Emma used to wrinkle her nose at anything green on her plate. Then she asked if I could make salad taste like dessert, and this strawberry spinach salad was born. Through lots of kitchen experiments and Emma's brutally honest taste tests, we created something special - sweet strawberries, tender spinach leaves, and that creamy poppy seed dressing that makes everyone lean in for the recipe.
Why You'll Love This Strawberry Spinach Salad
This strawberry spinach salad gets eaten fast in our house. Emma went from hiding spinach under her napkin to asking for extra helpings. The strawberries make everything taste sweet, the cheese adds that creamy bite, and the nuts give you something to crunch on. It's like eating a salad that forgot it was supposed to be healthy.
You probably already have most of the ingredients sitting in your kitchen right now. No fancy shopping trips or weird ingredients that you'll only use once. Just grab some fresh spinach, decent strawberries, and whatever nuts you have on hand. Emma and I have made this spinach and strawberry salad work with all kinds of substitutions.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Ingredients for Perfect Results
- How To Make Strawberry Spinach Salad Step By Step
- Equipment For Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Strawberry Spinach Salad Variations
- Smart Swaps for Different Needs
- Storage Tips That Actually Work
- The Secret Sauce My Neighbor Knows (But Won't Share)
- Top Tip
- Why This Strawberry Spinach Salad Works
- FAQ
- Time to Make Something Delicious!
- Related
- Pairing
- Strawberry Spinach Salad
Ingredients for Perfect Results
The Main Players:
- Fresh baby spinach
- Ripe strawberries
- Crumbled feta cheese
- Candied pecans
- Red onion
For the Dressing:
- Poppy seeds
- Apple cider vinegar
- Honey
- Dijon mustard
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Fresh lemon juice
See recipe card for quantities.
Nice to Have:
- Mandarin orange pieces
- Goat cheese
- Toasted almonds
- Fresh mint leaves
How To Make Strawberry Spinach Salad Step By Step
Get Everything Ready (15 minutes):
- Wash the spinach in cold water, then spin it dry
- Cut the tops off strawberries and slice them up
- Slice the red onion really thin, then soak in cold water for 10 minutes
- Break the feta into bite-sized pieces
Make the Dressing:
- Mix poppy seeds, vinegar, honey, and mustard in a small bowl
- Pour in the olive oil while whisking
- Add lemon juice and taste - fix it if needed
- Set aside
Put It All Together:
- Use your hands to toss - works better than tongs
- Make sure the spinach is really dry - pat it again if needed
- Drain the onions and pat them dry too
- Toss spinach and onions in a big bowl
- Add strawberries and feta gently
- Pour the dressing on right before serving
Equipment For Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Large salad bowl
- Salad spinner
- Sharp paring knife
- Small whisk for dressing
- Measuring spoons
Strawberry Spinach Salad Variations
Protein Power Bowl:
- Add grilled chicken strips
- Toss in hard-boiled eggs
- Sprinkle quinoa on top
- Use extra dressing
Berry Explosion:
- Mix strawberries and blueberries
- Add fresh blackberries
- Throw in some raspberries
- Double the poppy seed dressing
Fall Harvest:
- Swap strawberries for diced pears
- Add dried cranberries
- Use toasted pecans
- Drizzle with maple dressing
Kid-Friendly Style:
- Replace onions with mandarin oranges
- Add extra cheese crumbles
- Use honey-heavy dressing
- Sprinkle with sunflower seeds
Mediterranean Style:
- Add Kalamata olives
- Toss in sun-dried tomatoes
- Use pine nuts instead of pecans
- Add fresh basil leaves
Smart Swaps for Different Needs
Emma and I have tried this strawberry spinach salad lots of different ways. Here's what works when you need to change things up:
Cheese Options:
- Feta → Goat cheese (creamier and milder)
- Regular cheese → Dairy-free feta (tastes pretty close)
- Mild cheese → Sharp cheddar cubes (Emma's pick)
Nut Swaps:
- Pecans → Toasted walnuts
- Tree nuts → Sunflower seeds (for nut allergies)
- Candied nuts → Plain toasted nuts
Dressing Changes:
- Honey → Maple syrup (for vegan friends)
- Poppy seeds → Sesame seeds
- Regular sweetener → Sugar-free option
Other Switches:
- Red onion → Sweet onion (less bite)
- Baby spinach → Arugula (more peppery)
- Fresh strawberries → Dried cranberries (when berries are out of season)
Storage Tips That Actually Work
Same Day Serving:
- Prep ingredients separately
- Store in fridge up to 4 hours
- Never dress until serving
- Keep strawberries at room temperature
Make-Ahead Strategy:
- Dressing keeps 1 week in fridge
- Prepped vegetables last 2 days max
- Bring everything to room temperature before serving
- Add nuts and cheese right before eating
What Never Works:
- Storing dressed salad (turns to mush)
- Freezing any part of it
- Keeping cut strawberries more than a day
- Pre-mixing everything
Best Practices:
- Make dressing in advance but nothing else
- Store spinach wrapped in paper towels
- Keep strawberries on the counter until serving
- Wash spinach twice, spin three times
The Secret Sauce My Neighbor Knows (But Won't Share)
My neighbor Mrs. Henderson makes this strawberry spinach salad for every block party, and people literally fight over the last bits. For three years, I tried to figure out what made hers so much better than mine. She'd just smile and say "family secret" whenever anyone asked. Then Emma accidentally spilled some of her apple juice into my salad bowl last summer. I was about to dump it out when Mrs. Henderson walked over and started laughing. "Finally! Someone else discovered the apple juice trick!" Turns out she adds two tablespoons of apple juice to her poppy seed dressing
But here's the real kicker: she lets her strawberries sit with a tiny sprinkle of black pepper for ten minutes before adding them to the salad. Sounds weird, but that little bit of heat makes the strawberries taste even more like strawberries. Emma thinks it's magic, and honestly, she might be right. Now our spinach strawberry salad disappears just as fast as Mrs. Henderson's at neighborhood gatherings.
