The Perfect Spinach And Strawberry Salad

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Have you ever wanted a quick meal that tastes good? Try this Spinach and Strawberry Salad! I did not like fruit in my salad at first. Then I tried this mix and loved it.

Why You Will Love This Salad

Salads can be boring. Not this one! The mix of fresh spinach with sweet and tart strawberries is so good. Add some soft feta, crunchy almonds, and sweet honey dressing. Wow!

I like how this dish turns basic foods into a meal fit for guests but simple enough for a busy day. It takes just 15 minutes to make. This is great when you want good food fast.

What You Need

For the Salad:

8 cups fresh baby spinach (one 8 oz bag)
2 cups fresh strawberries (about 1 box)
1/2 cup thin red onion slices
3/4 cup feta cheese bits
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup sweet pecans (you can skip these, but they’re so good)

For the Dressing:

1/4 cup olive oil
3 big spoons of balsamic vinegar (good kind is best)
1 big spoon of honey
1 small spoon of Dijon mustard
1 small bit of garlic, cut tiny
1/4 small spoon of salt
Black pepper to taste

Let’s Make This Happen: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Get Your Foods Ready

First, let’s prep all the foods so it’s easy to make.

For the spinach: Wash it well and dry it fully. This is key! Wet spinach makes the dressing too thin. Use a salad spinner if you have one. If not, pat it dry with paper towels.

For the strawberries: Be gentle with these red gems. Rinse them fast in cold water, dry them, and cut off the tops. Then slice them thin—about as thick as a pencil.

For the red onion: Cut it very thin. If you find raw onion too strong, soak the slices in cold water for 10 minutes. This makes them milder but still tasty. Dry them well before use.

For the almonds: Toast them! This step makes a big change. Put them on a flat pan and bake at 350°F for 5-8 minutes till they turn gold and smell good. Watch them close—they can burn fast.

Step 2: Mix Your Dressing

This dressing tastes so good you may want to make extra to save. It’s like a jar of joy that makes all foods taste better.

Find a jar with a good lid (an old jam jar works well) or a small bowl.
Put in the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, garlic bits, salt, and pepper.
If using a jar, close it tight and shake it hard. If using a bowl, stir fast until it looks thick and mixed.
Dip in a leaf of spinach and taste it. Need to fix it? Add more honey if you want it sweet, more vinegar if you want more zip, or a bit more salt to bring out the taste.

Step 3: Mix Your Salad

Now for the fun part—making your salad! Add each item in layers.

Get a big bowl. Put in all the spinach first.
Add the cut strawberries on top. They look like red gems on the green leaves.
Drop in the red onion bits here and there. You don’t need much.
Sprinkle the feta cheese all over. The soft, salty bits make each bite taste great.
Top with the nuts you toasted. They add the crunch that makes this salad so good.

Step 4: Add the Dressing

This tip is key: only add dressing when you’re ready to eat. Start with just a bit—about 3-4 big spoons for the whole bowl—and mix it all up. You can add more if you need it.

Use two big spoons to lift from the bottom and fold the mix. Do this a few times until all has a light coat of dressing. You want your salad wet but not soaked.

Ways to Serve Your Salad

This salad is great on its own, but here are some tips to make it even better:

Make it a meal: Add grilled chicken or salmon on top for protein. A bit of lemon and pepper on the meat goes well with the salad.
Serve it on the side: This salad goes well with grilled steak, baked chicken, or even pasta. The fresh taste helps with rich main dishes.
Take it to a party: If you bring this to share, pack all parts in their own bags. Mix it all when you get there. This keeps it from going soft, and folks will think you’re a food pro.

Easy Changes You Can Make

This dish is easy to change based on what you like:

Don’t like feta? Try goat cheese for a tangy taste, or blue cheese for a bold taste.
No strawberries? Use blueberries or raspberries. Peaches work well in summer too.
Want vegan food? Use avocado instead of cheese and maple syrup instead of honey.
Add fresh herbs: Try adding mint or basil leaves for a new taste.
Need low-carb? Skip the honey and sweet nuts for a keto meal.

A Little Secret Between Friends

Here’s something I’ve learned from making this salad countless times: the ingredients are flexible, but the technique matters. Dry your greens well. Toast those nuts. Make the dressing from scratch. These little steps take just minutes but elevate your salad exponentially.

Want to know the exact calories in your salad? Try using a nutrition calculator like the one at MyFoodDiary to track the fresh foods you add to your bowl.

My best tip? Eat this salad with friends. Add a glass of cool white wine if you like. Enjoy it with no guilt—it tastes good and it’s good for you!

Did you know that strawberries and spinach grow at the same time in spring? The vitamin C in strawberries helps your body use the iron from spinach better. They work as a team—just as nature planned!

Try this salad soon. You will like how it tastes. Your body will like how healthy it is. And your friends will ask you how to make it!