Strawberry Spinach Balsamic Poppy Seed (Printable)

Sweet strawberries and tender spinach tossed in tangy balsamic poppy seed dressing with crunchy almonds and creamy feta.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad Components

01 - 6 cups baby spinach, washed and thoroughly dried
02 - 1 pint fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced into rings
04 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
05 - 1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted until golden
06 - 1/4 cup sunflower seeds, optional

→ Balsamic Poppy Seed Dressing

07 - 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
08 - 1 tablespoon honey or pure maple syrup
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Combine baby spinach, sliced strawberries, red onion rings, crumbled feta, toasted almonds, and sunflower seeds in a large salad bowl. Toss gently to distribute ingredients evenly.
02 - Whisk balsamic vinegar, honey or maple syrup, and Dijon mustard in a small bowl until blended. While whisking continuously, slowly drizzle olive oil into mixture until thickened and emulsified. Stir in poppy seeds. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
03 - Drizzle dressing over salad immediately before serving. Using salad tongs, toss gently to coat all ingredients without crushing delicate spinach or berries. Garnish with additional strawberry slices or almonds if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The dressing comes together in 2 minutes flat and keeps for weeks in your fridge
  • Fresh strawberries and balsamic vinegar create this incredible sweet-tangy magic that people will ask you about
02 -
  • The dressing can be made up to a week ahead and actually tastes better after the flavors have time to hang out together
  • Never dress your salad more than 15 minutes before serving or you will end up with a wilted, disappointing mess
03 -
  • If your strawberries aren't very sweet, add an extra teaspoon of honey to the dressing
  • The salad stays crisp for hours if you keep the dressing separate until the very last minute

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