I’ve made a number of variations of Strawberry Spinach Salad through the years, however this by far is my favourite! It contains contemporary strawberries, salty feta cheese, candied pecans, and a simple do-it-yourself balsamic French dressing. The textures and flavors are insanely scrumptious and praise one another completely! It reminds you of a elaborate salad that you simply’d get at a restaurant, however you can also make it at dwelling for a fraction of the associated fee. That is a kind of “summer time” salads that I might actually eat all yr lengthy!
What’s in Strawberry Spinach Salad
Strawberry Spinach Salad contains plenty of fantastic flavors and textures that flatter one another completely. Right here’s what you’ll want:
- Child Spinach – a easy mattress of spinach greens is the bottom basis for this salad.
- Strawberries – contemporary, juicy, strawberries add a easy and fantastic sweetness.
- Pink onion – barely sharp and a pleasant distinction to the sweetness of the strawberries and candied pecans.
- Feta cheese – gentle, creamy, salty feta cheese pairs effectively with the strawberries on this salad. Should you’re not a fan of feta cheese, goat cheese or blue cheese would additionally work effectively.
- Candied pecans – these candied pecans, in my humble opinion, are among the best elements of the salad. It provides a crunchy, candy texture, and you may swap the pecans out for toasted walnuts or toasted sliced almonds, which might even be completely scrumptious!
- Balsamic French dressing – simple do-it-yourself balsamic French dressing dressing tops all of it off.
Balsamic French dressing Dressing
The dressing for this strawberry salad might be my favourite half…okay it’s truly tied with the candied pecans! I began with Beth’s simple do-it-yourself balsamic French dressing and made one adjustment by changing the mayonnaise with honey for a barely sweeter style. The outcomes – completely wonderful!
You possibly can actually use a retailer purchased balsamic French dressing when you don’t have a well provisioned pantry with all the mandatory substances available, however I promise this do-it-yourself balsamic French dressing will style wayyy higher! I extremely advocate you give it a strive! 😉
- If chopped nuts are a bit too expensive at your native retailer, toast up some day-old bread to make use of instead of the chopped pecans, much like our Panzanella salad.
- To bulk up the salad and make it stretch a bit additional, add your favourite pasta like penne or bow-tie pasta.
How To Retailer Strawberry Spinach Salad
Strawberry spinach salad shops effectively within the fridge for as much as 3 days. With a view to preserve the spinach from wilting an excessive amount of, it’s finest to retailer the strawberries and the dressing individually and add them to the salad proper earlier than you’re able to serve.
Serving Ideas
This salad makes an important lunch meal by itself, Monti and I completely devoured it up on the take a look at studio, however you can even add some grilled hen or sautéed shrimp on prime for a extra filling meal. This salad additionally pairs effectively with different leaner protein like baked cod and pan-seared hen.
Strawberry Spinach Salad
A contemporary, vibrant, Strawberry Spinach Salad with do-it-yourself balsamic French dressing dressing, candied pecans, and insanely scrumptious flavors!
Balsamic French dressing
- 1/3 cup olive oil ($1.10)
- 3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar ($0.45)
- 2 Tbsp honey ($0.50)
- 1/2 Tbsp Dijon mustard ($0.09)
- 1 garlic clove, minced ($0.08)
- 1/2 tsp dried basil ($0.05)
- 1/4 tsp salt ($0.01)
- 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper ($0.02)
Candied Pecans
- 1/2 Tbsp butter ($0.07)
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar ($0.08)
- 1 pinch salt ($0.01)
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans ($1.15)
Salad
- 8 oz child spinach ($1.83)
- 1/2 lb strawberries, sliced ($1.25)
- 1/4 pink onion, thinly sliced ($0.21)
- 2 oz crumbled feta cheese ($1.82)
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Begin by making the do-it-yourself balsamic French dressing dressing. Add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, minced garlic clove, dried basil, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper to a jar, bowl, or blender. Shut the jar and shake the substances collectively, whisk in a bowl, or mix till the dressing is evenly mixed. Set the dressing apart.
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Subsequent make the candied pecans. Add the butter, brown sugar and a pinch of salt to a small non-stick skillet. Warmth over medium warmth whereas stirring.
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As soon as the butter and brown sugar begins to soften add the chopped pecans to the skillet and stir with the brown sugar combination. Proceed to cook dinner over medium warmth, stirring each 10-15 seconds till the brown sugar totally melts (appears shiny as an alternative of grainy) and fully coats the pecans.
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Take away the skillet from the warmth instantly and switch the candied pecans to a parchment lined baking sheet. Unfold the pecans out evenly in a flat layer and permit them to chill for 10 minutes whereas the candied coating totally hardens.
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Now prep the strawberries, pink onion and feta cheese. Take away the stems and slice the strawberries, thinly slice the pink onion, and crumble the feta. Set these substances to the aspect.
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Divide the spinach between 4 plates. Drizzle 2 Tbsp of balsamic French dressing on prime of every mattress of spinach.
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Add sliced strawberries, pink onions, a tablespoon or two of candied pecans, and a tablespoon of feta cheese to every salad. Be happy to drizzle a bit extra balsamic French dressing excessive of every and revel in!
See how we calculate recipe prices right here.
Serving: 1servingEnergy: 405kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 6gFats: 33gSodium: 400mgFiber: 4g
Learn our full vitamin disclaimer right here.
Do you’re keen on simple summer time salad recipes? Strive our Creamy Cucumber Salad, Panzanella, or Summer time Vegetable Pasta Salad.
HOW TO MAKE STRAWBERRY SPINACH SALAD – STEP BY STEP PHOTOS
Begin by making the do-it-yourself balsamic French dressing. Add 1/3 cup olive oil, 3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar, 2 Tbsp honey, 1/2 Tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 garlic clove minced, 1/2 tsp dried fundamental, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper to a jar, bowl, or blender. Add a prime to the jar and shake, whisk in a bowl, or mix till all of the substances are evenly mixed. Set the French dressing dressing apart.
Subsequent make the candied pecans. In a small non-stick skillet add 1/2 Tbsp butter, 2 Tbsp brown sugar, and a pinch of salt. Warmth over medium warmth whereas stirring simply till the butter and brown sugar begins to soften. Add 1/2 cup of chopped pecan and stir to coat within the brown sugar combination. Proceed to cook dinner for 2-4 minutes or till the brown sugar is totally melted (appears shiny, not grainy) and fully coating the pecans.
Take away the skillet from the warmth instantly, to forestall the brown sugar from over cooking and burning. Switch the candied pecans to a parchment lined baking sheet, unfold out in a flat layer. Permit them to chill for 10 minutes and the sugar coating will totally harden.
Now prep the remainder of the salad substances. Wash and slice 1/2 pound of strawberries, thinly slice 1/4 of a pink onion, portion out 2 oz of crumbled feta cheese, and collect your cooled candied pecans.
Divide 8 oz of spinach between 4 salad plates (roughly 2 oz per plate) or you may add the entire spinach to a bigger serving bowl. Add 2 Tbsp of the balsamic French dressing to every salad plate or drizzle 1/3 cup of the dressing over the bowl of spinach. Reserve the remainder of the dressing so as to add proper earlier than serving.
Divide the toppings (sliced strawberries, sliced pink onion, 1 tablespoon of crumbled feta, and 1-2 tablespoons of candied pecans) between the 4 salad plates or add the toppings to a bigger salad serving bowl. Drizzle every salad with a bit extra of the balsamic dressing and revel in!
