Strawberry Spinach Poppy Seed (Printer-friendly)
Sweet strawberries and spinach tossed with a tangy poppy seed dressing for a refreshing dish.
# What You'll Need:
→ Salad Base
01 - 5 oz baby spinach leaves, washed and dried
02 - 1 2/3 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
→ Toppings
04 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
05 - 1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted
→ Poppy Seed Dressing
06 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
08 - 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
09 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
10 - 1 tsp poppy seeds
11 - Pinch of salt
12 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste
# Directions:
01 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey or maple syrup, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, salt, and black pepper until emulsified and well combined. Set aside at room temperature.
02 - Place spinach leaves, sliced strawberries, crumbled feta, toasted almonds, and red onion in a large salad bowl. Arrange ingredients evenly for optimal presentation.
03 - Drizzle poppy seed dressing over salad immediately before serving. Toss gently using salad servers to coat all ingredients evenly without bruising the spinach. Serve as a fresh starter or light main course.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The homemade dressing takes literally two minutes and tastes infinitely better than anything store bought
- It is the kind of salad that disappears first at potlucks, even among people who claim to hate spinach
02 -
- Soggy salad is the enemy, dress it right before serving even if you prep everything else hours ahead
- The dressing tastes better after it sits for 10 minutes, so make it first and let it hang out while you prep the rest
03 -
- Dry your spinach thoroughly, water clinging to the leaves will prevent the dressing from coating properly
- Taste the dressing before adding it, sometimes strawberries are sweeter than others and you might want a little more acid