Description
This vibrant Strawberry Spinach Salad combines fresh baby spinach, juicy strawberries, crunchy candied pecans, and salty feta cheese, all brought together with a zesty lemon poppy seed dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or a colorful side dish, this salad is quick to prepare and bursting with flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Candied Nuts
- 3/4 cup 84 g chopped walnuts or pecans
- 2 tbsp 24 g brown sugar
- 2 tsp 9 g unsalted butter
For the Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing
- 1/4 cup 60 mL light olive oil or grapeseed oil
- 1/2 tsp 4 g honey (optional)
- 1/2 tsp 4 g poppy seeds
- 1/2 tsp 4 g Dijon mustard
- Zest of half lemon
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1/2 tsp 4 g kosher salt
For the Salad
- 8 oz 240 g fresh baby spinach, washed
- 8 oz 240 g fresh strawberries, sliced
- 5 oz 130 g feta cheese, crumbled
- 3/4 cup candied pecans or nuts
Instructions
- Prepare Candied Nuts: Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper and set aside. Melt butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat, then add nuts and brown sugar. Stir constantly with a silicone spatula to coat the nuts evenly and cook until sugar caramelizes and coats the nuts, about 3-4 minutes. Spread the nuts on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer to cool and harden.
- Make Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together olive oil, honey (if using), poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, lemon zest, lemon juice, and kosher salt until emulsified. Let the dressing rest at room temperature for 5-15 minutes to meld flavors.
- Assemble Salad: In a large salad bowl, combine washed baby spinach, sliced strawberries, cooled candied nuts, and crumbled feta cheese. Toss gently to combine.
- Serve: Serve salad with the lemon poppy seed dressing on the side, adding dressing just before serving to keep the greens fresh and crisp.
Notes
- Use candied nuts for added crunch and sweetness or skip this step to save time and reduce sugar.
- Substitute feta cheese with goat cheese or omit for a dairy-free version.
- Dress the salad just before serving to prevent sogginess.
- For a vegan adaptation, replace honey with maple syrup and use a plant-based cheese alternative.
- Ensure strawberries are fresh and ripe for optimal sweetness and flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 183 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 268 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 33 mg
