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Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe Easy with Candied Pecans and Poppy Seed Dressing

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A fresh and vibrant salad combining sweet strawberries, crisp baby spinach, crunchy candied pecans, and creamy feta cheese, all tossed in a homemade poppy seed dressing. Perfect for a quick, light, and satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups (180g) fresh baby spinach, washed and dried
  • 2 cups (300g) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 1 cup (120g) candied pecans
  • ¼ cup (40g) red onion, thinly sliced
  • ½ cup (75g) feta cheese, crumbled
  • ¼ cup (60ml) mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons (30g) Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) honey
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon (9g) poppy seeds
  • 1 teaspoon (5ml) Dijon mustard
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons (30g) unsalted butter (for candied pecans)
  • ¼ cup (50g) brown sugar (for candied pecans)
  • 1 cup (120g) pecan halves (for candied pecans)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the candied pecans: In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter. Stir in ¼ cup brown sugar until dissolved and bubbling gently. Add 1 cup pecan halves and toss to coat evenly. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until pecans are golden and caramelized. Spread on parchment paper to cool and harden.
  2. Make the poppy seed dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together ¼ cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon poppy seeds, and 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Chill until ready to use.
  3. Prep the salad ingredients: Wash and dry 6 cups baby spinach leaves thoroughly. Hull and slice 2 cups fresh strawberries. Thinly slice ¼ cup red onion. Crumble ½ cup feta cheese.
  4. Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine baby spinach, sliced strawberries, and red onion. Add the candied pecans and crumbled feta cheese.
  5. Toss with dressing: Drizzle the poppy seed dressing over the salad. Toss gently but thoroughly to coat evenly. Taste and add more dressing if needed, but avoid overdressing.
  6. Serve immediately to keep spinach crisp and pecans crunchy.

Notes

Do not overdress the salad to keep spinach crisp. Dry spinach thoroughly before assembling. Use ripe strawberries for best flavor. Watch heat carefully when making candied pecans to avoid burning. Dressing tastes better after chilling for a few hours. Store candied pecans separately to maintain crunch. For dairy-free or vegan versions, substitute mayonnaise and Greek yogurt with vegan alternatives and omit cheese or use nutritional yeast.

Nutrition

Keywords: strawberry spinach salad, candied pecans, poppy seed dressing, fresh salad, easy salad recipe, healthy salad, quick salad

Find it online: https://breezybake.com/fresh-strawberry-spinach-salad-recipe-easy-with-candied-pecans-and-poppy-seed-dressing/