Strawberry Spinach Salad {Poppy Seed Dressing}

Quick and easy strawberry spinach salad recipe with poppy seed dressing, made in 10 minutes in one pot. This classic healthy salad has many variations.

This is one of the the best Summer salads I have ever had. It's made with simple ingredients. It's light but flavorful and great for parties on hot days as well as picnics and potlucks. You know what else is great for this time of year? The Best Summer Salad (One Bowl), of course! It's a time to enjoy all the fresh produce and delicious flavors nature has to offer.

Key ingredients

• Olive oil- Using the highest quality will yield the best results.
• Apple cider vinegar- You can also use lemon juice.
• Honey- This adds a sweet, warm taste to the mix.
• Poppy seeds- Provides a rich, nutty flavor and crunchy texture.
• Mustard powder- This is optional but adds a lot to the overall flavor profile.
• Salt and pepper- Adjust according to your personal preference.
• Spinach- Be sure it is fresh and not even frozen.
• Strawberries- Be sure they are washed, hulled, and sliced.

Variations

• Add pecans- Sprinkle ¼ cup crushed roasted pecans on top, prior to serving. Candied pecans is another delicious addition.
• Use walnuts- To add a bit of crunch, sprinkle ¼ cup crushed roasted walnuts on top, prior to serving.
• Use almonds- By adding in ¼ cup crushed, roasted almonds on top, just prior to serving.
• Mix in- ½ cup baked or grilled shredded chicken or small 1 inch chicken pieces to add some protein.
• Sprinkle- ¼ cup cooked bacon crumbs on top, prior to serving.
• Balsamic Version- Replace the poppyseed dressing with a balsamic dressing.
• Add avocado- Peel, slice and cut 1 avocado into small 1 inch pieces and mix that into this salad.
• Mix in- ⅓ cup finely sliced red onions.
• Add quinoa- Use ½ cup boiled quinoa to make this a very hearty and filling salad.
• Sprinkle in- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese on top, prior to serving.

How to make strawberry spinach salad recipe?

1. Combine- oil, vinegar, honey, poppy seeds, mustard seeds, salt, and pepper in a deep bowl.
2. Whisk- Everything together until combined.
3. Add in- Spinach and strawberries.
4. Toss- Everything together and serve immediately.

What to serve with salad?

• Protein- This is great with Grilled Chicken Breast (One Pan), Oven Baked Spatchcock Chicken (One Pan), steak, including these Garlic Butter Steak Bites (Pot), or pork chops.
• Pizza- This is a classic option that goes great with salad.
• Pasta- There are so many good options, but some of my favorite include One Pot Italian Sausage Pasta and Bacon Pasta (One Pot).
• Burgers- These are delicious alongside a great salad. Even a Loose Meat Sandwich (Tavern Sandwich) is an excellent choice.

Tips and techniques

• You can make the dressing separately- And use it to pour over the strawberries and spinach, just prior to serving.
• Serve immediately- Once the dressing has been mixed into the spinach and strawberries, salad must be served at once for best flavor and texture.
• Mustard seed powder- Is optional but highly recommended.
• Use very ripe strawberries- To get the best fruity flavor.
• Use fresh baby spinach- Instead of frozen spinach because frozen spinach is just wilted and releases a lot of water.

Recipe FAQs

Storage

• Make ahead- This salad is best fresh, but if you keep the dressing and salad separate, you can place each in a sealed container up to 3 days in the fridge. Combine just before serving and enjoy.
• Refrigerate- Keep the dressing and salad in separate sealed containers in the fridge for up to 3 days. When ready to serve, combine and enjoy.
• Freeze- This is not recommended, because upon thawing the ingredients will become wilted and soggy.

More one bowl salads

• Waldorf Salad Recipe (One Bowl)
• Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint (One Bowl)
• Cherry Tomato Salad (One Bowl)
• Creamy Grape Salad (One Bowl)
• Three Bean Salad (One Bowl)

Recipe