Strawberry Spinach Spring Salad (Printable version)

Bright spring salad of strawberries, baby spinach, goat cheese and toasted nuts with a honey-balsamic dressing.

# Ingredient list:

→ Salad

01 - 6 cups (loosely packed) baby spinach, washed and thoroughly dried
02 - 1 cup strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - 1/3 cup crumbled goat cheese (or crumbled feta as an alternative)
04 - 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
05 - 1/3 cup toasted pecans or sliced almonds

→ Balsamic Dressing

06 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
08 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Step-by-step guide:

01 - In a small bowl or jar combine 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, and a pinch of salt and pepper; whisk or shake until fully emulsified. Set aside.
02 - If using raw nuts, toast 1/3 cup pecans or sliced almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until fragrant and lightly golden, about 3–4 minutes; cool slightly.
03 - Place 6 cups baby spinach in a large bowl, add 1 cup sliced strawberries and 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion.
04 - Drizzle the prepared balsamic dressing over the salad and toss gently with salad tongs until the leaves and fruit are evenly coated, taking care not to bruise the spinach.
05 - Scatter the toasted nuts over the tossed salad and top with 1/3 cup crumbled goat cheese just before serving; serve immediately for best texture and flavor.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • Once you taste the way juicy berries play off creamy goat cheese, you’ll want to bring this to every picnic.
  • The whole thing comes together so quickly, you might just find yourself making it for lazy lunches all summer long.
02 -
  • Mixing in the goat cheese too early leads to clumps—wait until just before serving for delicate bites.
  • Tossing the salad too forcefully bruises the spinach and turns berries mushy; gentle hands make a big difference.
03 -
  • Layer the ingredients in the bowl for a showy presentation, then toss gently at the table for max texture and color.
  • Use a spoon to drizzle small amounts of dressing, tasting as you go—you can always add more, but never take away.
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