Description
Quick Fresh Strawberry Salad is a healthy and refreshing strawberry spinach salad made with sweet strawberries, tender baby spinach, creamy feta cheese, crunchy almonds, and a simple homemade balsamic dressing. Perfect for a light lunch, summer dinner side, or quick healthy meal.
Ingredients
- 5 cups fresh baby spinach leaves
- 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1/4 cup red onion, very thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds or chopped pecans
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 avocado, sliced (optional)
- 1/4 cup blueberries (optional)
- 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds (optional)
- Grilled chicken slices (optional)
Instructions
1. Rinse the baby spinach under cool water and dry thoroughly using a salad spinner or kitchen towel.
2. Place the spinach in a large mixing bowl and gently fluff the leaves.
3. Wash the strawberries, remove the green tops, and slice them into halves or quarters.
4. Scatter the sliced strawberries evenly over the spinach.
5. Thinly slice the red onion and add it to the salad. For milder flavor, soak slices in cold water for five minutes and drain.
6. Sprinkle crumbled feta or goat cheese evenly over the salad.
7. Add sliced almonds or chopped pecans for crunch.
8. In a small bowl combine balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper.
9. Whisk until the dressing becomes smooth and well combined.
10. Taste the dressing and adjust sweetness or tanginess if needed.
11. Drizzle the dressing lightly over the salad just before serving.
12. Gently toss the salad until the ingredients are evenly coated.
13. Add optional avocado slices, blueberries, seeds, or grilled chicken if desired.
14. Transfer the salad to a serving bowl and garnish with extra strawberry slices or nuts.
15. Serve immediately while the spinach remains crisp.
Notes
- Use ripe sweet strawberries for the best flavor.
- Baby spinach offers a mild flavor but mixed greens or arugula also work well.
- Toast almonds or pecans in a dry pan for two to three minutes for extra flavor.
- If preparing ahead of time keep the dressing separate until serving.
- For a vegan version omit cheese and replace honey with maple syrup.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 10mg