Strawberry Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese Recipe
A fresh and vibrant Strawberry Spinach Salad featuring baby spinach, sweet strawberries, tangy goat cheese, and crunchy pecans, all tossed in a zesty lemon poppy seed balsamic dressing. Perfect for a quick, healthy meal or a light side dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 5 cups (5.3 ounces / 150g) baby spinach
- 8 ounces (225g) strawberries, sliced or halved
- 5.3 ounces (150g) fresh goat cheese, crumbled
- 4 tablespoons pecans, crushed
Dressing Ingredients
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) olive oil
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- Zest of 1 lemon, non-treated
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon zest, lemon juice, poppy seeds, salt, and freshly ground pepper vigorously until the dressing is well emulsified. Alternatively, you can place all the dressing ingredients in a covered jar and shake vigorously. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
- Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine the baby spinach, sliced or halved strawberries, crumbled goat cheese, and crushed pecans.
- Toss the salad: Drizzle the prepared dressing evenly over the salad ingredients, then gently toss everything together until well combined and evenly coated with dressing.
- Serve immediately: Serve the salad fresh to maintain the crispness of the spinach and the vibrancy of the strawberries.
Notes
- Use fresh, firm strawberries for the best texture and flavor.
- For a nut-free version, omit pecans or substitute with toasted seeds like sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
- Adjust the amount of lemon juice and balsamic vinegar to balance acidity to your taste.
- This salad is best served immediately to prevent the spinach from wilting.
- To add protein, consider topping with grilled chicken or chickpeas if desired.
