Strawberry Spinach Salad

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Celebrate wholesome goodness with this strawberry spinach salad. Tender spinach mingles with juicy strawberries, sweet mandarin oranges, feta cheese, candied walnuts, and more. Drizzled with creamy balsamic dressing, it delivers the perfect balance of sweet and savory.

📌 Pin Strawberry Spinach Salad

Strawberry spinach salad served on a beautiful fluted salad plate on a white tabletop.

🍓 Why This Recipe’s a Keeper

  • It’s packed with refreshing flavors and textures. It has a satisfying, enjoyable mouthfeel. When drizzled with dressing, this strawberry spinach salad is crisp, sweet, tangy, creamy, and crunchy – all at once.
  • It’s healthy and nutritious. It’s a delicious way to incorporate wholesome ingredients into your meals. You can serve it as a side, or enjoy a larger portion as a full lunch or dinner.
  • It’s a hassle-free recipe. You can assemble this summer salad in just 15 minutes.
  • It’s a versatile recipe that’s easy to customize. You can add cheese or leave it out. You can include nuts or seeds, or leave them out. You can add mini sourdough croutons, dried cranberries or raisins, or chunks of avocado. You can try different dressings.
  • It’s a real crowd pleaser: Whether you’re entertaining guests or preparing a quick family meal, this salad has great appeal. It’s an excellent choice for gatherings and potlucks.
Summer strawberry salad on a vintage salad plate with fork.
Strawberry spinach salad with feta in a white salad bowl with wooden tongs and balsamic dressing.

🛒 Ingredients

In general, fresh strawberries are available April through July. The best of the crop (reddest, firmest, juiciest) are usually found at farmers markets.

  • Baby Spinach: The leaves have a mild flavor that allows the sweetness of the strawberries to shine through without overpowering the taste of the salad. It creates a delicious base that complements the other ingredients. But if you can’t find it at the market, substitute with arugula, microgreens, or a spring mix.
  • Strawberries: A star ingredient of strawberry spinach salad. Their sweetness complements the slightly peppery taste of the spinach. They add juiciness to the salad with a very slight crunch. To mix things up, feel free to use fresh raspberries instead.
  • Mandarin Oranges (canned): Add more color and sweetness to the salad. If you don’t have them on hand, feel free to use Clementine oranges like Cuties, cubed pineapple, blueberries, grapes, bananas, sliced peaches (lightly drizzled with honey), blueberries, grapes, pear slices, or apple slices.
  • Red Onion: Contributes color, texture, and a lightly spicy flavor.
  • Feta Cheese: Adds a creamy, savory taste. But feel free to use goat cheese crumbles, or Mexican Cotija cheese instead.
  • Candied Walnuts: Add a sweet, crunchy element to the salad. But feel free to use glazed pecans, or roasted and salted sunflower kernels instead.
  • Creamy Balsamic Dressing. We use this special homemade recipe. But to save time, reach for a high-quality bottle of dressing at the market. A fan favorite: Newman’s Own Balsamic Dressing. Or you can mix things up with a poppyseed dressing, or a classic combination of oil and vinegar.
    Fresh ingredients for making the best strawberry spinach salad at home.

    📖 Recipe Steps

    RECIPE PREP: In a colander, rinse strawberries under cool running water. Gently bounce colander up and down to shed water off the berries. Spread them out in a single layer on a clean lint-free towel to dry.

    1. Hull the strawberries. Remove and discard the green leafy tops plus the pale bit of flesh right underneath. I do this quickly and easily with this helpful coring tool. Slice strawberries in half vertically, top-down, from the tip through the middle.
    2. Thinly slice the red onion. Soak slices in a bowl of ice water until it’s time to assemble the salad. Drain off the juices from the canned mandarin oranges.
    3. Stem and clean fresh spinach. Pinch off the stems and discard them. Rinse leaves in a colander under cool running water to remove grit.
    4. Assemble the strawberry spinach salad in a large bowl. Add spinach, strawberries, mandarin orange segments, red onion, feta cheese and a handful of candied walnuts. Gently toss to combine. If the salad will be served immediately, drizzle it with dressing and toss. Otherwise, do not dress it. We want to protect the delicate textures. Instead, put the bottle of dressing on the side. Each person can dress their own serving.
    How to assemble spinach and strawberry salad in 4 easy steps.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips

    • Juicy Strawberries: If the strawberries are particularly juicy, pat them dry with a paper towel to prevent excess moisture in the salad.
    • Properly wash and dry the spinach. Use a salad spinner or pat the leaves dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Dressing adheres better to greens when they’re dry.
    • Serve strawberry spinach salad chilled: Make sure all ingredients are well-chilled before assembling the salad. A cold salad will enhance the overall eating experience. If serving this salad at a party, set the salad bowl inside a larger bowl that’s filled with ice.
    • How to prevent sogginess: Layer the ingredients strategically. Place heartier items at the bottom, starting with the spinach. Then follow with the strawberries and mandarin oranges, then with onions, cheese and nuts. This is particularly helpful when prepping the salad for a gathering, or transporting it to a party.
    • Dress the salad just before serving to prevent the spinach leaves from wilting.
    • Make-Ahead Instructions: Wash and dry the spinach 1 to 2 days in advance. Store the leaves in an airtight container lined with paper towels. Hull the strawberries, but do not slice them. Wait until just before assembling the salad. This will help maintain freshness and prevent the release of excess juices. Prep the candied walnuts in advance and store them in an airtight container. Make the dressing in advance and refrigerate. When you’re ready to enjoy the salad, add all ingredients to a large salad bowl. Toss to combine.
    A colander with freshly-rinsed strawberries.

