Strawberry Spinach Salad (Printable)

A refreshing mix of spinach, strawberries, candied pecans, and a smooth poppy seed dressing.

# Ingredient List:

→ Salad

01 - 6 cups baby spinach, washed and dried
02 - 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - 1/2 cup candied pecans
04 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
05 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)

→ Candied Pecans

06 - 1/2 cup pecan halves
07 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
08 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

→ Poppy Seed Dressing

09 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
10 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
11 - 1 tablespoon honey
12 - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
13 - 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
15 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How to Prepare:

01 - In a small skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add pecans and sugar, stirring constantly until pecans are coated and sugar dissolves, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to parchment paper and allow to cool, then break into pieces.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until fully emulsified. Set aside.
03 - Combine spinach, strawberries, red onion, and feta cheese if using in a large bowl. Add the candied pecans. Just before serving, drizzle with the poppy seed dressing and toss gently to coat evenly.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The sweet strawberries and buttery candied pecans balance the peppery spinach in a way that feels almost fancy, but takes barely any effort.
  • That creamy poppy seed dressing ties everything together without making you feel like you're eating a sad desk lunch.
  • It comes together in 20 minutes, which means you can actually enjoy your day instead of being glued to the kitchen.
02 -
  • Don't dress the salad until the last possible moment, or the spinach will wilt and the pecans will soften. This isn't a make-ahead dish, and that's okay.
  • The candied pecans are non-negotiable. I tried toasted pecans once, and it was like eating a completely different salad. Candied is the move.
  • If your strawberries are mealy or your spinach tastes like nothing, the whole thing suffers. Start with good ingredients and everything else falls into place.
03 -
  • Buy pre-washed baby spinach if that's the difference between making this and ordering takeout. There's no prize for doing it the hard way.
  • Keep extra candied pecans in an airtight container for snacking or throwing on yogurt, because they disappear fast and are almost impossible to portion correctly.
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