Description
A fresh and vibrant Strawberry Spinach Salad featuring baby spinach, sweet strawberries, toasted almonds, and a tangy homemade balsamic dressing. Perfect as a light, nutritious appetizer or side dish, this salad combines crisp greens with fruity and savory flavors for a refreshing summertime meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 6 cups fresh baby spinach leaves, washed and dried
- 1 pint fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion (optional)
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Salad Ingredients: Wash the baby spinach leaves thoroughly and pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. Hull the strawberries and slice them thinly. Toast the sliced almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until golden brown and fragrant, watching carefully to avoid burning. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large salad bowl, combine the baby spinach, sliced strawberries, toasted almonds, crumbled feta cheese if using, and thinly sliced red onion if using. Toss gently to mix all ingredients evenly.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined. Adjust seasoning according to your taste preferences.
- Dress the Salad: Drizzle the dressing over the salad starting with a small amount and adding more as needed. Toss gently to ensure the salad is evenly coated with the dressing.
- Serve: Transfer the dressed strawberry spinach salad to a serving platter or individual plates. Optionally garnish with extra sliced strawberries, crumbled feta cheese, and toasted almonds to enhance flavor and presentation.
- Enjoy: Serve immediately to enjoy the salad’s fresh flavors. It’s ideal for warm weather meals, picnics, or as a light, nutritious starter or side.
Notes
- For best results, use fresh and ripe strawberries to enhance sweetness.
- Toast almonds carefully to avoid burning and bring out their nutty flavor.
- Feta cheese and red onions are optional but add a nice tang and complexity to the salad.
- This salad is best served fresh; avoid dressing it too far ahead to prevent wilting.
- You can substitute honey with maple syrup for a vegan option.
- Adjust salt and pepper in the dressing to suit your taste preferences.
