Strawberry Spinach Salad (Printer-friendly)

A refreshing blend of strawberries, spinach, feta, and nuts in a tangy balsamic dressing.

# Required Ingredients:

→ 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

# How-To Steps:

01 - Whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl or jar until fully emulsified. Set aside.
02 - In a large bowl, mix spinach, sliced strawberries, crumbled feta cheese, and toasted nuts evenly.
03 - Drizzle the prepared dressing over the assembled ingredients just before serving.
04 - Gently toss the salad, ensuring the dressing coats all components thoroughly.
05 - Transfer to serving plates and enjoy fresh for optimal flavor.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes, no cooking required, which means you can make it right before people arrive.
  • The combination of sweet strawberries, creamy feta, and nutty almonds creates this perfect balance that keeps you reaching for another bite.
  • It feels fancy enough to serve at a dinner party but honest enough for a quiet lunch alone.
02 -
  • Dress the salad at the very last second—spinach releases water and gets sad if it sits in dressing too long.
  • Toasted nuts make an enormous difference; raw almonds taste almost bitter by comparison, and toasting takes three minutes.
03 -
  • Make the dressing in a jar and shake it hard—the vigorous action emulsifies it better than gentle whisking ever could.
  • If your strawberries aren't very sweet, add another teaspoon of honey to the dressing and let it balance the whole dish.
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