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Fresh Strawberry Avocado Spinach Salad Recipe with Easy Poppy Seed Vinaigrette

fresh strawberry avocado spinach salad - featured image
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A fresh, bright salad combining tender spinach, juicy strawberries, creamy avocado, and a tangy, slightly sweet poppy seed vinaigrette. Perfect for a quick, nourishing meal or a light summer dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups fresh baby spinach leaves (about 180 grams)
  • 1 pint ripe strawberries (about 300 grams), sliced
  • 1 large ripe avocado, diced
  • 1 small red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
  • ½ cup toasted pecans or walnuts (about 60 grams)
  • ¼ cup crumbled feta or goat cheese (about 30 grams, optional)
  • ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil (80 ml)
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (45 ml)
  • 2 tablespoons honey (30 ml)
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 small clove minced garlic (optional)

Instructions

  1. Wash and dry the spinach using a salad spinner or pat gently with paper towels.
  2. Rinse, hull, and slice the strawberries into thin pieces or halves.
  3. Cut the avocado in half, remove the pit, and dice into bite-sized cubes. Toss with a splash of lemon juice if prepping ahead to prevent browning.
  4. Peel and thinly slice the red onion into rings (optional). Soak in cold water for 5 minutes if you want to mellow the flavor.
  5. Toast the pecans or walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently. Let cool.
  6. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, salt, pepper, and minced garlic if using until smooth and slightly thickened.
  7. In a large bowl, combine spinach, strawberries, avocado, red onion, and toasted nuts. Drizzle half the vinaigrette and toss gently. Add more dressing if desired.
  8. Sprinkle crumbled feta or goat cheese over the salad just before serving (optional).

Notes

Use ripe but firm avocado to avoid mushiness. Toast nuts carefully over medium heat to prevent burning. Prepare strawberries and avocado close to serving time to keep fresh. Toss salad gently to avoid bruising fruit and greens. For vegan version, replace honey with maple syrup and omit cheese or use dairy-free alternative. Keep dressing separate if making ahead to prevent wilting.

Nutrition

Keywords: strawberry salad, avocado salad, spinach salad, poppy seed vinaigrette, healthy salad, summer salad, quick salad, vegetarian salad, gluten-free salad

Find it online: https://leilameals.com/fresh-strawberry-avocado-spinach-salad-recipe-with-easy-poppy-seed-vinaigrette/