Description
A fresh, flavorful, and healthy salad combining sweet strawberries, tender baby spinach, crunchy nuts, tangy cheese, and a zesty balsamic vinaigrette. Perfect for a quick lunch, light dinner, or vibrant side dish, this 15-minute recipe brings a perfect balance of textures and flavors with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh baby spinach leaves, washed and dried
- 1 cup ripe strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds or pecans, toasted
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta or goat cheese
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinaigrette
Optional Garnishes
- Fresh basil or mint leaves, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Spinach and Strawberries: Wash the fresh baby spinach leaves thoroughly and dry them well to prevent sogginess. Hull and slice the ripe strawberries into bite-sized pieces to ensure every forkful has a burst of sweetness.
- Slice the Red Onion and Toast the Nuts: Thinly slice the red onion for just the right amount of bite. Toast your choice of nuts, such as almonds or pecans, in a dry skillet over medium heat for a few minutes until fragrant and golden to enhance their crunch and flavor.
- Mix the Salad Components: In a large bowl, combine the spinach, sliced strawberries, and red onion. Sprinkle the toasted nuts and crumbled cheese over the top to add texture and creaminess.
- Dress and Toss: Drizzle the balsamic vinaigrette evenly over the salad. Gently toss everything together until coated, taking care not to bruise the spinach or crush the berries.
- Garnish and Serve: Finish with freshly chopped basil or mint for an herbal lift, then serve immediately to enjoy the crisp textures and vibrant flavors at their best.
Notes
- Use fresh ingredients: Fresh spinach and ripe strawberries make all the difference in flavor and texture.
- Dry greens well: Use a salad spinner or pat dry thoroughly to avoid a watery salad.
- Toast nuts just right: Keep an eye on nuts while toasting; they burn quickly and bitterness can ruin the dish.
- Don’t overdress: Add vinaigrette bit by bit to avoid sogginess and maintain the salad’s crispness.
- Serve immediately: This salad is best enjoyed fresh to prevent the greens from wilting and the strawberries from releasing too much juice.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: strawberry spinach salad, quick salad, healthy salad, fresh salad, summer salad, gluten free, vegetarian