Top Tip
- Always taste your strawberries before adding them to this salad. If they're not sweet enough on their own, sprinkle them with just a tiny bit of sugar and let them sit for about 30 minutes. This draws out their natural juices and makes them taste like candy. Emma learned this trick when we got some sour strawberries from the store - now she's our official strawberry taster.
- The other thing that makes a huge difference is timing. Never dress this spinach strawberry salad more than 5 minutes before you plan to eat it. I learned this the hard way when I made it an hour early for a potluck. The spinach turned into wilted, soggy leaves that nobody wanted to touch. Now I prep everything separately and only add the dressing right before serving.
Why This Strawberry Spinach Salad Works
Emma used to hide vegetables under her napkin until we made this strawberry spinach salad together. Now she asks for it at least twice a week, which tells you everything you need to know. The secret isn't just the sweet strawberries or the creamy dressing - it's how everything works together. The spinach gives you that fresh, slightly bitter bite, the strawberries add natural sweetness, and the nuts and cheese make every forkful different. Even picky eaters can't resist it because it tastes more like a treat than health food.
What really makes this spinach and strawberry salad work is how it changes your mind about salads. Most salads feel like punishment - this one feels like a reward. The poppy seed dressing coats everything just right, the textures keep you interested, and the flavors balance each other out. Emma's friends always ask for seconds, which never happens with regular salad. Sometimes the best recipes are the ones that make you forget you're eating something good for you.
FAQ
Can you put uncooked strawberry spinach salad?
Yes! Fresh baby spinach is perfect for salads and actually better for you raw than cooked. Choose bright green leaves without yellow spots, wash them really well, and spin them dry. Raw spinach has a tender texture and mild flavor that goes great with sweet strawberries.
What are the ingredients in a strawberry spinach salad?
A classic spinach strawberry salad usually has fresh baby spinach, sliced strawberries, crumbled cheese (feta or goat cheese), nuts (pecans or almonds), thinly sliced red onion, and a poppy seed or balsamic dressing. You can add mandarin oranges, dried cranberries, or grilled chicken too.
What kind of dressing goes on strawberry spinach salad?
The most popular dressings are poppy seed vinaigrette and balsamic vinaigrette. Poppy seed dressing works great with the sweet strawberries because it's slightly sweet and tangy, while balsamic adds depth. Both should be light enough not to overpower the spinach leaves.
What is a good dressing for a strawberry spinach salad?
Besides poppy seed and balsamic, try honey mustard vinaigrette, lemon vinaigrette, or raspberry vinaigrette. The key is balancing acid with sweetness to work well with both the mineral taste of spinach and the natural sweetness of strawberries without drowning either flavor.
Time to Make Something Delicious!
Now you have all the secrets to making the perfect strawberry spinach salad - from Mrs. Henderson's apple juice trick to the right way to store everything. This colorful, healthy dish proves that sometimes the simplest combinations create the best meals. Emma went from hiding vegetables to asking for extra servings, so I think we can call this recipe a win.
Ready for more crowd-pleasers? Try our Best Knorr Spinach Dip Recipe that disappears at every party. Want something different for breakfast? Our Best Japanese Pancake Recipe creates fluffy, thick pancakes that look like they came from a restaurant. Need a hearty side dish? Our Easy Sweet Potato Hash Recipe goes great with eggs and makes any meal feel special!
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Pairing
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Strawberry Spinach Salad
Equipment
- 1 Large salad bowl (For tossing ingredients)
- 1 Salad spinner (To dry the spinach)
- 1 Sharp paring knife (For slicing strawberries and onion)
- 1 Small whisk (For emulsifying the dressing)
- 1 Measuring spoons (For precise dressing ingredients)
- 1 Cutting board (To prep fruit and onion)
Ingredients
- 6 cups Baby spinach - Washed and dried
- 2 cups Strawberries hulled - Sliced
- ½ cup Feta cheese - crumbled
- ⅓ cup Candied pecans
- ¼ cup Red onion thinly sliced - Soak in cold water for 10 min
- 1 tablespoon Poppy seeds - For dressing
- 2 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Honey - Or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ cup Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Fresh lemon juice
- — — Optional add‑ins: - Mandarin oranges goat cheese,
Instructions
- Wash, dry, and prep all produce ingredients
- Whisk together all dressing ingredients until smooth and emulsified
- Combine spinach, onions, strawberries, feta, and pecans carefully
- Drizzle dressing over salad and toss gently before serving
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