Easy Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe: Tasty Summer Delight

Strawberry spinach salad bursts with vibrant colors and unexpected flavor combinations that dance across your palate.

Fresh ingredients refine an ordinary meal into a spectacular culinary experience.

Light and refreshing, this dish celebrates seasonal produce with remarkable simplicity.

Crisp greens mingle with sweet, juicy berries, creating a harmonious balance of textures and tastes.

Nutrient-packed components offer a delightful approach to healthy eating that never compromises on satisfaction.

Quick preparation means you can enjoy a gourmet-style meal without spending hours in the kitchen.

Each forkful promises a delightful blend of bright, tangy, and verdant elements that will elevate your dining moment.

Strawberry Spinach Salad That Comes Together Fast

• Whip Up a Quick Delight: This 15-minute strawberry spinach salad delivers a gourmet experience in less time than it takes to watch a TV show, perfect for busy food lovers who crave restaurant-quality meals at home.
• Burst with Fresh Flavor Combinations: The sweet-tangy balsamic glaze perfectly complements the juicy strawberries, creating a vibrant taste profile that dances between sharp feta cheese, earthy spinach, and crunchy toasted pecans.
• Master a Simple Gourmet Technique: Making your own balsamic glaze transforms an ordinary salad into an elegant dish, allowing home cooks to feel like professional chefs with minimal cooking skills and basic ingredients.
• Healthy Meets Delicious: Packed with nutrient-rich spinach, antioxidant-loaded berries, and protein-packed nuts, this salad offers a balanced meal that tastes indulgent while supporting overall wellness.

Ingredients That Make This Salad Pop

• Baby Spinach: Fresh, tender leaves with a mild earthy flavor, great for nutrient-packed salads.
• Strawberries: Sweet, juicy berries that add bright color and natural sweetness to the salad.
• Blueberries: Small, antioxidant-rich berries that provide bursts of flavor and extra nutrition.

• Feta Cheese: Crumbly, tangy Greek cheese that adds creamy texture and sharp flavor.
• Pecans: Crunchy, buttery nuts that bring rich, toasted flavor and additional protein.

• Balsamic Vinegar: Dark, sweet-tart vinegar that creates a rich reduction sauce.
• Honey: Natural sweetener that helps balance the vinegar's acidity and creates glaze consistency.

How to Assemble Strawberry Spinach Salad in Minutes

Step 1: Create Tangy Balsamic Reduction

• Balsamic vinegar
• Honey

In a small saucepan, combine balsamic vinegar and honey over medium heat. Stir the mixture while bringing it to a gentle boil. Reduce heat and let it simmer, stirring occasionally. Watch the liquid transform into a thick, glossy syrup. This process takes about 10 minutes. The glaze should coat the back of a spoon smoothly. Remove from heat and transfer to a heat-proof bowl. Allow the reduction to cool and thicken naturally.

Step 2: Prepare Vibrant Salad Base

• Baby spinach leaves
• Fresh strawberries
• Blueberries
• Feta cheese
• Toasted pecans

Wash and dry the spinach leaves. Slice strawberries into delicate pieces. Crumble the feta cheese into small chunks. In a large mixing bowl, gently combine spinach, strawberries, blueberries, and feta. Toss the ingredients with a light touch to keep the salad looking fresh.

Step 3: Finish And Serve

Divide the salad into individual serving bowls. Sprinkle whole and chopped toasted pecans over each portion. Just before serving, drizzle the cooled balsamic reduction generously across the top. The warm, glossy reduction will complement the cool, crisp salad perfectly. Serve immediately to enjoy the maximum flavor and texture.

Quick Tips for a Balanced and Fresh Taste

• Chill Ingredients: Ensure spinach and berries are cold from the refrigerator for maximum crispness and refreshing flavor.
• Toast Pecans Perfectly: Quickly toast pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning and enhance their nutty flavor.
• Drizzle Glaze Wisely: Apply balsamic glaze just before serving to maintain salad's texture and prevent wilting of delicate spinach leaves.
• Slice Strawberries Strategically: Cut strawberries into thin, uniform slices for even distribution and a more elegant presentation.
• Make Glaze Ahead: Prepare balsamic glaze in advance and store in the refrigerator for up to a week, saving time during meal preparation.

