Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe with Easy Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing
A bright and refreshing salad combining fresh baby spinach, ripe strawberries, and a luscious creamy poppy seed dressing. Perfect for a quick, nourishing meal or a crowd-pleasing side dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 cups (180g) fresh baby spinach, washed and dried
- 2 cups (about 300g) strawberries, hulled and sliced
- ¼ cup (40g) red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup (50g) toasted sliced almonds
- ½ cup (75g) feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
- ⅓ cup (80ml) mayonnaise
- ¼ cup (60ml) Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) honey
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon (9g) poppy seeds
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse 6 cups (180g) of baby spinach under cold water. Spin or pat dry thoroughly to avoid soggy salad. Set aside in a large bowl.
- Hull and slice about 2 cups (300g) of fresh strawberries into roughly ¼ inch thick slices.
- Thinly slice ¼ cup (40g) of red onion. If raw onion is too sharp, soak slices in cold water for 5 minutes then drain.
- Heat a dry skillet over medium heat and add ½ cup (50g) sliced almonds. Stir frequently for 3-5 minutes until golden and fragrant. Remove from heat and cool.
- In a small bowl, whisk together ⅓ cup (80ml) mayonnaise, ¼ cup (60ml) Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons (30ml) honey, 1 tablespoon (15ml) apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon (9g) poppy seeds, and salt and pepper to taste until smooth and creamy.
- Add sliced strawberries, red onion, and toasted almonds to the spinach. Drizzle about half the dressing over the salad, then toss gently to combine. Add more dressing as desired.
- Sprinkle ½ cup (75g) crumbled feta cheese on top.
- Serve immediately to keep spinach crisp and dressing vibrant.
Notes
Keep dressing separate if prepping ahead to avoid soggy greens. Toast almonds carefully to avoid burning. Adjust honey or vinegar in dressing to taste. Dressing can be made up to 4 days in advance and stored in fridge. For vegan version, substitute mayonnaise and Greek yogurt with dairy-free alternatives and use toasted walnuts instead of almonds.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 2 cups per ser
- Calories: 275
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 19
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 17
- Fiber: 3.5
- Protein: 7
Keywords: strawberry spinach salad, poppy seed dressing, fresh salad, healthy salad, easy salad recipe, summer salad, creamy dressing