Strawberry Salad

This refreshing strawberry salad bursts with sweet berries, tangy feta, crunchy pecans, spinach, and a tangy poppy seed balsamic vinaigrette. A quick and easy summer meal!

Why It Works

This simple strawberry salad recipe is a refreshing, nutrient-packed dish perfect for spring and summer. I make it nearly once a week, paired with grilled salmon for my husband and me as a light dinner. Baby spinach’s tender leaves pair beautifully with sweet strawberries, tangy feta, and crunchy pecans, while red onions add a zesty bite. It’s a quick dish to prepare and ideal for lunches, potlucks, or serving alongside grilled meats. Try my strawberry chicken salad for a heartier meal!

The balsamic vinaigrette adds a sweet acidity and a smooth, velvety texture. Olive oil, honey, and Dijon mustard create a balanced flavor, while a small amount of mayonnaise helps the dressing stay mixed instead of separating. Poppy seeds add a light crunch and visual appeal. Slowly whisking in the oil ensures the vinaigrette emulsifies properly, creating a creamy consistency that evenly coats the salad without overpowering it.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Spinach: Baby spinach is tender, mild in flavor, and packed with nutrients like iron and vitamins A and C, making it the perfect fresh base for a strawberry salad.
• Strawberries: Freshly sliced strawberries add a juicy sweetness that balances the tangy dressing and savory toppings. They’re at their peak from late spring to early summer.
• Onions: Thinly slice red onions for a tangy flavor and crisp texture.
• Nuts: Pecans add a buttery crunch to the salad. Toast them in a skillet over medium heat to enhance the aroma. For a sweeter taste, use candied pecans.
• Cheese: Creamy feta cheese adds richness and a tangy flavor.
• Dressing: The salad is served with a homemade balsamic vinaigrette. It combines balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper. Poppy seeds are optional but add a light, pleasant crunch and fiber to the salad.

See the recipe card below for all ingredients and measurements (US and metric).

Ingredient Substitutions

This strawberry spinach salad is easy to customize! Try these delicious ideas:

• Lettuce Substitutions: Other types of lettuce can be used instead of baby spinach. Try a spring mix, butterleaf, baby kale, romaine, arugula, or little gem. When mixed with the greens, fresh basil or mint adds a hint of herbaceous note.
• Onions: Try pickled red onions for a sweet and tangy taste. Shallots are milder, with a subtle onion and garlic flavor.
• Nuts: Try sliced almonds, pistachios, walnuts, or pumpkin seeds. For variety, try my candied walnuts recipe.
• Cheese Options: Sprinkle on goat cheese, gorgonzola, blue cheese, parmesan cheese, or pecorino romano. Add fresh mozzarella or smaller mozzarella ciliegine.
• Add More Fruit: Add blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, apples, oranges, or mandarins. Add dried cranberries, apricots, or golden raisins.
• Add Vegetables: Add grated carrots, sliced cucumber, radish, juicy tomatoes, or creamy avocados to the salad.
• Salad Dressing Options: For a milder taste, instead of balsamic vinegar, use apple cider vinegar, rice vinegar, or red or white wine vinegar, like in my spinach salad recipe. A splash of lemon juice adds a lovely citrus taste.
• Add Protein: Add grilled chicken, shrimp, salmon, tofu, hard boiled eggs, or chopped bacon. Quinoa and farro make great vegetarian protein options.

How to Make Strawberry Salad

Step 1: Prepare the Spinach

Rinsing spinach under cool water removes dirt and potential contaminants. Spinning it dry is key to proper dressing adhesion. Excess moisture repels oil-based vinaigrettes, causing them to slide off instead of evenly coating the leaves.

Ingredient Chemistry: Dijon mustard contains mucilage, a polysaccharide that thickens and stabilizes, while mayonnaise provides lecithin, a phospholipid with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic ends that binds oil and vinegar into a stable emulsion.

Step 3: Dress the Spinach

Toss the spinach with a ¼ cup of dressing in a large bowl before adding the toppings. This ensures an even coating without oversaturating the leaves, which can cause wilting. Reserve the remaining dressing for guests to drizzle over the salad.

Step 4: Assemble the Salad

Layering the toppings after dressing the spinach preserves their texture and visual appeal. This step ensures that delicate ingredients like strawberries and goat cheese aren’t crushed or overly coated, allowing each component to maintain its unique flavor, structure, and contrast when serving.

Pro Tip: To make the sliced onions less pungent, run them under cold water for 1 minute or soak them in ice water for about 10 minutes. Drain and pat dry before adding to the salad.

Step 5: To Serve

When I serve this strawberry salad, I like to keep extra balsamic poppyseed dressing on the side so everyone can add more. A quick sprinkle of poppy seeds on top gives it a little extra crunch and a pretty finish.

Frequently Asked Questions