This strawberry spinach salad is drizzled with a creamy balsamic dressing. It has a luscious glow. With crisp veggies and fresh fruit, it’s a healthy no-guilt meal. Assemble summer strawberry salad in 15 minutes!
What you’ll love most about this summer strawberry salad: it’s a stress-free recipe. A few hours in advance, prep the components: strawberries, spinach, onions and dressing. Toss everything together just before serving.
What dinner guests love most about this dish: it excites the taste buds! It boasts a variety of fresh seasonal flavors and textures. When dressed, this strawberry spinach salad is crisp, sweet, tangy, creamy and crunchy.
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
- Strawberries
- Mandarin oranges (canned)
- Red onion
- Feta cheese
- Candied walnuts
- Creamy balsamic dressing *
*SALAD DRESSING: Homemade dressing tastes fresher than store-bought. But to save time, reach for a high-quality bottle at the market. A fan favorite: Newman’s Own Balsamic Dressing.
EASY INGREDIENT SUBSTITUTIONS
Missing an ingredient for this strawberry spinach salad? Don’t put on your shoes and head to the store. Instead, check your pantry and fridge for these easy ingredient swaps! This recipe will still taste delicious.
- BABY SPINACH: Substitute arugula, microgreens, or a spring mix.
- STRAWBERRIES: Try fresh raspberries.
- MANDARIN ORANGES: Clementine oranges (like Cuties), cubed pineapple, blueberries, grapes, bananas, sliced peaches lightly drizzled with honey, blueberries, grapes, pear slices, or apple slices.
- RED ONION: For color and flavor, use sliced shallots instead. Another option: colorful bell peppers mixed with green onions.
- FETA CHEESE: Try goat cheese, crumbled Gorgonzola, blue cheese, or Mexican Cotija cheese.
- CANDIED WALNUTS: Great swaps include glazed pecans, and roasted sunflower seeds (salted).
- CREAMY BALSAMIC DRESSING: Poppyseed salad dressing, or the classic combination of oil and vinegar.
ASSEMBLE STRAWBERRY SPINACH SALAD
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.
RECIPE STEPS
- STEP 1: Hull the strawberries (remove green leafy top plus the pale bit of flesh right underneath) with this coring tool. Slice strawberries in half vertically, top-down, from the tip through the middle.
- STEP 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.
- STEP 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.
- STEP 4: Assemble the strawberry spinach salad. Add spinach, strawberries, mandarin orange segments, red onion, feta cheese and a handful of candied walnuts. Gently toss to combine.
HOW TO SERVE SUMMER STRAWBERRY SALAD: If the entire salad will be portioned out and served immediately, drizzle with dressing and toss.
If salad will be served incrementally, do not dress it. Instead, put the bottle of dressing on the side. Each person can serve and dress their own.
RECIPE FAQ
These are the most commonly-asked questions, and the best answers, when prepping a spinach and strawberry salad.
Look for spinach with a dark green color and crisp texture. It should spring back easily when touched.
Avoid batches of spinach that indicate decay: yellowing, wilting, and sliminess.
Stems should be thin. Thick coarse stems indicate overgrown spinach that will have a bitter taste.
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.
If you love the beautiful crunch of red onions in your salad, but are not fond of the aftertaste, this is the best tip ever!
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!
Add a generous squeeze of lemon juice over the top of the salad. The pop of citrus will brighten the flavor and add a taste of sunshine.
For a heartier salad, try fresh basil, English cucumber, chopped avocado, dried cranberries, hard-boiled eggs, Kalamata olives, salted and roasted sunflower seeds, croutons, bacon bits, and grilled chicken.
Pair it with grilled chicken, fish, steak or a baked potato. Serve it alongside a cool pasta salad.
Enjoy it with cheeseburger sliders, teriyaki chicken skewers, and spicy grilled lime shrimp.
It definitely can be. A few hours in advance, wash, hull and slice the strawberries. Pinch off the stems of the spinach leaves. Slice the red onion. Prep homemade balsamic dressing.
Refrigerate all ingredients in separate containers. Just before serving time, assemble the salad.
Prevent a soggy salad by layering the ingredients. Place juicier items on the bottom (strawberries and Mandarin oranges). Add drier ingredients on top (red onion, spinach, feta, and walnuts).
Toss the strawberry spinach salad at the last minute. Keep it cold by setting the bowl over ice. Put the bottle of dressing on the side.
MORE SUMMER SALAD RECIPES!
Ready for more refreshing recipes like this spinach and strawberry salad? Well, I’ve got you covered! Add these tasty salads to your recipe arsenal.
Each is a time-tested family favorite. They’re perfect for picnics, potlucks, Game Day spreads, and family BBQs.
- WATERMELON ARUGULA SALAD
- CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD
- BROCCOLI SALAD WITH BACON
- CUCUMBER SALAD
- CLASSIC MACARONI SALAD
- COLD SPAGHETTI SALAD
- TROPICAL FRUIT SALAD
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Friends and family are in love with this delicious strawberry spinach salad! It adds a festive touch to backyard gatherings and cook-outs.
If you too enjoyed this easy summer recipe, give it a 5-star rating in the comments. And share it with a friend!
Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Total Time: 15 Minutes
- Yield: 6 Servings 1x
Ingredients
- 10 ounces fresh baby spinach
- 1 pound fresh strawberries
- 1 15-ounce can mandarin oranges
- 1/2 small red onion
- 3/4 cup feta cheese
- 3/4 cup candied walnuts
- 1 cup creamy balsamic dressing *
*SALAD DRESSING: Homemade dressing tastes fresher than store-bought. But to save time, reach for a high-quality bottle at the market. A fan favorite: 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Drain off the juices from the canned mandarin oranges.
- Stem and clean fresh spinach. Pinch off the stems and discard them. Rinse leaves in a colander under cool running water to remove grit.
- Assemble the strawberry spinach salad. Add spinach, strawberries, mandarin orange segments, red onion, feta cheese and a handful of candied walnuts. Gently toss to combine.
HOW TO SERVE STRAWBERRY SALAD: 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.
If salad will be served incrementally, do not dress it. Instead, let each person serve and dress their own.
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 0 Minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Toss
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Strawberry Spinach Salad, Summer Strawberry Salad, Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe, Summer Salad, Spinach and Strawberry Salad
STRAWBERRY SPINACH SALAD > JOIN THE CONVERSATION
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!
Strawberries and balsamic are such an epic combination – a beautiful, summery salad – thank you!
★★★★★
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!
★★★★★
What a truly refreshing recipe – love the ingredients!
★★★★★
Fresh, delicious and healthy too – this is a real winner! I’ll be making this recipe all summer long.
★★★★★
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!
★★★★★