Strawberry Spinach Balsamic Poppy Seed (Printable)

Sweet strawberries meet tender spinach in a zesty balsamic poppy seed dressing. Ready in 15 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Salad Components

01 - 6 cups baby spinach, washed and thoroughly dried
02 - 1 pint (approximately 2 cups) 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

# How To Make:

01 - Combine baby spinach, sliced strawberries, red onion, crumbled feta, toasted almonds, and sunflower seeds in a large salad bowl.
02 - Whisk balsamic vinegar, honey or maple syrup, and Dijon mustard in a small bowl. Slowly drizzle olive oil while whisking continuously until fully emulsified. Fold in poppy seeds and season with salt and pepper.
03 - Drizzle dressing over salad just before serving. Toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly. Serve immediately, garnished with additional strawberry slices or almonds if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The balsamic dressing comes together in seconds but tastes like something from a fancy restaurant
  • You can prep everything ahead and assemble it in five minutes when hunger hits
02 -
  • Dressing wilted greens is a sad thing that happens too often, so dress only what you'll eat right now
  • The dressing keeps beautifully in the fridge for up to a week, just give it a good shake before using
03 -
  • Let the dressing sit for 10 minutes before using so the poppy seeds soften slightly and the flavors meld together
  • If your strawberries aren't very sweet, add a tiny pinch of sugar to the dressing to compensate

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