Strawberry Spinach Candied Walnuts (Printable)
A refreshing blend of strawberries, candied walnuts, goat cheese, and spinach in balsamic vinaigrette.
# What You Need:
→ Candied Walnuts
01 - 1 cup walnut halves
02 - 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
03 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
→ Salad Components
04 - 6 cups baby spinach, washed and dried
05 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
06 - 1/3 cup crumbled goat cheese or feta
07 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
→ Balsamic Vinaigrette
08 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
09 - 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
10 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
11 - 1 teaspoon honey
12 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
13 - 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
# How To Make:
01 - Melt butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add walnuts and sugar, stirring constantly until sugar melts and evenly coats the nuts, approximately 3-4 minutes. Transfer walnuts to parchment paper, spreading them apart to cool completely and prevent clustering.
02 - Combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl or jar. Whisk vigorously or shake until fully emulsified and smooth. Set aside at room temperature until ready to serve.
03 - Place baby spinach in a large salad bowl. Layer with sliced strawberries, thinly sliced red onion, and crumbled goat cheese evenly across the greens.
04 - Break apart any remaining clusters of cooled candied walnuts. Scatter them over the salad for even distribution of sweetness and crunch.
05 - Drizzle balsamic vinaigrette generously over the salad immediately before serving. Toss gently with salad servers to coat all ingredients evenly without damaging delicate components.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The contrast between warm, crunchy, sugar coated walnuts and cool, juicy strawberries hits every craving at once
- People think you spent hours preparing something fancy, but it comes together in under thirty minutes
02 -
- The candied walnuts must cool completely before hitting the salad or they will wilt your spinach into sadness
- Only dress what you will eat right away, leftovers will become soggy and unrecognizable by the next day
03 -
- Toast your walnuts in a dry pan for 2 minutes before candying, this step develops flavor that sugar alone cannot provide
- Pat your strawberries completely dry after washing, water droplets will make your dressing slide right off the fruit