Spinach Strawberry Salad Recipe: 6 Simple Ingredients + Fast Dressing
A fresh spinach strawberry salad with berries, cheese, toasted nuts, and a fast dressing that works as a light lunch, hearty salad, or easy side dish.
Ingredients
Salad
- 6 to 8 cups baby spinach washed and dried well
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups strawberries washed, hulled, and sliced
- 1/3 to 1/2 cup feta or goat cheese crumbled
- 1/3 cup pecans or walnuts toasted if possible
- 2 to 3 tbsp red onion very thinly sliced, optional
- 1 avocado optional, add at the end
- 1 to 2 cups protein optional, such as chicken or chickpeas
Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash and dry the spinach thoroughly.
- Rinse the strawberries, hull them, slice them, and gently pat them dry.
- Toast the nuts in a dry skillet for 2 to 4 minutes, shaking often, then let them cool.
- Make the dressing by stirring the balsamic vinegar and honey together, then whisking while slowly pouring in the olive oil; season with salt and pepper and adjust to taste.
- Assemble the salad in a large bowl with spinach first, then strawberries, nuts, cheese, and any optional onion, avocado, or protein.
- Dress right before serving, toss gently, and taste again before serving.
Notes
- Dry spinach and strawberries well before assembling.
- Toast nuts for better flavor and crunch.
- Keep dressing separate until serving.
- Add a little more honey if the dressing tastes too sharp.
- Use firm strawberries for the best texture.
- Store components separately for meal prep.
