Strawberry Spinach Salad Balsamic (Printer-friendly)

A refreshing blend of strawberries, spinach, nuts, and tangy balsamic vinaigrette dressing.

# What You Need:

→ Salad Base

01 - 6 cups fresh baby spinach, washed and dried
02 - 1 ½ cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
04 - ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
05 - ½ cup roasted pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped
06 - ¼ cup sliced cucumber

→ Balsamic Vinaigrette

07 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
08 - 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large salad bowl, combine spinach, strawberries, red onion, feta cheese, nuts, and cucumber.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
03 - Drizzle the balsamic vinaigrette over the salad just before serving. Toss gently to combine.
04 - Serve immediately for best flavor and freshness.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The way sweet strawberries balance against sharp balsamic creates a restaurant-quality salad in minutes
  • Each bite delivers perfect crunch from nuts and creaminess from cheese without any cooking required
02 -
  • Never dress the salad ahead of time or the spinach will wilt and the nuts will lose their crunch within minutes
  • The vinaigrette tastes better after sitting for five minutes, so make it first while you prep the vegetables
03 -
  • Spin the spinach completely dry after washing, or water droplets will prevent the dressing from clinging properly
  • Toast the nuts in a dry pan for three minutes before adding them for an incredible depth of flavor

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