alternatives. These seeds add a different crunch and flavor. You can also skip seeds if you want a simpler salad. Yes, all ingredients used are gluten-free. You can enjoy this salad without any worries. It’s safe for anyone who avoids gluten in their diet. This salad blends fresh spinach, crunchy almonds, and sweet strawberries for a tasty dish. The creamy feta and poppyseed dressing add depth to each bite. Remember to toss gently to keep the spinach fresh. You can adjust the recipe based on what you like, adding proteins or trying new dressings. Store leftovers correctly to keep them crisp. Enjoy making this salad again and again!$

Ingredients

Fresh Produce

– 4 cups fresh baby spinach

– 2 cups ripe strawberries

Additional Components

– 1/2 cup sliced almonds

– 1/4 cup creamy feta cheese

– 1/4 cup red onion

Dressing Ingredients

– 1/4 cup poppy seeds

– 1/2 cup olive oil

– 1/4 cup honey

– 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

– Salt and pepper to taste

When making this Strawberry Spinach Poppyseed Salad, fresh ingredients are key. First, I always choose 4 cups of fresh baby spinach. This adds a lovely green base. Next, I select 2 cups of ripe strawberries. Their bright color and sweet flavor make the salad pop.

Then I add 1/2 cup of sliced almonds for crunch. Lightly toasting them boosts their flavor. I also include 1/4 cup of creamy feta cheese for a rich taste. This cheese pairs well with the sweetness of strawberries.

Thinly sliced red onion adds a sharp flavor. I use 1/4 cup for a nice bite without overpowering the other tastes.

For the dressing, I combine 1/4 cup of poppy seeds for a fun texture. I use 1/2 cup of olive oil as a base. It gives a smooth mouthfeel. I mix in 1/4 cup of honey for sweetness. The honey balances the tang of 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.

Finally, I season with salt and pepper to taste. This simple mix of ingredients creates a fresh and tasty dish that anyone can enjoy.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preparing the Salad Base

First, grab a large mixing bowl. Add 4 cups of fresh baby spinach. Then, slice 2 cups of ripe strawberries and toss them in. Next, add 1/2 cup of sliced almonds. These should be lightly toasted for a nice crunch. Crumble in 1/4 cup of creamy feta cheese. Finally, thinly slice 1/4 cup of red onion and mix it all together. Use a gentle motion to avoid bruising the spinach.

Making the Poppyseed Dressing

In a small bowl or jar, whisk together 1/2 cup of high-quality olive oil, 1/4 cup of natural honey, and 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Add 1/4 cup of poppy seeds for a delightful crunch. Keep whisking until the dressing is well mixed. Season it with salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste.

Combining and Serving

Drizzle the poppyseed dressing over the salad. Gently toss everything to coat all the ingredients evenly. Let the salad sit for about 10 minutes. This resting time helps the flavors blend well. Enjoy the fresh taste!

Tips & Tricks

Expert Tips for Perfecting

– Gently toss ingredients to avoid bruising spinach.

– Allow flavors to meld before serving.

When you mix your salad, be kind to the spinach. Use a soft touch. This helps the leaves stay fresh and bright. If you mix too hard, they can tear.

Next, let the salad rest for about 10 minutes. This helps the flavors blend. The strawberries will release some juice, making it even tastier.

Presentation Suggestions

– Serve in a shallow bowl for a visual appeal.

– Garnish with extra almonds and strawberry slices.

To make your salad look great, use a shallow bowl. This way, all the colors pop.

Finish it off by adding extra toasted almonds and a few strawberry slices on top. It makes your dish look fancy and inviting. You can even drizzle some dressing over the top for flair.

Variations

Additions for Extra Flavor

You can make this salad even better. Adding grilled chicken or shrimp gives it protein. This change makes the salad hearty and filling. If you want a different cheese, try goat cheese instead of feta. If you prefer a vegan option, just leave out the cheese. You still get great taste without it.

Dressing Alternatives

The dressing is key to this salad’s flavor. You can change it up by trying different vinegars. Balsamic vinegar adds a sweet touch. Adding citrus juice gives a nice zing. A splash of lemon or lime juice brightens the taste. Feel free to mix and match until you find your favorite!

Storage Info

How to Store Leftovers

To keep your salad fresh, store the salad and dressing separately. This way, the spinach stays crisp, and the strawberries do not get mushy. Place the salad in one container and the dressing in another. You can use a jar for the dressing, which makes it easy to pour later.

Storage Duration

You can store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. After this time, the salad may lose its taste and texture. So, try to enjoy it within two days for the best flavor.

FAQs

Can I make this salad ahead of time?

Yes, but add the dressing right before serving. This keeps the spinach fresh and crisp. If you mix it too early, the leaves may wilt. Toss the salad with the dressing just before you eat.

What can I substitute for poppy seeds?

Try sunflower seeds or chia seeds as alternatives. These seeds add a different crunch and flavor. You can also skip seeds if you want a simpler salad.

Is this salad gluten-free?

Yes, all ingredients used are gluten-free. You can enjoy this salad without any worries. It’s safe for anyone who avoids gluten in their diet.

This salad blends fresh spinach, crunchy almonds, and sweet strawberries for a tasty dish. The creamy feta and poppyseed dressing add depth to each bite.

Remember to toss gently to keep the spinach fresh. You can adjust the recipe based on what you like, adding proteins or trying new dressings. Store leftovers correctly to keep them crisp.

Enjoy making this salad again and again!

Strawberry Spinach Poppyseed Salad

Dive into the delicious world of Strawberry Spinach Poppyseed Bliss! This vibrant salad is packed with fresh baby spinach, juicy strawberries, crunchy almonds, and creamy feta, all drizzled with a homemade poppyseed dressing. Perfect for any meal, this healthy dish comes together in just 25 minutes. Click through for the full recipe and impress your family with this colorful and flavorful creation!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

4 cups fresh baby spinach, thoroughly washed and dried

2 cups ripe strawberries, hulled and beautifully sliced

1/2 cup sliced almonds, lightly toasted for extra crunch

1/4 cup creamy feta cheese, crumbled

1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced to enhance flavor

1/4 cup poppy seeds for a delightful texture

1/2 cup high-quality olive oil

1/4 cup natural honey for sweetness

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar for tang

Salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, combine the fresh spinach leaves, sliced strawberries, toasted almonds, crumbled feta cheese, and thinly sliced red onion. Use a gentle tossing motion to ensure all ingredients are evenly mixed without bruising the delicate spinach.

In a separate small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, honey, apple cider vinegar, and poppy seeds. Continue whisking until the dressing is well emulsified, then season with salt and freshly cracked pepper according to your taste preferences.

Drizzle the prepared poppyseed dressing over the mixed salad and use a gentle tossing technique to coat all ingredients evenly, ensuring every bite is flavorful.

Allow the salad to sit for approximately 10 minutes, giving the flavors time to meld and deepen before serving.

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Total Time: 25 minutes | Servings: 4

- Presentation Tips: Serve the salad in a large, shallow bowl for an attractive display, and enhance the visual appeal by garnishing with additional toasted almonds and a few strawberry slices on top. For an elegant touch, drizzle a bit of the poppyseed dressing over the garnish, adding to the feast for the eyes.