Description
Discover how to make a refreshing Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing. This recipe is perfect for a light and delicious meal.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup (180 ml) raw pecans
- 1/2 small red onion very thinly sliced
- 10 ounce (283 g) s fresh baby spinach I also love a 50/50 arugula and spinach blend
- 1 quart strawberries hulled and quartered (about 1 pound (454 g))
- 3/4 cup (180 ml) crumbled feta cheese buy the block-style feta, not pre-crumbled; the texture is much better
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) balsamic vinegar
- 3 tablespoon (45 ml) s extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoon (23 ml) s poppy seeds
- 1 1/2 tablespoon (23 ml) s honey
- 1/2 teaspoon (3 ml) Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon (3 ml) kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon (1 ml) ground black pepper
Instructions
- Warm the pecans: Set your oven to 350 degrees F. Lay out the pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet without any grease. Cook them for 8 to 10 minutes until they emit a nutty aroma and the inside is light brown when split open. (Stay close to the oven during the last couple of minutes to prevent burning.) Move them to a cutting board and chop them roughly.
- Place the onion slices in a bowl and submerge them in cold water. Let them soak while you take care of the rest of the salad preparation. This technique retains their flavor while reducing their sharpness.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl or a large measuring cup, thoroughly mix together the vinegar, olive oil, poppy seeds, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Alternatively, shake these ingredients in a mason jar with a secure lid until they are well blended.
- Put together the salad: Fill a large serving bowl with the spinach. Add the strawberries.
- Drain the water from the onions and add them to the bowl. Pour about half of the dressing over the salad and gently mix to ensure the leaves are evenly coated but not overly saturated. Adjust the amount of dressing to your liking.
- Incorporate the feta cheese and pecans, and gently toss everything together. Serve right away, offering extra dressing on the side if desired.
Notes
- Soaking red onions in cold water reduces sharpness while preserving flavor.
- Choosing block-style feta cheese enhances salad texture.
- Mixing dressing in a mason jar offers a quick and easy blending method.