Prepare for Compliments! Make the BEST Strawberry Spinach Salad (A Potluck Favorite!)

Looking for a salad that’s fresh, vibrant, and guaranteed to disappear fast? Look no further than this incredibly popular Strawberry Spinach Salad! It’s the kind of dish that brightens any table and proves that healthy can be absolutely delicious.

This recipe has a legendary origin story – it was first shared after stopping conversations (and demanding recipe requests!) at a potluck. Since then, it’s been made and loved by over 3,600 home cooks and consistently earns rave reviews. Even better? It’s a fantastic way to get even the pickiest eaters excited about eating their greens!

Get ready to add this irresistible salad to your recipe rotation.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Crowd-Pleaser: With nearly 3,000 perfect ratings, you know this salad is a winner. People will ask for the recipe!
• Kid-Friendly: The sweetness of the strawberries and the delicious dressing make spinach appealing even to little ones.
• Simple & Quick Prep: Just 10 minutes of active time is all you need to get this salad ready.
• Burst of Flavor: The tangy-sweet poppy seed dressing perfectly complements the fresh spinach, juicy strawberries, and crunchy almonds.
• Beautiful Presentation: The vibrant red and green colors make this salad a showstopper.
• Tested & Approved: This recipe has been tested by the Allrecipes Test Kitchen and thousands of home cooks!

Ingredients

Gather these simple ingredients to create this fantastic salad:

For the Irresistible Poppy Seed Dressing:

• ½ cup white sugar
• ½ cup olive oil
• ¼ cup distilled white vinegar
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
• 1 tablespoon minced onion
• ¼ teaspoon paprika
• ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

For the Vibrant Strawberry Spinach Salad:

• 1 quart fresh strawberries, cleaned, hulled, and sliced
• 10 ounces fresh spinach, rinsed, thoroughly dried, and torn into bite-sized pieces
• ¼ cup blanched slivered almonds

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Step-by-Step Instructions

Making this delicious salad is a breeze! Just follow these simple steps:

1. Gather Your Ingredients: Lay out all your dressing and salad components so they are ready to go. (Add photo placeholder: Image of ingredients laid out)
2. Whisk the Dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, olive oil, vinegar, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, minced onion, paprika, and Worcestershire sauce until everything is well combined.  
3. Chill the Dressing: Cover the bowl of dressing and place it in the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully. (Add photo placeholder: Image of dressing being whisked or in a bowl)
4. Prepare the Salad Base: While the dressing chills, combine the sliced strawberries, torn spinach leaves, and slivered almonds in a large salad bowl. (Add photo placeholder: Image of strawberries, spinach, and almonds in a bowl)
5. Dress the Salad: Just before serving (after the initial chill), pour the chilled dressing over the salad mixture.
6. Toss to Coat: Gently toss the salad until all the spinach, strawberries, and almonds are lightly coated with the dressing. (Add photo placeholder: Image of salad being tossed)
7. Chill Briefly Before Serving: For best results and texture, refrigerate the dressed salad for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to marry and the spinach to crisp slightly. (Add photo placeholder: Image of the finished salad in a serving bowl)

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You Must Know

For the best possible Strawberry Spinach Salad, keep these key tips in mind:

• Dry Your Greens: Ensure your spinach is completely dry after rinsing. Excess water will dilute the dressing and make your salad soggy. A salad spinner is your best friend here!
• Don’t Dress Too Early: Only add the dressing just before you plan to serve (allowing for the final 10-15 minute chill). Dressing the salad too far in advance will cause the spinach to wilt.
• Chilling is Key: Don’t skip the chilling steps! Chilling the dressing allows the flavors to develop, and briefly chilling the dressed salad enhances the texture and flavor combination.

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Make Ahead and Storage

This salad is best enjoyed fresh, but you can definitely get a head start:

• Dressing: The poppy seed dressing can be made up to a week in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. In fact, making it ahead often improves the flavor!
• Salad Components: Wash and dry the spinach and prepare the strawberries and almonds a few hours beforehand. Store them separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator.
• Combining: Do not combine the spinach, strawberries, and almonds until you are ready to dress the salad.
• Storing Leftovers: Dressed salad does not store well as the spinach will wilt. It’s best to try and only dress the amount of salad you expect to eat. If you have leftover undressed components, store them separately in the fridge for 1-2 days.

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Seasonal Variations

Customize your Strawberry Spinach Salad throughout the year or based on your preferences:

• Berries: Swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or a mix of your favorite berries.
• Nuts: Try pecans, walnuts, or even candied nuts for extra crunch and sweetness. Toasted nuts add another layer of flavor!
• Add-ins: Elevate your salad with crumbled feta or goat cheese, thinly sliced red onion, diced avocado, or cooked and crumbled bacon.
• Protein Boost: Turn it into a main course by adding grilled chicken, shrimp, or salmon.

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Serving Suggestions

This versatile salad pairs beautifully with a variety of dishes:

• Alongside grilled meats like chicken, steak, or pork.
• With fish or seafood.
• As a fresh side for sandwiches, wraps, or quiches.
• Perfect for picnics, BBQs, potlucks, and summer gatherings.
• Served with a light soup for a complete meal.

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No Cooking Required!

One of the best things about this Strawberry Spinach Salad? It requires absolutely no cooking! It’s a refreshing and easy option for hot days or whenever you want a delicious, homemade dish without turning on the stove or oven.

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Pro Tips

• Quality Ingredients: Use fresh, ripe strawberries and the freshest spinach you can find for the best flavor and texture.
• Salad Spinner: Seriously, invest in one if you don’t have it. It makes drying spinach so much easier and more effective.
• Taste and Adjust: Before dressing the salad, give the dressing a quick taste and adjust the sweetness or tanginess to your preference by adding a little more sugar or vinegar if needed.
• Gentle Toss: Be gentle when tossing the salad to avoid bruising the spinach and strawberries.
• Nut Topping: Consider toasting your slivered almonds lightly in a dry pan for a few minutes until fragrant before adding them to the salad for enhanced flavor (optional!).

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I use frozen strawberries or spinach? No, this recipe relies on the fresh texture and vibrant flavor of raw spinach and fresh strawberries. Frozen alternatives will result in a watery and mushy salad.
• Is this dressing vegan or gluten-free? The dressing is naturally gluten-free. For a vegan dressing, double-check your Worcestershire sauce label as some contain anchovies. Most other ingredients are typically vegan-friendly.
• Can I reduce the sugar in the dressing? Yes, you can experiment with slightly reducing the sugar, but keep in mind the sugar is key to balancing the vinegar and making the dressing appealing, especially for encouraging kids to eat spinach. Start by reducing by 1-2 tablespoons and taste.
• What kind of olive oil should I use? A light or extra virgin olive oil works well. Use one with a flavor you enjoy.

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Ready to try the Strawberry Spinach Salad that everyone raves about? Make it today and see why it’s a true classic!

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