Strawberry Spinach Poppy Dressing (Printable)

Fresh baby spinach combined with strawberries, feta, pecans, and a tangy poppy seed dressing.

# Ingredient List:

→ Salad

01 - 6 cups fresh baby spinach, washed and dried
02 - 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
04 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
05 - 1/2 cup pecans or walnuts, toasted and roughly chopped
06 - 1/4 cup sunflower seeds (optional)

→ Poppy Seed Dressing

07 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
08 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
09 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
11 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
12 - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and poppy seeds. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine baby spinach, sliced strawberries, red onion, crumbled feta cheese, toasted pecans, and sunflower seeds if using.
03 - Drizzle the poppy seed dressing over the salad just before serving. Toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Serve immediately and enjoy.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sweet and tangy contrast wakes up your palate without feeling heavy or overdressed.
  • Everything comes together in minutes, and theres no cooking required, just chopping and tossing.
  • It looks stunning on the table, like you put in way more effort than you actually did.
02 -
  • Dress the salad right before serving, not ahead of time, or the spinach will wilt and turn soggy.
  • If your strawberries are tart, add an extra teaspoon of honey to the dressing to balance the flavors.
  • Toast the nuts until they smell warm and slightly sweet, but watch them closely because they go from perfect to burnt in seconds.
03 -
  • Add the dressing gradually and toss as you go, you can always add more but you cant take it back once its overdressed.
  • For extra depth, toss in a handful of fresh basil or mint leaves just before serving.
  • If serving this at a gathering, bring the dressing on the side and let guests dress their own portions to keep everything crisp.

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