Strawberry Spinach Salad Dressing (Printable)

Bright salad blending strawberries, baby spinach, nuts, and a creamy poppy seed dressing.

# What You Need:

→ Salad

01 - 5 oz baby spinach, washed and dried
02 - 1 ½ cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
04 - ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
05 - ⅓ cup toasted sliced almonds (or pecans/walnuts)
06 - ¼ cup dried cranberries (optional)

→ Poppy Seed Dressing

07 - ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
08 - 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
09 - 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
10 - 1 tbsp poppy seeds
11 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Steps:

01 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
02 - Place baby spinach in a large bowl; top evenly with sliced strawberries, red onion, crumbled feta, toasted almonds, and dried cranberries if desired.
03 - Drizzle the poppy seed dressing over the salad just before serving; toss gently to combine.
04 - Serve the salad immediately to maintain the freshest flavor and crisp texture.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It takes 15 minutes and tastes like you tried much harder than you actually did.
  • The poppy seed dressing is creamy and slightly sweet, nothing like the harsh vinegars that make you pucker.
  • It feels elegant enough for company but simple enough for a quiet Tuesday lunch.
  • The texture contrasts—crispy nuts against tender spinach and juicy berries—make every bite interesting.
02 -
  • Do not dress the salad more than five minutes before eating it, or the spinach will soften and the berries will bleed color everywhere.
  • If you make the dressing ahead, give it a good shake before using—the ingredients separate, and that's completely normal and easy to fix.
  • Toast your own nuts if you possibly can; they go from edible to extraordinary in the few minutes they spend in a dry pan, filling your kitchen with their warm smell.
03 -
  • If your dressing breaks or looks separated, add another small teaspoon of Dijon mustard and whisk again—it acts as an emulsifier and usually brings everything back together.
  • For a heartier salad, top it with grilled chicken, warm quinoa, or even some roasted chickpeas, which add protein without changing the fresh spring feeling of the dish.

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