Strawberry Spinach With Balsamic Poppy Seed (Printable version)
Sweet strawberries meet crisp spinach with zesty balsamic poppy seed dressing. Ready in 15 minutes.
# What you'll need:
→ Salad Components
01 - 6 cups baby spinach, washed and thoroughly dried
02 - 1 pint fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
04 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
05 - 1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted
06 - 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
→ Balsamic Poppy Seed Dressing
07 - 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
08 - 1 tablespoon honey or 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
# Directions:
01 - Place baby spinach, sliced strawberries, red onion, feta cheese, toasted almonds, and sunflower seeds in a large salad bowl.
02 - Whisk together balsamic vinegar, honey or maple syrup, and Dijon mustard in a small bowl. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking constantly until emulsified. Stir in poppy seeds and season with salt and pepper.
03 - Drizzle dressing over salad just before serving. Toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly. Serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sweet and salty combination hits every craving at once, making it impossible to stop eating
- It comes together so quickly you can make it for unexpected guests without breaking a sweat
02 -
- Dressing the salad too early will make the spinach wilt and lose its appealing crunch
- Room temperature ingredients help the dressing emulsify better than cold ones straight from the fridge
03 -
- Use a salad spinner to thoroughly dry the spinach so the dressing clings to the leaves instead of pooling at the bottom
- Taste your strawberries first and adjust the honey in the dressing accordingly