Strawberry Spinach Balsamic Poppy Seed (Printable)

Fresh spinach and sliced strawberries tossed in tangy balsamic poppy seed dressing with feta and toasted almonds.

# What You Need:

→ Salad Components

01 - 6 cups baby spinach, washed and thoroughly dried
02 - 1 pint (approximately 2 cups) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced into rings
04 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
05 - 1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted until golden
06 - 1/4 cup sunflower seeds, optional

→ Balsamic Poppy Seed Dressing

07 - 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
08 - 1 tablespoon honey or pure maple syrup
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How-To:

01 - Combine the baby spinach, sliced strawberries, red onion, feta cheese, toasted almonds, and sunflower seeds in a large salad bowl. Toss gently to distribute ingredients evenly.
02 - In a small mixing bowl or glass jar, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, honey (or maple syrup), and Dijon mustard until smooth. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking continuously to create an emulsified dressing. Stir in the poppy seeds and season with salt and pepper to taste.
03 - Drizzle the balsamic poppy seed dressing over the salad immediately before serving. Toss gently using salad tongs to coat all ingredients without bruising the spinach. Garnish with additional fresh strawberry slices or almonds if desired. Serve at once while the greens remain crisp.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The dressing strikes that perfect balance between tangy balsamic and gentle honey sweetness
  • Fresh strawberries and crisp spinach feel like eating sunshine on a plate
  • Everything comes together in fifteen minutes flat
02 -
  • Spinach must be completely dry or the dressing will slide right off into a pool at the bottom of the bowl
  • Wait until the last minute to dress the salad or it will wilt and become sad and soggy
  • The feta adds significant saltiness so taste the dressed salad before reaching for the salt shaker
03 -
  • Let the sliced onions soak in ice water for ten minutes if raw onion is too intense for your taste
  • A splash of apple cider vinegar works beautifully in the dressing if you are running low on balsamic

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