Special Strawberry Spinach Salad
Special Strawberry Spinach Salad is absolutely awesome! It’s a wonderfully satisfying fresh salad that’s bursting with both flavor and color! Juicy, plump strawberries and sliced almonds lay on a bed of spinach. They’re accompanied by a delicious homemade sesame seed and poppy seed dressing. Each bite is mouthwatering!
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This recipe is super easy to make. Seriously, the whole salad and dressing can be made in about 10 minutes. The salad dressing ingredients go in a blender for about 10 seconds and that’s all there is to it. Not only that, but this recipe is healthy, low calorie, gluten free and vegan.
This is another delicious Taste of Home recipe that I first tried for company because it looked so elegant. We’ve made it many times since then and it is one fabulous salad. The dressing is so tasty and the salad very refreshing–especially during hot summer Texas days.
My husband is not all that crazy about eating raw spinach, but it’s growing on him–especially if I hide it in spring mix or other lettuces! But I find ways to make this and other spinach salads on a regular basis. They are so healthy, rich in protein, low calorie and because I just love spinach. He told me the other day that I’ve finally converted him to eating fruit on salads. There’s just nothing quite like it!
When I first posted this recipe in June of 2012 my pictures were of extremely poor quality. I didn’t know anything about camera’s back then, and even less about lighting or presentation. I made this salad again yesterday (January 2015) for some friends in our Sunday school class who just moved into a new home. We’ve always enjoyed this recipe and now you can enjoy what it really looks like with a few better photos.
If you’re looking for a dynamite salad recipe that’s splendid for holiday entertaining or family potlucks, then you’ve come to the right place. Special Strawberry Spinach Salad is special. And, so much more! Give it a try. It’s easy but has just the right crunch and texture for a light summer salad. Your guests will be impressed and come back for seconds!
Special Strawberry Spinach Salad really is special!
This lovely and festive salad is terrific for special occasions like Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.
This close up shows the texture of Special Strawberry Spinach Salad. Three main ingredients: spinach, strawberries and sliced almonds. That’s it!
Here’s what I did.
Place spinach in a bowl. Add sliced strawberries and sliced almonds. Very simple!
Make the dressing.
Place the ingredients in a blender and emulsify about 10 seconds or so.
This dressing is a lot better put in the blender, rather than just being whisked. The onion emulsifies and thickens up the whole dressing providing a lot nicer consistency. This is a double batch of dressing.
Refrigerate dressing until ready to serve and then toss dressing with salad, or spoon on individual servings if desired.
To serve: Drizzle salad dressing over salad.
This is one of the best Spinach Salads we’ve ever eaten.
Special Strawberry Spinach Salad is one scrumptious salad. You will find yourself coming back for more, and more, and more!
Here’s the recipe.
SPECIAL STRAWBERRY SPINACH SALAD
(Recipe adapted from Taste of Home annual recipes, 2000)
Special Strawberry Spinach Salad
Equipment
- 1 large salad bowl with tongs
- 1 sharp knife to cut strawberries
- 1 small cookie sheet to toast almonds
- 1 toaster oven to toast almonds (or use regular oven)
- 1 blender
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- 1 mason jar with lid to store salad dressing until ready to serve
Ingredients
SALAD:
- 9 cups fresh spinach leaves
- 1 pt. fresh strawberries halved
- 1/2 cup almonds slivered, toasted
POPPY SEED DRESSING:
- 1/4 cup avocado oil avocado oil is a much better option (see note below)
- 2 tbsp. granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp. onion chopped
- 1 tsp. poppy seeds
- 1 tsp. sesame seeds
- 1/4 tsp. paprika
- 1/8 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
SALAD:
- In a large bowl, combine the spinach, strawberries and almonds.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Pour salad dressing over salad and toss to coat or drizzle salad dressing over individual servings.
- Serve immediately.
POPPY SEED DRESSING:
- Place dressing ingredients in a blender and emulsify about 10 seconds.
- Refrigerate dressing until ready to serve.
- Pour salad dressing over salad and toss to coat or drizzle salad dressing over individual servings.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Taste of Home.
© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen
Nutrition
- 9 cups fresh spinach leaves
- 1 pint fresh strawberries, halved
- ½ cup slivered almonds, toasted
- In a large bowl, combine the spinach, strawberries and almonds.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Pour salad dressing over salad and toss to coat or drizzle salad dressing over individual servings.
- Serve immediately.
- ¼ cup canola or coconut oil
- 2 tbsp. sugar
- 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp. chopped onion
- 1 tsp. poppy seeds
- 1 tsp. sesame seeds
- ¼ tsp. paprika
- 1/8 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- Place dressing ingredients in a blender and emulsify about 10 seconds.
- Refrigerate dressing until ready to serve.
- Pour salad dressing over salad and toss to coat or drizzle salad dressing over individual servings.
- Serve immediately.
Special Strawberry Spinach Salad is healthy, low calorie, gluten free and vegan.
This nutritious Special Strawberry Spinach Salad is great to make up on hot, sunny, summer days. Good to the last bite!
You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!
Strawberry Blueberry Avocado Salad with Strawberry Poppyseed Vinaigrette
Spinach and Fruit Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
Special Strawberry Spinach Salad
Equipment
- 1 large salad bowl with tongs
- 1 sharp knife to cut strawberries
- 1 small cookie sheet to toast almonds
- 1 toaster oven to toast almonds (or use regular oven)
- 1 blender
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- 1 mason jar with lid to store salad dressing until ready to serve
Ingredients
SALAD:
- 9 cups fresh spinach leaves
- 1 pt. fresh strawberries halved
- 1/2 cup almonds slivered, toasted
POPPY SEED DRESSING:
- 1/4 cup avocado oil avocado oil is a much better option (see note below)
- 2 tbsp. granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp. onion chopped
- 1 tsp. poppy seeds
- 1 tsp. sesame seeds
- 1/4 tsp. paprika
- 1/8 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
SALAD:
- In a large bowl, combine the spinach, strawberries and almonds.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Pour salad dressing over salad and toss to coat or drizzle salad dressing over individual servings.
- Serve immediately.
POPPY SEED DRESSING:
- Place dressing ingredients in a blender and emulsify about 10 seconds.
- Refrigerate dressing until ready to serve.
- Pour salad dressing over salad and toss to coat or drizzle salad dressing over individual servings.
- Serve immediately.
7 Comments
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