Description
This vibrant Strawberry Spinach Salad combines fresh baby spinach, juicy strawberries, crunchy candied pecans, and salty feta cheese, all tossed with a zesty lemon poppy seed dressing. Perfect as a refreshing and crowd-pleasing side or light main, it's an easy recipe that even salad skeptics will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Candied Nuts
- 3/4 cup 84 g chopped walnuts or pecans
- 2 tbsp 24 g brown sugar
- 2 tsp 9 g unsalted butter
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
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 (from above)
Instructions
- Prepare Candied Nuts: Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper and set aside. Melt the butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped nuts and brown sugar, stirring constantly with a silicone spatula to coat the nuts. Continue cooking and stirring for about 3-4 minutes until the sugar caramelizes.
- Cool Candied Nuts: Spread the candied nuts evenly on the prepared baking sheet in one layer to cool quickly. Once cooled, break them apart to use in the salad.
- 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 well emulsified. Let the dressing rest at room temperature for 5-15 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Assemble Salad: In a large salad bowl, gently toss together the baby spinach, sliced strawberries, crumbled feta cheese, and the cooled candied nuts.
- Serve: Serve the salad with the lemon poppy seed dressing on the side. Add dressing just before serving to keep the salad fresh and crisp.
Notes
- Use either walnuts or pecans depending on your preference for candied nuts.
- The candied nuts can be prepared ahead and stored to save time.
- Do not add dressing to the salad until just before serving to prevent sogginess.
- If honey is unavailable, you can omit it as it's optional in the dressing.
- For a nut-free option, omit the candied nuts and add toasted seeds like pumpkin or sunflower seeds instead.
- Ensure spinach is well washed and dried to keep the dressing from being diluted.
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
