Pretty as a picture and tasty to boot, Strawberry Spinach Salad packs layers of flavor in every bite! Fruit and pecans balance the tangy dressing perfectly!
Strawberry Spinach Salad packs a truckload of nutrition in every flavorful bite. You’ll be far too distracted by the flavor party in your mouth to concentrate on all the antioxidants and vitamins you’re eating. Talk about guilt-free indulgence, and since you’ve had such a nutritious meal, you’ve got room for dessert like our decadent Strawberry Shortcake Cake!
The tanginess of the vinigiarette pairs beautifully with the creamy avocado and the sweet strawberries. But, I think making strawberry spinach salad with candied pecans is the real secret to its success! That bit of sweet crunch takes this salad from good to ahmazing!
I love the versatility of this recipe! You can add in different kinds of berries or nuts for a change in flavor. You can also experiment with the cheese. I use feta, but some folks prefer the strawberry spinach salad goat cheese version instead. Feta and goat cheese are kissing cousins, but each brings their own taste to this phenomenal salad!
How to Make Strawberry Spinach Salad
Making this strawberry spinach salad with poppy seed dressing is super easy! Simply combine the poppy seeds with balsamic vinegar for the dressing. Toss together the strawberries, spinach, pecans, feta cheese, onion, and avocado. Pour the dressing over and voila Strawberry Spinach Salad!
A super easy variation is to create strawberry spinach salad with chicken. Just add chunks of chicken along with the rest of the salad ingredients. BTW It’s a great way to use up leftover chicken!
1. Pour the poppy seeds into the Balsamic Vinaigrette. Stir.
2. In a large bowl add spinach, strawberries, pecans, and onions. Toss gently with balsamic vinaigrette. Transfer to a platter and toss with cheese and avocado. Serve.
Is This Salad Dressed With A Strawberry Vinaigrette Recipe?
This is not a Strawberry Vinaigrette Recipe, but it does include a vinaigrette dressing. The strawberries are kept separate and offer a great burst of flavor with every bite. I like this variation better than strawberry spinach salad with raspberry vinaigrette or other flavored vinaigrettes. It intensifies the fruit flavors and adds a nice contrast with all of the different flavors in the salad. There are tons dressing variations with a Strawberry Spinach Salad like the strawberry spinach salad Pampered Chef puts out with its lemon vinaigrette or even a hot bacon dressing in the Pioneer Woman spinach strawberry salad. With all these options, you’ll never have to serve a boring side salad!
More Yummy Variations Of Strawberry Salad
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Strawberry Salad doesn’t have to be full of leafy greens! This Strawberry Pretzel Salad with its delicious layers of pretzel crust, cream cheese, and strawberries suspended in Jell-O definitely belongs on the dessert table! It’s as pretty as it is tasty!
Strawberry Banana Cheesecake Salad
Full of fruit wrapped in a decadent, creamy cheesecake-like filling, this salad is perfect for potlucks and summer picnics! Strawberry Banana Cheesecake Salad assembles in minutes and is a simple refreshing addition to any meal.
Strawberry Jello Salad
Cool and sweet, Strawberry Jello Salad takes me back to my childhood! Every family get-together featured some variation of this creamy, jiggly salad full of summer strawberries! I always went back for seconds 🙂
Strawberry Cheesecake Salad
This decadent Strawberry Cheesecake Salad generously enfolds big chunks of sweet strawberries and bananas in a no-bake cheesecake-like filling. Topped off with graham cracker crumble, it’s like upside down cheesecake!
Recipe Notes for Strawberry Spinach Salad
Spinach- I typically grab the prewashed bag of baby spinach from the grocery store, so there’s no need to add the step of rinsing or prepping the leaves. However, if you’re lucky enough to get it farm fresh from a farmer’s market (or your own garden!), then you’re going to need to wash it. Sounds simple, right? It’s not quite the same as rinsing off a couple of leaves of romaine or iceberg lettuce. Baby spinach leaves love to stick together and trap grit and extra water- neither of which are good in your salad!
To rinse, swish the leaves around in large bowl of water, separating them as best you can. Scoop the leaves out of the water and set aside in a colander. Change the water in the bowl and repeat. Do this until you there’s no grit when you sample a leaf or two. A couple of turns through the salad spinner is best to get rid of extra water, but if you don’t have one of these kitchen wonders, spread the leaves out between a couple of layers of paper towels and pat dry.
Tossing Technique- Be gentle when you toss salad. The baby spinach and strawberries both bruise easily which takes away from your presentation. Mix just enough to evenly distribute all the yummy toppings and coat the leaves in the dressing. A nice large pair of salad tongs work great or use the original salad tongs- your hands!
Can You Make This Salad Ahead Of Time?
This salad assembles in less than five minutes. You can certainly mix the greens and other ingredients and combine the vinaigrette ahead of time. However, I suggest waiting until just before serving to dress the salad to prevent your spinach from wilting in the vinegar.
What Do You Serve With This Salad?
In the same tradition as Connors strawberry spinach salad, this recipe is the perfect side dish to a multitude of entrees- particularly steaks, pork chops, or grilled chicken. It assembles in mere minutes and easily fits into a busy mid-week menu!
You can also make it the entree by adding strips of grilled chicken or steak. Add a bowl of soup or a sandwich if you need a bit more than salad to feed a hungry crew!
Of course, don’t forget dessert! Carry the strawberry theme to the end of the meal! Try our Strawberry Triple Layer Cake for a show-stopping finale to your meal. If you’re feeding a crowd, consider ourStrawberry Sheet Cake With Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting! For an easier treat, try Fresh Strawberry Cake
Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe
So, that’s my take on Strawberry Spinach Salad! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! I’d love to hear from you in the comments. How do you put your own spin on this salad?
Strawberry Spinach Salad
Ingredients
- 1 Teaspoons Poppy Seeds
- 1/2 Cup Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe
- 1 (12 Ounce) Bag Baby Spinach
- 1 1/2 Quarts Strawberries, Hulled And Quartered
- 1 Cup Sugared Pecans
- 1/2 Cup Red Onion, Thinly Sliced
- 4 Ounces Feta or Bleu Cheese, Crumbled
- 1 Ripe Avocado, Cut Into 1/2 Inch Pieces
Instructions
- Stir the poppy seeds into the Balsamic Vinaigrette.
- In a large bowl add the baby spinach, strawberries, sugared pecans, and red onion. Toss gently with balsamic vinaigrette. Pour dressed salad onto a serving platter and toss with cheese and avocado. Serve immediately
Nutrition
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Best to Serve With:
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