Strawberry Spinach Fresh Salad (Printable)

Vibrant salad blending strawberries, baby spinach, feta, and nuts with a balsamic vinaigrette.

# What you'll need:

→ Greens

01 - 4 cups fresh baby spinach, washed and dried

→ Fruits

02 - 1 1/3 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced

→ Cheese

03 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

→ Nuts & Seeds

04 - 1/3 cup sliced almonds or candied pecans, toasted

→ Dressing

05 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
06 - 1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
07 - 2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup
08 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
09 - Salt, to taste
10 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Method:

01 - Whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl or jar until emulsified. Set aside.
02 - In a large bowl, mix spinach, sliced strawberries, crumbled feta, and toasted nuts.
03 - Drizzle dressing over the salad just before serving.
04 - Gently toss to coat all ingredients evenly with the dressing.
05 - Serve immediately to preserve freshness and texture.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It takes less time to make than it does to decide what to watch on TV, but tastes like you spent an hour fussing over it.
  • The sweetness of the berries cuts through the tang of the cheese in a way that feels almost indulgent, like dessert sneaking into dinner.
  • Every bite has a different texture: creamy, crunchy, soft, crisp, all at once.
02 -
  • Wet spinach will ruin the dressing, so spin it dry or pat it with towels until there's no moisture left clinging to the leaves.
  • If you toast the nuts too long, they'll go from golden to burnt in about ten seconds, so watch them like a hawk and pull them off the heat the moment they smell nutty.
03 -
  • Slice the strawberries just before assembling so they don't release too much juice and water down the dressing.
  • Add a pinch of flaky sea salt on top right before serving, it makes the sweetness pop and gives the whole thing a little sparkle.
Return