Description

A fresh and easy summer salad combining sweet strawberries, tender baby spinach, creamy feta, and crunchy toasted almonds, all tossed in a homemade poppy seed dressing.

Ingredients

Scale

6 cups fresh baby spinach (about 180g)
2 cups sliced strawberries (about 300g)
½ cup crumbled feta cheese (75g)
¼ small red onion, thinly sliced
¼ cup toasted slivered almonds (30g)
¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves (optional)
¼ cup mayonnaise (60ml)
2 tbsp Greek yogurt (30g)
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp poppy seeds
1 tsp Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste (about ¼ tsp salt and a few cracks of black pepper)

Instructions

Rinse and dry the baby spinach thoroughly. Slice the strawberries into thin slices about ¼-inch thick. Thinly slice the red onion, chop the basil leaves, and crumble the feta if not pre-crumbled.
Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add the slivered almonds and toast, stirring frequently, until golden brown and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Set aside to cool.
In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, honey, apple cider vinegar, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust sweetness or acidity if needed.
In a large salad bowl, combine the spinach, sliced strawberries, red onion, chopped basil, and toasted almonds. Toss gently with about half the dressing to coat everything lightly.
Plate the salad and sprinkle crumbled feta over the top. Drizzle extra dressing for those who want it. Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.

Notes

Dry spinach thoroughly to avoid soggy salad. Toast almonds fresh for best flavor. Whisk dressing well to distribute poppy seeds evenly. Adjust honey in dressing based on strawberry sweetness. Serve immediately after tossing to keep spinach crisp. For vegan option, use plant-based mayo and yogurt and skip cheese.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Category: Salad
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/4 of the salad
Calories: 220
Sugar: 9
Fat: 15
Carbohydrates: 15
Fiber: 3
Protein: 7

Keywords: strawberry spinach salad, poppy seed dressing, summer salad, fresh salad, easy salad recipe, healthy salad, homemade dressing