HOW TO SELECT FRESH SPINACH?

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.

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 TAKE THE BITE OUT OF RAW RED ONION?

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!

HOW TO BRIGHTEN THE FLAVOR OF THIS SUMMER SALAD?

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.

MORE ADD-INS FOR SUMMER STRAWBERRY SALAD?

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.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH STRAWBERRY SPINACH SALAD?

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 .

IS THIS A MAKE-AHEAD RECIPE?

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.

HOW TO ASSEMBLE THIS SALAD IN ADVANCE?

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.

Strawberry Spinach Salad | Quick Easy Recipe!

Strawberry Spinach Salad

★★★★★

5 from 5 reviews

Author: Denay DeGuzman
Total Time: 15 Minutes
Yield: 6 Servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale

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.

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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.