    🧑🏼‍🍳 Recipe FAQ

    These are the most commonly-asked questions, and the best answers, when prepping the BEST strawberry spinach salad.

    How to select fresh strawberries?

    Look for bright-red berries that have fresh, perky-looking green leaves. Strawberries should be plump with no signs of bruising or mold. When purchasing berries in a container, inspect them carefully. Turn over the carton and view the bottom. There should be no gooeyness, moisture, or dripping juices.

    How to select fresh spinach?

    Look for spinach with a dark green color, and a crisp, tender texture. The leaves should spring back easily when touched. Avoid these signs of decay: yellowing, wilting, and sliminess. The stems should be thin. Thick coarse stems indicate overgrown spinach that will have a bitter taste.

    How to take the bite out of raw red onion?

    Submerge sliced red onions in a bowl of ice water. Let them soak 10 minutes, swishing them around every now and then. Drain well and they’re ready to use

    How to brighten the flavor of strawberry spinach salad?

    Add a generous squeeze of lemon juice over the top of the salad. This pop of citrus will brighten the flavor and add a taste of sunshine.

    Add-in ideas for strawberry spinach salad?

    Fresh basil, English cucumber, chopped avocado, dried cranberries, hard-boiled eggs, Kalamata olives, salted and roasted sunflower kernels, crunchy croutons, crispy bacon bits, and (sliced or cubed) grilled chicken.

    Single serving of spinach strawberry salad in a white clay bowl with a vintage silver fork on a red/white cloth napkin..

    🥗 More Tasty Summer Salads

    Ready for more refreshing salads? I’ve got you covered. View this delicious collection of the best summer salads. Add them to your monthly meal plan. Put them on rotation.

    Rate This Recipe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Friends and family love this delicious strawberry spinach salad with balsamic dressing. The fresh ingredients and delicious textures make it an all-time favorite. I’m always being asked for the recipe. It’s the perfect side for backyard gatherings and summer meals.

    If you agree this recipe’s a keeper, give it a 5-star rating in the comments. Then be a recipe hero. Share it with friends. 📌 Pin it to Pinterest.

    Gold Line: Sprinkles of Inspiration | confettiandbliss.com
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    Strawberry spinach salad served on a beautiful fluted salad plate on a white tabletop.

    Strawberry Spinach Salad


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    5 from 11 reviews

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    Description

    This strawberry spinach salad is packed with refreshing flavors and textures. Enjoy this vibrant, summer salad as a side. Or serve it as a full lunch or dinner.


    Ingredients

    Units Scale

    *Salad Dressing: Homemade dressing tastes fresher than store-bought. But to save time, reach for a high-quality bottle at the market. Like Newman’s Own Creamy Balsamic Dressing.


    Instructions

    RECIPE PREP: In a colander, rinse strawberries under cool running water. Gently bounce colander up and down to shed water off the berries. Spread them out on a clean lint-free towel to dry.

    1. Hull the strawberries (remove green leafy top plus the pale bit of flesh right underneath). Slice strawberries in half vertically, top-down, from the tip through the middle.
    2. Thinly slice the red onion. Soak the slices in a bowl of ice water until it’s time to assemble the salad. Swish them around in the water every now and then. This is how chefs reduce the harsh biting flavor and powerful aftertaste of raw onion. 
    3. Drain off the juices from the can of mandarin oranges. 
    4. Stem and clean the fresh spinach. Pinch off the stems and discard them. Rinse leaves in a colander under cool running water to remove grit. Use a salad spinner to remove excess moisture, or use paper towels.
    5. Assemble the salad in a large bowl. Add spinach, strawberries, mandarin orange segments, red onion, feta cheese and a handful of candied walnuts. Gently toss to combine.  
    6. If the entire salad will be portioned out and served immediately, drizzle with 1/3 cup balsamic dressing and toss. Leave extra dressing on the side. However, if the salad will be served later (or incrementally), do not dress it. Instead, let each person dress their own serving.

    Notes

    Make-Ahead Instructions: Wash and dry the spinach 1 to 2 days in advance. Store the leaves in an airtight container lined with paper towels. Hull the strawberries, but do not slice them. Wait until just before assembling the salad. This will help maintain freshness and prevent the release of excess juices. Prep the candied walnuts in advance and store them in an airtight container. Make the dressing in advance and refrigerate. When you’re ready to enjoy the salad, add all ingredients to a large salad bowl. Toss to combine.

    • Prep Time: 15 Minutes
    • Cook Time: 0 Minutes
    • Category: Salad
    • Method: Toss
    • Cuisine: American
    Gold Line: Sprinkles of Inspiration | confettiandbliss.com

    Strawberry Spinach Salad 👉🏻 Join the Convo

    When the weather heats up, we all crave light cool meals made with fresh seasonal ingredients. What are your favorite summer recipes? What do you think of this summer strawberry salad? Share your thoughts below!

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    11 Comments

    1. This salad was so easy to make and was perfect for using up all the strawberries from my garden! It was delicious for lunch today!






    2. Yummy! What a refreshing and delicious salad! My husband, daughter, and I all loved this salad! Definitely making this again and for our potluck this weekend!