Fresh Spinach Salad with Strawberries and Crumbled Goat Cheese topped with a delicious Poppy Seed Vinaigrette! An easy, airy salad that’s perfect for an easy lunch or as a big hit at any party!
Loaded with fresh spinach, juicy sweet strawberries, some creamy, crumbled goat cheese, candied almonds, and a tangy and sweet poppy seed vinaigrette– this Strawberry Spinach Salad is here to solve all your first world problems! Need a last-minute healthy dinner option? Add some Strawberry Basil Chicken or Lemon Salmon to pair with this salad for a complete meal. Need an Easter side dish? Summer cooking with friends? Easy lunch for the week? This fresh spinach salad has you covered in so many ways!
As a nutritionist, salads are an integral part of my diet. Loaded with antioxidants and fiber, salads are the best accompaniment to any meal! I love inventing fun new flavors and experimenting with different salad dressings. Sweet Basil Vinaigrette and Smoked Tomato Vinaigrette are some of my favorites!
This salad is no different! We use seasonal strawberries for a sweet taste that goes well with goat cheese, and a poppyseed vinaigrette that comes together in minutes!
Ingredients for Fresh Spinach Salad with Strawberries and Goat Cheese
This is what we need for the salad:
- Fresh Spinach
- Strawberry
- Goat cheese crumbled
- Candied almonds
This is what we need for the Poppy Seed Vinaigrette:
- Avocado oil or olive oil
- Red wine vinegar
- Dijon mustard
- Chopped shallots
- Garlic
- Poppy seeds
- Darling
This salad comes together very easily by combining the salad ingredients in a large bowl. Use a blender or food processor to blend the sauce.
To elevate this salad
Let’s talk about the candied almonds…..I love adding a little extra to this salad! It’s not necessary, but it’s a fun way to elevate this salad. You can buy store-bought candied almonds, or make your own. For this, I warm 1/4 cup honey on the stove and then stir in 2 tablespoons brown sugar and sea salt. I tossed in the almonds, then spread them out on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes at 325 and let cool before adding to the salad.
Serving and Storing Strawberry Spinach Salad
My favorite additions to serve with this salad are simple grilled chicken or flank steak. You can also include whole grains like farro or quinoa for a healthier meal.
This salad won’t store well if it’s covered. It’s best to store the poppyseed vinaigrette separately (up to 3 weeks!) and combine the ingredients when ready to serve.
Another salad you will love!
Fresh Spinach Salad with Strawberries and Crushed Goat Cheese
This simple Fresh Spinach Salad with Strawberries and Crushed Goat Cheese goes together so quickly for a simple lunch or side dish! Topped with Poppy Seed Vinaigrette, this salad is sure to be a hit!
prep time 10 minute
Portion 4
Ingredients
For salads:
-
10
ounce
Fresh baby spinach -
1
quart
fresh Strawberries,
peeled and sliced -
3/4
cup
Goat cheese crumbled -
3/4
cup
Candied almonds*,
chopped
For the poppy seed vinaigrette:
-
1/4
cup
Red wine vinegar -
2
tbsp
Chopped shallots -
1
Clove
Garlic,
chopped -
2
tsp
Dijon mustard -
2
tbsp
Darling -
1/2
cup
Avocado oil or olive oil -
2
tbsp
Poppy seeds - A pinch of sea salt
Instructions
Make the sauce: in a food processor, combine all the ingredients except the poppy seeds. Pulse until well mixed, add poppy seeds.
Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, add the spinach. Pour about half the sauce over the spinach and judge the amount of sauce you want the spinach to be well coated with not swimming in the sauce! You may need to add a little more. Top with strawberries, goat cheese and almonds. Drizzle with a little sauce. If saving this salad for later, save it without dressing.
Recipe Notes
*See blog post above on how to make candied almonds yourself. You can also use regular almonds or store-bought almonds.