Strawberry Spinach Salad & Poppy Seed Dressing

A quick and simple Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing is the perfect addition to any meal. Add some chicken and it’s instantly transformed into a light and healthy entree!

We take a bit of a break from salads during the cold weather months, and instead tend to favor warm, roasted vegetables with our meals.

Now that the sun is shining again, the temperatures are rising, and local produce is more readily available, I’m ready to dive head-first into this Strawberry Spinach Salad!

The dish is loaded with a variety of flavors, colors, and textures for an easy option that’s incredibly satisfying!

Ingredients – What You Need

• Baby spinach
• Strawberries
• Mandarin oranges drained
• Avocado diced
• Feta
• AlmondsSugar
• Dry mustard
• Salt
• Cider vinegar
• Salad oil such as canola oil or avocado oil
• Minced onion flakes
• Poppy seeds

Thanks to the toasted almonds, diced avocado, creamy cheese, and fresh fruit, it’s a combination that keeps the taste buds happy.

Plus, with a bit more protein from a rotisserie (or grilled) chicken, the Strawberry Spinach Salad quickly becomes a one dish meal!

How to Make Strawberry Spinach Salad

1. Combine all dressing ingredients except poppy seeds in a large jar with a lid, in a blender, or in a food processor. Shake or mix until completely combined.
   Add the poppy seeds and give it another good shake. Set aside and refrigerate until ready to use.
2. Arrange spinach in a large serving bowl. Top with strawberries, oranges, avocado, cheese, and almonds. Drizzle some of the dressing over the salad, to taste, and serve immediately.

The Best Dressing to Use

There’s something about poppy seed dressing that just pairs beautifully with a fruit salad, so I’ve included a thick, rich, sweet and tangy homemade recipe here.

Obviously, if you want to make your life even easier, feel free to buy a bottle of your favorite store-bought dressing. When I don’t want to bother with making my own, I think that Brianna’s is a nice option that you can find in most grocery stores. As you know, I’m all about the shortcuts!

Either way, I have no doubt that this fast, fresh and healthy salad is about to become your favorite way to eat your greens this season!

Can I Prep This Salad in Advance?

Of course, this salad is super easy to prepare in advance and can be kept in the fridge in a suitable container or bowl covered in plastic wrap.

PRO TIP: Wait until last minute to toss the salad with the dressing so the spinach doesn’t wilt really quickly. You can make the dressing in advance too and store that separately.

Do I have to Use Strawberries?

No, if you can’t get your hands on strawberries or have other berries that need using up then you can use them in this salad!

Blueberries, blackberries and even raspberries would work really well.

Top Tips for Making Strawberry Spinach Salad

• Why not make this salad into a main dish by adding some grilled chicken
• To keep it vegetarian try adding some hard boiled eggs for extra protein
• I used feta cheese for this but a crumbly goats cheese or even blue cheese would also work really well
• Instead of toasted almonds, you could use cashews or walnuts
• Make sure to use fresh strawberries and not frozen. If you don’t have fresh try using another berry
• Both the salad and dressing can be prepped in advance just store them separately and toss together just before serving

More Easy Salads You Might Like:

• Light and Creamy Apple Salad
• Healthy and Easy Summer Corn Salad
• Easy Tuna Nicoise Salad
• Simple Italian Green Bean Salad

Strawberry Spinach Salad

5 from 1 vote

Prep: 15 minutes minutes

Total: 15 minutes minutes

Servings 6 side dish servings

Calories 171.5 kcal

A fresh, easy and simple Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppyseed Dressing. This salad is bursting with flavor and is a great addition to any meal.

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Ingredients

  

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FOR THE POPPY SEED DRESSING (Yield 1 ½ cups of dressing):

• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup cider vinegar
• 1 cup salad oil such as canola oil or avocado oil
• 1 teaspoon dried minced onion flakes
• 2 teaspoons poppy seeds

FOR THE SALAD:

• 10-12 ounces fresh baby spinach
• 2 cups sliced strawberries
• 1 cup mandarin oranges drained
• 1 avocado diced
• ¼ cup crumbled feta, goat or blue cheese
• ¼ cup sliced, toasted almonds

Instructions

PREPARE THE DRESSING:

• Combine all dressing ingredients except poppy seeds in a large jar with a lid, in a blender, or in a food processor. Shake or mix until completely combined.
• Add the poppy seeds and give it another good shake. Set aside and refrigerate until ready to use.

ASSEMBLE THE SALAD:

• Arrange spinach in a large serving bowl. Top with strawberries, oranges, avocado, cheese, and almonds. Drizzle some of the dressing over the salad, to taste, and serve immediately.

Notes

• Why not make this salad into a main dish by adding some grilled chicken
• To keep it vegetarian try adding some hard boiled eggs for extra protein
• I used feta cheese for this but a crumbly goats cheese or even blue cheese would also work really well
• Instead of toasted almonds, you could use cashews or walnuts
• Make sure to use fresh strawberries and not frozen. If you don't have fresh try using another berry
• Both the salad and dressing can be prepped in advance just store them separately and toss together just before serving

Nutrition

Serving: 1/8 of the salad plus 1 tablespoon dressingCalories: 171.5kcalCarbohydrates: 15.8gProtein: 2.3gFat: 11.6gSaturated Fat: 1.3gCholesterol: 3.2mgSodium: 166.4mgFiber: 2.3gSugar: 12.8g

Keyword: salad with strawberries, spinach salad, strawberry spinach salad

Course: Side

Cuisine: American

Author: The Seasoned Mom

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