Strawberry Spinach Salad (Printable)

A refreshing mix of spinach, strawberries, candied pecans, and a creamy poppy seed dressing.

# What You Need:

→ Salad

01 - 6 cups baby spinach, washed and dried
02 - 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - 1/2 cup candied pecans
04 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
05 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)

→ Candied Pecans

06 - 1/2 cup pecan halves
07 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
08 - 1 tablespoon butter

→ Poppy Seed Dressing

09 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
10 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
11 - 1 tablespoon honey
12 - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
13 - 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
15 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add pecan halves and sugar, stirring constantly until pecans are evenly coated and sugar is melted, about 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer pecans to parchment paper and allow to cool. Break apart once cooled.
02 - Whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, salt, and freshly ground black pepper in a small bowl or jar until well emulsified. Set aside.
03 - Combine baby spinach, strawberries, red onion, and feta cheese if using in a large salad bowl. Add candied pecans and drizzle with the poppy seed dressing. Toss gently to coat before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under twenty minutes, making it perfect for when you want something fresh without the fuss.
  • The contrast of sweet pecans and tart strawberries against peppery spinach is genuinely addictive, not cloying.
  • A single batch feeds four people and works just as well for a casual dinner as it does for impressing guests.
02 -
  • Wet spinach will make your dressing taste watered down, so actually pat it dry with a clean kitchen towel instead of just rinsing and hoping.
  • Make the candied pecans ahead of time if you want—they'll keep in an airtight container for three days and stay crunchy, which takes pressure off when people are arriving.
03 -
  • Slice your strawberries at the absolute last moment—even thirty minutes in a bowl will cause them to start releasing their juice and making the spinach soggy.
  • If you're serving this to someone picky about onions, don't skip it, just use less and slice it even thinner so it's more of a whisper than a crunch.
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