Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad (Printable)

A vibrant mix of strawberries, spinach, feta, and toasted almonds for a refreshing meal.

# Components:

→ Salad

01 - 5 oz baby spinach, washed and dried
02 - 8 oz fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - 3.5 oz feta cheese, crumbled
04 - 0.5 cup sliced almonds
05 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced

→ Dressing

06 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
08 - 1 tablespoon honey
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Heat sliced almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently until golden and fragrant. Transfer to a plate to cool completely.
02 - Whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until well combined.
03 - Combine baby spinach, sliced strawberries, crumbled feta, and sliced red onion in a large salad bowl.
04 - Drizzle prepared dressing over the salad and toss gently until vegetables and cheese are evenly coated.
05 - Sprinkle toasted almonds over the top immediately before serving to maintain crunchiness.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than you can set the table, which means more time actually enjoying company instead of standing over a stove.
  • The flavor balance feels sophisticated without requiring any culinary school—sweet, salty, tangy, and crunchy all at once.
  • It's one of those rare salads that tastes just as good when you make it for yourself as when you're feeding a crowd.
02 -
  • Wash and completely dry your spinach before you start, or the dressing will slip right off and pool at the bottom of the bowl instead of coating everything evenly.
  • Don't make this salad more than 30 minutes before eating it if you're including the red onion, because the acid in the dressing will keep softening it and it becomes almost sweet and limp instead of crisp and sharp.
03 -
  • Make the dressing the night before if you want—it actually tastes better the next day once the flavors have had time to get to know each other.
  • If your strawberries are slightly underripe, slice them thinly and toss them with a pinch of sugar 10 minutes before assembling the salad to coax out their natural sweetness.
Return