Description
A vibrant and delicious strawberry spinach salad featuring fresh baby spinach, juicy strawberries, crunchy candied pecans, and salty feta cheese, all paired with a zesty lemon poppy seed dressing. Perfect as a refreshing side or light meal, this salad combines sweet, savory, and tangy flavors for a crowd-pleasing dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Candied Nuts
- 3/4 cup 84 g chopped walnuts or pecans
- 2 tbsp 24 g brown sugar
- 2 tsp 9 g unsalted butter
Dressing
- 1/4 cup 60 mL light olive oil or grapeseed oil
- 1/2 tsp 4 g honey (optional)
- 1/2 tsp 4 g poppy seeds
- 1/2 tsp 4 g dijon mustard
- Zest of half lemon
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1/2 tsp 4 g kosher salt
Salad
- 8 oz 240 g fresh baby spinach, washed
- 8 oz 240 g fresh strawberries, sliced
- 5 oz 130 g feta cheese, crumbled
- 3/4 cup candied pecans or nuts (prepared from above)
Instructions
- Candied Nuts Preparation: Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper and set aside. Melt the butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped nuts and brown sugar, stirring constantly with a silicone spatula to coat the nuts evenly. Cook for about 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently until the sugar caramelizes and coats the nuts. Spread the candied nuts in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet to cool and harden, then break apart once cooled.
- Make the Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together olive oil, honey (if using), poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, lemon zest, lemon juice, and kosher salt until the mixture is well combined and emulsified. Let the dressing sit at room temperature for 5-15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large salad bowl, combine the fresh baby spinach, sliced strawberries, crumbled feta cheese, and the cooled candied nuts. Toss gently to combine the ingredients evenly.
- Serve: Serve the salad with the lemon poppy seed dressing on the side. Add dressing just before serving to keep the salad fresh and crisp.
Notes
- Make the candied nuts ahead of time to save prep time and store them in an airtight container for up to a week.
- If you prefer fewer calories, substitute feta cheese with a lower fat cheese or skip it entirely.
- Use fresh, ripe strawberries for the best flavor and sweetness.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure all ingredients, especially mustard and condiments, are certified gluten-free.
- If you don’t have poppy seeds, you can substitute with chia seeds for a similar crunch.
- Dress the salad just before serving to prevent the spinach from wilting.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 183 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 268 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 33 mg
