Spinach Strawberry Sweet Dressing (Printable)

A refreshing mix of spinach, strawberries, nuts, and a luscious sweet poppy seed dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad

01 - 5 oz fresh baby spinach leaves
02 - 9 oz hulled and sliced strawberries
03 - ½ cup toasted pecans or sliced almonds
04 - ½ cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
05 - 2 tablespoons thinly sliced red onion (optional)

→ Sweet Poppy Seed Dressing

06 - ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
08 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
09 - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
10 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
11 - ¼ teaspoon sea salt
12 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - In a large salad bowl, combine the spinach, strawberries, nuts, feta cheese, and red onion if using.
02 - Whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl or jar until well emulsified.
03 - Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving and gently toss to evenly coat all components.
04 - Serve immediately to maintain optimal freshness and texture.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's ready in 15 minutes, which means you can make it while someone's pouring drinks on the patio.
  • The sweetness of strawberries and honey in that dressing completely changes how spinach tastes—no more bitter, just bright.
  • It actually gets better if you let the spinach sit with the dressing for a minute or two, so there's no last-minute scrambling.
02 -
  • If you dress the salad more than five minutes early, the spinach wilts—not in a bad way, but it loses that satisfying crunch that makes people actually want to eat it.
  • Shaking the dressing ingredients in a jar works just as well as whisking if you're trying to minimize dishes, and sometimes it's more fun.
03 -
  • Make the dressing ahead of time and keep it in the fridge; it tastes even better after the flavors have gotten to know each other, and it buys you time right before serving.
  • If you don't have poppy seeds, sesame seeds add a similar texture, and a tiny pinch of sugar in the dressing if you go that route keeps everything in balance.
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