Strawberry Spinach Salad
Updated
Updated
This Strawberry Spinach Salad includes fresh fruit, earthy mushrooms, and buttery avocado, then tossed with the best homemade creamy poppy seed dressing. Fresh, colorful, delicious, and ready in 15 minutes!
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5 STAR REVIEWS
A Strawberry Spinach Salad like this one makes me so happy. It’s loaded with different textures and flavors, nutritious, delicious, and so pretty! Lovely as a side dish and substantial enough for a full lunch.
Helpful Tips & Variations
- The dressing. I always serve this salad with my homemade poppy seed dressing which is sweet, tangy, and pairs perfectly with spinach and strawberries. You could also use a raspberry vinaigrette instead of the poppy seed dressing.
- Add protein. Adding some sliced baked chicken breast can make it more of a meal, if preferred.
- Try a different nut. Swap out the almonds with walnuts or pecans.
- Not a fan of goat cheese? Swap the goat cheese with feta, or just simply omit the cheese.
- Drizzle with balsamic glaze like I did with my strawberry balsamic pasta salad!
Strawberry Spinach Salad
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 6 ounces baby spinach
- 1 & 1/2 cups sliced strawberries
- 1 & 1/2 cups thinly sliced cremini or button mushrooms
- 1/2 large ripe avocado, cubed
- 1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese, (optional)
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 2 scallions, diced
For the Poppy Seed Dressing
- 6 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons half n half
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard powder
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine all the salad ingredients, except the dressing.
- In another bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the dressing until combined and smooth.
- Very lightly dress the salad right before serving (reserving some of the dressing on the side for people to add more, if desired) and toss to coat.
- Divide on individual plates, making sure not all the goodies get left behind. Enjoy!
Notes
- Dress the salad just before serving to keep the spinach crisp and fresh.
- Dry the spinach thoroughly after washing so the dressing doesn’t become diluted.
- Toast the sliced almonds for a few minutes in a dry skillet to enhance their flavor and crunch.
- Use ripe, sweet strawberries for the best flavor and balance with the tangy dressing.
- Whisk the dressing until smooth and fully combined so it coats the salad evenly.
- Slice the mushrooms and scallions thinly for the best texture in every bite.
- If preparing ahead, store the salad ingredients and dressing separately until ready to serve.
- Swap the goat cheese for feta cheese if preferred.
- Refrigerator: Store leftover salad in an airtight container for up to 1 day. For the best texture, keep the dressing separate and toss just before serving.
- Dressing: Store the poppy seed dressing in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Shake or whisk before using.
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.
Did you make this? Leave a rating below!
Serving Suggestions
This salad is best served right after coating with the dressing. The longer it sits, the more the ingredients will break down and get very soft. We enjoy eating it all on its own, but it pairs wonderfully with grilled chicken breasts or grilled steak, too.
More Salad Recipes:
- Waldorf Salad
- Grape Salad
- Pear Salad
- Caesar Salad
- Simple Side Salad
- Arugula Beet Salad
- Cucumber Tomato Salad
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Made this recipe for friends – we all loved it. The avocado added just the right touch of something unique in the salad. Followed directions exactly with no changes. Dressing was awesome and very creamy. Will be my go to salad for gatherings!
I paired this salad with with your Slow Cooker Hurry Chicken, which turned out to be a perfect match and made the Homemade Creamy Poppyseed dressing, which is a winner, for sure.
I don’t know why I don’t make more salads at home. I seem to only eat them when we go out, and then I wonder why. This, though, gives me the motivation. Beautiful and fresh!
Can’t wait to make this!
Served this for a ladies lunch and everyone loved it. It’s so pretty on a buffet table and tastes amazing. The dressing is SO good.
I’ve made this recipe a few times, varying the dressing, sometimes a vinaigrette sometimes creamy. The poppyseed is my fav.
This salad is perfection. The dressing was amazing!