Strawberry Spinach Salad

This is the BEST Strawberry Spinach Salad, and it has a dressing that We could chug. If you’re in a salad rut, trust us: this one will make it into your rotation. The magic is in the dressing and in the prep. By dicing up the veggies small, you’ll get a tender, flavorful bite every time. Also, keep in mind that this recipe makes one large portion (or two small) and there’s no exact recipe so you can add as much or as little veggies as you like.

What stands out

Our salad trick is to slice up everything thinly, that way every bite is tender, bright and has all the ingredients! This Strawberry Spinach Salad is bright and fresh, crisp and light. We're telling you, everyone will love it and it’s a great, healthy side dish for so many mains.

How to Prepare Strawberry Spinach Salad

First, slice the cucumber using a sharp knife. We like to cut it in half, make thin slices down those halves and chop across.

Now, finely dice the chives, and thinly slice a small bundle of spinach. Slice and dice the strawberries and add all the veggies to a bowl.

Optionally, you can toast some walnuts or pecans in a pan on the stove for a few minutes.

Now, make the dressing in a mason jar or a separate bowl.

Then, add olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard with honey and salt and pepper to taste.

Finally, give everything a stir or a shake and then pour it on top of the veggies. Toss and enjoy.

Kitchen tip

Our salad trick is to slice up everything thinly with a sharp knife that way, every bite of this Strawberry Spinach Salad is tender, bright and has all the ingredients!

Swaps

This is a great salad that’s easily adaptable to your dietary lifestyle.

1. If you are plant-based we would suggest you use regular Dijon mustard and add maple syrup or agave to it instead of honey.
2. You can also add any protein such as hard-boiled eggs, chicken, shrimp, salmon or chickpeas into this salad.
3. Other toppings ideas: avocados, feta, goat cheese or pecans. The options are endless!

Serve it with

• This Strawberry Spinach Salad is a BBQ side dish wonder! Serve it with Grilled Chicken ThighsGrilled Shimp Skewers or the best Grilled Salmon Skewers.
• Additionally, you can add simple poached or fried eggs for a straightforward lunch.

Questions

What’s your trick for slicing everything so thinly?

A sharp knife, a sturdy mark cutting board and a foolproof technique are the secret to thin slices. If you’d like more info, then please check out our full tutorial here: a strong How to Thinly Slice Lettuce. We think it’s worth the extra effort in this Strawberry Spinach Salad. br

how do we toast walnuts properly?

It’s simple to toast nuts on the stove top and the results are fabulous. First, heat a dry, non-stick mark skillet over medium heat. Then, add the nuts in a single layer and stir until they start to release a beautiful nutty aroma. Watch closely to avoid burning, they go fast!

What else can we use this dressing on?

This dressing will be your go-to! It’s such a great “house dressing”, we use it in any salad and also to marinate chicken or fish, too. We love to make a big batch and then store it in a jar in the fridge so it’s ready to go all week long.

Any other topping ideas for this Strawberry Spinach Salad?

The options are endless, really. Try also adding juicy peaches or avocado slices or even a can of tuna. For protein, we like to top it with sliced cooked chicken or steak, or hard-boiled eggs.

WOuld cheese work in this Strawberry Spinach Salad?

IMO cheese works in practically everything! You also could top this salad with tangy goat cheese or feta crumbles for great flavour.

What can we use instead of honey?

In this salad dressing, you can certainly adjust by swapping with regular dijon mustard and adding a drizzle of maple syrup or agave, instead.

Ingredients

Makes 2 servings

For the Salad

• ½ English cucumber, finely diced
• ¼ cup chives, finely diced
• 1 bunch baby spinach (3-4 cups), finely sliced
• 1 cup strawberries (10), finely diced
• 6 whole walnuts⠀⠀⠀, toasted

The Dressing

• 2 tablespoons olive oil, add more if needed
• 1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar, any acidity works
• 1 tablespoon honey dijon mustard
• ¼ teaspoon salt, to taste
• ¼ teaspoon pepper, to taste

Equipment

• Cutting Board
• Mixing Bowls
• Nakiri Knife
• Redmond Real Salt
• Ceramic Pans

Method

1. Start by chopping all of your vegetables as small as you possibly can. Cut the cucumber in half and make thin slices down those halves and shop across.
2. Finely dice the chives, and thinly slice a small bundle of spinach. Slice and dice the strawberries and optionally you can toast some walnuts or pecans on the stove for a few minutes.
3. Add everything to a bowl and in a mason jar or a separate bowl you can make the dressing. You can keep tasting and adjusting the dressing accordingly.
4. Add olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard with honey and salt and pepper to taste. If you can’t have honey please use regular Dijon mustard and mix it with a little bit of maple syrup or agave.
5. Give everything a stir or a shake and pour it on top. Mix and enjoy.