Description
A refreshing, lightning-fast salad combining fresh baby spinach, sweet strawberries, salty feta, and crunchy candied pecans with a tangy balsamic vinaigrette. Perfect for a light lunch or side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 ounces (140g) fresh baby spinach
- 1 pint (450g) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- ½ cup (60g) feta cheese, crumbled
- ½ cup (60g) candied pecans, toasted
- ¼ medium red onion, thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons (45ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash and hull the strawberries, then slice them into thin half-moons or quarters. Pat them dry gently to remove excess moisture.
- In a small bowl or jar, combine the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Whisk vigorously or shake until emulsified. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- If making candied pecans from scratch, toast pecans in a skillet with butter and brown sugar until coated and fragrant. If using store-bought, toast lightly in a dry pan for 1 minute to enhance flavor.
- Thinly slice the red onion. For a milder flavor, soak slices in ice water for 10 minutes, then drain and pat dry.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the baby spinach, sliced strawberries, crumbled feta, red onion, and candied pecans.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently with tongs or large spoons to coat without bruising the leaves.
- Serve immediately while the spinach is crisp and nuts are crunchy.
Notes
Do not dress the salad too early as spinach wilts quickly when exposed to acid. Store components separately in the refrigerator for up to 2 days and keep dressing in a jar for up to 1 week. Do not freeze this salad.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 280
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 6
Keywords: spring salad, strawberry spinach salad, light lunch, healthy salad, balsamic vinaigrette, quick recipes, gluten-free salad