Strawberry Spinach Salad

How to Make Fresh Strawberry Salad

This strawberry spinach salad recipe comes together in a total of 15 minutes! So simple, quick, fresh, and tasty!

See the recipe card below for the ingredient amounts and full instructions.

1. Add a pile of spinach to a large serving bowl, then top that with sliced strawberries and onions. 

2. Sprinkle the feta cheese over the top followed by candied pecans and a drizzle of dressing. 
3. Toss to combine, then serve immediately with additional dressing if desired.

Tips and Notes

• Slice the red onion thinly. Red onion has a very strong flavor. If the slices are too thick, that flavor will overtake the others in the salad. Thinner slices will yield a more well-balanced flavor. 
• Serve immediately. Once the salad is assembled and dressed, it is best served right away or the texture of the fresh ingredients will start to be compromised.
• The 15 minute prep time does not include the time it makes to make the candied pecans or the salad dressing. That time estimate assumes both are already prepared. Don’t worry. Both are super simple!
• Prep in advance! I recommend prepping the dressing and the pecans ahead of time, then storing them so you have them on hand whenever you’re ready to prep the salad.

Variations

• Use another dressing. Try swapping the maple balsamic vinaigrette out for regular balsamic vinaigrette, poppy seed dressing, or apple cider vinegar dressing.
• Try another cheese. The feta is a classic, but this salad would also be super tasty with goat cheese, blue cheese, parmesan, or gorgonzola. 
• Add a grain. Try it topped with cooked and cooled quinoa or farro for a more filling and even more nutritious salad.
• Add a protein. Feel free to make your salad into more of a meal by topping it with cooked and chopped chicken. Another great flavor addition is cooked and crumbled bacon.
• Add other toppings. Feel free to bulk your salad up with other toppings such as sliced mushrooms, avocado, croutons, blueberries, chopped pear, mandarin orange, or even diced apples.
• Skip the nuts. Maybe you have a nut allergy. Or maybe you just don’t have them on hand. Try this salad with sunflower seeds instead!

Make-Ahead and Storage

Once the salad is fully assembled, it is best served right away or the texture will start to be affected. However, there are a couple of ways you can get ahead with prep! 

• Pecans: Make the candied pecans in advance and store them at room temperature for up to 2 weeks, in the fridge for up to 1 month, or in the freezer for 2-3 months.
• Dressing: Whip the dressing up and store it at room temperature for up to 1 week.
• Assemble: Toss all the ingredients aside from the dressing and strawberries all together and store them in the fridge for a day or two. When you’re ready to serve, simply add the dressing and dig in. We recommend slicing the strawberries just prior to serving.

More Salad Recipes You’ll Love

• Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad
• Arugula Pear Salad
• Blackberry Goat Cheese Salad
• Broccoli Salad
• Easy Cucumber Salad

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