Strawberry Spinach Balsamic Poppy Seed (Printable)

Fresh strawberries and baby spinach tossed with feta, almonds, and tangy balsamic poppy seed dressing. Ready in 15 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Salad Components

01 - 6 cups baby spinach, washed and thoroughly dried
02 - 1 pint (approximately 2 cups) fresh strawberries, hulled and thinly sliced
03 - 1/2 small red onion, cut into thin half-moon slices
04 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
05 - 1/3 cup sliced almonds, lightly toasted
06 - 1/4 cup sunflower seeds, optional garnish

→ Balsamic Poppy Seed Dressing

07 - 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
08 - 1 tablespoon honey or pure maple syrup
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Steps:

01 - Place the washed and dried baby spinach in a large salad bowl. Arrange the sliced strawberries, red onion, crumbled feta, toasted almonds, and sunflower seeds (if using) on top of the spinach.
02 - In a small mixing bowl or jar, combine the balsamic vinegar, honey or maple syrup, and Dijon mustard. Whisk thoroughly to incorporate. While whisking continuously, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the mixture emulsifies and thickens slightly. Stir in the poppy seeds. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, adjusting as needed.
03 - Drizzle the balsamic poppy seed dressing evenly over the salad just before serving. Using salad tongs, gently toss the ingredients to coat everything lightly with the dressing, being careful not to bruise the spinach or mash the strawberries.
04 - Transfer the dressed salad to individual serving plates or serve family-style from the bowl. Garnish with additional sliced strawberries or toasted almonds if desired. For optimal texture and flavor, serve immediately while the almonds remain crunchy and the spinach stays crisp.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The dressing comes together in literally two minutes but tastes like something from a fancy restaurant
  • You can prep everything ahead and just toss before serving, which is a total lifesaver when hosting
02 -
  • Dress this salad at the absolute last possible moment because spinach wilts faster than you can say summer barbecue
  • The dressing makes more than you think you need, and leftover dressing keeps in the fridge for about a week
03 -
  • If your strawberries are not perfectly sweet, add an extra drizzle of honey to the dressing
  • A salad spinner is genuinely worth the cabinet space for washing and drying greens properly

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