Strawberry Spinach Poppy Dressing (Printer-Friendly)

Bright combo of spinach, strawberries, nuts, and tangy poppy seed dressing for fresh meals.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad Components

01 - 6 cups baby spinach, washed and thoroughly dried
02 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and thinly sliced
03 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced into rings
04 - 1/3 cup roasted pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped
05 - 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
06 - 1/4 cup fresh blueberries (optional)

→ Poppy Seed Dressing

07 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
08 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
09 - 1 tablespoon honey or pure maple syrup
10 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
11 - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
12 - Pinch of salt
13 - Pinch of freshly ground black pepper

# How to Make It:

01 - Place the baby spinach in a large salad bowl. Top with sliced strawberries, red onion rings, chopped pecans or walnuts, crumbled feta cheese if using, and blueberries if desired.
02 - Combine olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey or maple syrup, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, salt, and pepper in a small bowl or jar. Whisk vigorously or shake until fully emulsified and smooth.
03 - Drizzle the poppy seed dressing over the salad just before serving. Gently toss to coat all ingredients evenly. Serve immediately as a refreshing side dish or light lunch.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in literally fifteen minutes which means you can throw it together even when guests are already walking through the door
  • The homemade dressing keeps in the fridge for two weeks and somehow makes everything taste better from grilled chicken to plain lettuce
02 -
  • Never dress this salad ahead of time or the spinach will wilt into a soggy mess and those beautiful strawberries will start breaking down
  • The onion can taste overwhelming if you slice it too thick so take your time making those paper thin rings
03 -
  • Use a salad spinner to thoroughly dry the spinach because water clinging to the leaves prevents the dressing from coating properly
  • Let the dressing sit at room temperature for ten minutes before using so the oil emulsifies more easily

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