This Strawberry Spinach Salad has a Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing that is a perfect pairing for a salad. (Sometimes, we add sliced grill chicken to make this salad a healthy and complete meal.) The homemade balsamic vinaigrette, with poppy seed, is the perfect balance of a little sweet and a little tart, and just a hint of garlic.
I’m updating this post with newer photos at the same time that I made a printable recipe card with my new format.
Original post date was 2009.
Living in the Salinas Valley (California) we are fortunate to have easy access to locally grown vegetables and berries almost year-round. My favorite berry, on the planet, is strawberries. If you peruse through my recipe index, or use my search bar and type “strawberry“, you’ll see that I’ve posted dozens of recipes using these sweet, red, juice berries.
It’s the Balsamic Vinaigrette that is the star of this show, as far as flavor. I make this dressing often, and I love it every single time. I whisked the oil in to emulsify it. Wow! Delish!
This photo is from 2009. Isn’t this a pretty salad? I added red onion and Gorgonzola cheese. I decided not to add bacon, but you certainly could.
UPDATE: I also like to substitute feta cheese and pickled red onion.
That dressing pairs so beautifully with the sweetness from the strawberries. I am addicted to this salad. Sometimes, I season a chicken breast, grill and slice it atop this salad. This makes a delicious and healthy meal.
TASTING NOTES: Served as a side dish, the strawberries are a wonderful change to traditional tomatoes. Spinach is loaded with so much nutrients and fiber, that I feel good about eating it. As a main meal, we like grilled chicken to make this salad a satisfying meal. The dressing would taste good on any salad, too!
Strawberry Spinach Salad with a Balsamic Poppyseed Vinaigrette Dressing
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 6 cups Baby spinach 1 cup per serving
- 2 pints Fresh Strawberries sliced
- ½ cup Gorgonzola cheese crumbled (or Danish Blue Cheese) or Feta Cheese
- 1 small Red onion thinly sliced (we also like pickled red onion)
- 1 cup Grape tomatoes halved (optional, we don't use)
- 3 slices Bacon cooked and crumbled (optional)
For the vinaigrette:
- 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons light brown sugar
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 teaspoons poppy seeds
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Assemble the salad ingredients. NOTE: You can add avocado for this. Interpret your salad ingredients to your liking.
- In a small bowl, mix together the first 6 ingredients of the dressing. Slowly add the olive oil, while whisking vigorously to create an emulsion.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
Nutrition
So glad you ended up getting to eat with your brother. This salad looks perfect and festive. I love strawberry salads. Oh, and those strawberries and waffles look AMAZING. Mmm, I wish I could have that for breakfast tomorrow 🙂
I dont know which I like better the waffles or the salad. They both look utterly delicious!
That looks delicious! I love the combination!
The meal sounds delicious and this salad so beautiful and colorful.
I can’t wait to see the other recipes- the french fries and cake to be more exact!
Glad you had such an awesome Easter!
The strawberry salad and dressing looks amazing. I love poppy seeds too!
Deb,
We pay $5.88 for ONE basket of Driscoll strawberries!
Beautiful salad!
Thats a beautiful salad, I can’t wait to try it!
I am so jealous of your herbs! My lavender hasn’t bloomed yet. And the salad looks gorgeous. And strawberries with a savory dressing? Very interesting!
Great looking salad! My MIL does a similar salad all the time that we totally swoon over. Glad to hear you had a nice Easter!
i love love spinach and stawberry salad! And your strawberry waffle looks amazing…making me crave for strawberry waffles right this second!!!
check my version of spinach and strawberry salad out:it’s funny I also took a picture of the stawberries in a clear bowl…arent they just so pretty to photograph?