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Spinach Strawberry Salad with poppy seed dressing topped with fresh strawberries, red onion and sugared nuts. It is the perfect summer salad and a recipe that everyone will love.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
This recipe for spinach strawberry salad has been a staple, go to salad recipe at our house for years. It is one of those recipes that everyone should have. It is the salad we make over and over again especially in the summer when strawberries are in season. It is topped with a delicious poppyseed dressing that comes together in minutes and is the perfect side dish to any meal.Â
I guarantee you will be asked for this recipe over and over again. Just like I asked for it from a friend years and years ago.
Ingredients Needed
- Baby Spinach
- Red onionÂ
- Strawberries.
- Sugared nuts. We like to use pecans but you can also use almonds or walnuts.
Poppy Seed Dressing
- Canola oil. Vegetable oil or any mild oil will work.
- Apple cider vinegar. Can also use red wine vinegar.
- Sugar. Could substitute honey if you prefer
- Sesame seeds
- Poppy seeds
- Minced onion
- Worcestershire sauce
- Paprika
How to make Poppyseed Dressing
This dressing is my favorite part of this salad. It is so delicious and I love the combination of sesame seeds and poppy seeds.
- Combine all the dressing ingredients into a jar.
- Shake to combine.
- Keep dressing refrigerated. It will last in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
How to make Spinach Strawberry Salad
- Place spinach in a large bowl.
- Slice red onions and strawberries.
- Add onions, sugared nuts and strawberries to the salad.
- Add poppyseed dressing and toss to coat.
- Serve immediately.
The addition of some sliced strawberries, red onion and sugared almonds dress it up and make it look oh so pretty. The salad is light, fresh and lots of great flavor.
How to make sugared nuts:
- Combine a 1/2 cup of nuts along with 1/4 cup of sugar in a small frying pan.
- Turn the heat onto medium and stir. It will take a few minutes for anything to happen.
- First it will look like this….The sugar will clump on the nuts.
- Keep stirring as the sugar will begin to melt and coat the nuts. The nuts will begin to turn golden brown. Watch them closely as they can burn quickly. Stir continuously.
- Spread the nuts out onto a slightly greased plate or baking sheets for them to cool and dry. You will need to break them apart a bit before adding them to the salad.
They add the perfect crunch and sweetness to any salad.
Make Ahead Tips
- The salad dressing can be made ahead and will last for 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
- You can also sugar your nuts ahead and keep them stored in an airtight container at room temperature for a week, in the refrigerator for two weeks or in the freezer for up to a month or longer.
- Slice your fruit and onions several hours ahead of time and all you need to do is assemble and dress your salad when you are ready to enjoy it.
- This spinach strawberry salad does not hold for long periods of time so dress it right before you are ready to serve it.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you would like cheese on the salad I recommend adding Gorgonzola cheese, goat cheese, feta cheese or blue cheese.
You can also use fresh blueberries, blackberries or any favorite berry. Sliced apples or pears would also be delicious as would some mandarin oranges.
Some of our other favorite salads
Serve this Salad with:
- Chicken. This salad goes great with any kind of chicken and you can even add leftover shredded chicken to the salad to make it a main dish salad. We love to serve it with Huli Huli Chicken, Lemon Herb Chicken, Honey Lime Chicken, or Asian BBQ Chicken.
- Bread. Add a side of bread to this salad. We love making Easy French Bread, Garlic Cheese Bread, Focaccia Bread or Cheesy Bread.
- It is really good with anything and everything!
Some of my other favorite poppy seed recipes:
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Spinach Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
Ingredients
spinach salad
- Baby Spinach
- 1 Red onion chopped (as much as you like)
- 6 Strawberries sliced
- 1/2 cup Sugared nuts 1/2 C nuts to 1/4 sugar
- Poppy Seed Dressing
Poppy Seed Dressing
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 2 Tbsp sesame seeds
- 1 Tbsp poppy seeds
- 1 1/2 tsp dried minced onion
- 1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 tsp paprika
Instructions
- Salad:
- Combine spinach and dressing and top with strawberries, nuts and red onion.
Poppy Seed Dressing:
- Mix together ingredients well and pour over spinach
Tips & Notes:
- The salad dressing can be made ahead and will last for 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
- You can also sugar your nuts ahead and keep them stored in an airtight container at room temperature for a week, in the refrigerator for two weeks or in the freezer for up to a month or longer.
- Slice your fruit and onions several hours ahead of time and all you need to do is assemble and dress your salad when you are ready to enjoy it.
- This salad does not hold for long periods of time so dress it right before you are ready to serve it.
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Nutrition Facts:
Originally posted April, 2011
Lynne King says
incredible family favorite
superfighters says
amazing recipe. thanks. I will follow your blog.