Storing This Salad Without Soggy Greens

• Refrigeration: Store salad components separately in airtight containers. Keep spinach, fruits, and cheese in different sealed containers to maintain freshness for up to 2 days.
• Pecans: Store toasted pecans in a separate sealed container at room temperature to prevent sogginess and preserve their crunch.
• Balsamic Glaze: Transfer remaining glaze to a glass jar with a tight lid and refrigerate for up to one week. Gently warm in microwave or let sit at room temperature before drizzling.

Perfect Pairings for Strawberry Spinach Salad

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: Complement the sweet and tangy salad with a chilled Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, which will enhance the fresh strawberry and balsamic flavors while cutting through the creamy feta.
• Match with Grilled Protein: Add a light grilled chicken breast or seared salmon to transform this salad into a complete meal, balancing the sweet berries and nutty pecans with protein.
• Serve with Crusty Bread: Accompany the salad with a slice of rustic sourdough or a warm baguette to soak up the delicious balsamic glaze and provide a satisfying textural contrast.
• Finish with Sparkling Water: Refresh the palate with a citrus-infused sparkling water that cleanses the taste buds between bites and highlights the salad's vibrant ingredients.

Bright and Bold Salad Variations to Consider

• Summer Berry Burst: Replace blueberries with raspberries and add mandarin orange segments for a vibrant, citrusy kick that brightens the entire salad.
• Mediterranean Remix: Swap feta for goat cheese, incorporate sliced kalamata olives, and sprinkle dried oregano for a Greek-inspired flavor profile that transforms the classic recipe.
• Protein Power Upgrade: Add grilled chicken strips or sliced almonds to increase protein content, making the salad more substantial and perfect for a complete meal option.
• Winter Warm Transition: Substitute fresh strawberries with roasted pears, include toasted walnuts instead of pecans, and drizzle with a warm honey mustard glaze for a cozy seasonal adaptation.

15-Minute Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe

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4.6 from 21 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Strawberry spinach salad delivers Mediterranean-inspired freshness with minimal effort. Crisp spinach leaves mingle with juicy strawberries, tangy feta, and crunchy almonds, creating a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 10 ounces (283 grams) fresh baby spinach
• 3 cups (450 grams) strawberries, cleaned, hulled, and sliced
• 1 cup (150 grams) blueberries
• 1 cup (100 grams) pecans, toasted (some chopped, some whole)

Cheese Ingredient:

• ⅓ cup (50 grams) feta cheese, crumbled

Dressing Ingredients:

• 1 cup (240 milliliters) balsamic vinegar
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) honey or brown sugar

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Instructions

1. Create a rich, syrupy balsamic reduction by gently heating balsamic vinegar and honey in a small saucepan, stirring periodically until the liquid becomes glossy and slightly thickened.
2. Allow the balsamic glaze to cool naturally, observing how it transforms into a more viscous consistency that will elegantly coat salad ingredients.
3. Select crisp, vibrant baby spinach leaves as the salad’s verdant foundation, ensuring they are thoroughly washed and delicately dried.
4. Slice ripe strawberries into elegant, uniform pieces that will complement the spinach’s delicate texture.
5. Incorporate plump blueberries to introduce bursts of sweet-tart flavor and vibrant color into the salad composition.
6. Crumble tangy feta cheese across the greens, creating delightful pockets of creamy richness throughout the dish.
7. Carefully toast pecans in a dry skillet, releasing their nutty aroma and enhancing their natural crunch, then roughly chop to distribute evenly.
8. Gently combine spinach, strawberries, blueberries, and feta in a spacious mixing bowl, ensuring ingredients are delicately intermingled without bruising.
9. Transfer the salad into individual serving vessels, artfully arranging the components.
10. Sprinkle chopped and whole toasted pecans across the salad for textural contrast.
11. Finish by drizzling the cooled balsamic glaze in an elegant, zigzag pattern just moments before serving to preserve the salad’s crisp integrity.

Notes

• Quick salad that bursts with fresh, vibrant flavors ready in just 15 minutes.
• Homemade balsamic glaze adds a rich, sweet-tangy depth that elevates the entire dish.
• Toasting pecans brings out their nutty aroma and provides a delightful crunch to the salad.
• Feta cheese creates a creamy, salty contrast against the sweet berries and leafy spinach.
• Make the balsamic glaze ahead of time and store in the refrigerator for up to a week for easy meal prep.
• Swap ingredients like goat cheese or candied walnuts to customize the salad to your taste preferences.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 370
• Sugar: 22 g
• Sodium: 160 mg
• Fat: 26 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 34 g
• Fiber: 5 g
• Protein: 7 g
• Cholesterol: 15 mg