Strawberry Spinach Salad with Feta

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5 from 4 votes

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This easy strawberry spinach salad recipe features sweet strawberries, punchy red onion, salty pistachios, and tangy feta cheese. Serve on top of fresh baby spinach or in your favorite leafy greens mix. 

This recipe is brought to you in partnership with Bushel and Berry®.

A bowl of strawberry spinach salad with feta.

YOU WILL LOVE THIS FRESH SALAD

When ripe strawberries are in their peak season in the summertime, I want to put them in everything. Whether it’s in my beloved strawberry cake, strawberry lemonade bread, strawberry compote, strawberry pretzel pie, or dipped into my favorite fruit dip, there is always something strawberry-y happening in our house during the summer strawberry season.

This summer salad is no different. The combination of tangy, juicy strawberries with crunchy pistachios and creamy feta is absolute perfection. This is a salad you are going to truly enjoy eating and it is sure to be a go-to for summertime get-togethers and BBQs.

A bowl of sliced strawberries.

If you are a salad skeptic (or anyone in your family is), this is definitely the salad for you. It is sweet but not too sweet and loaded with different flavors and textures that make it enjoyable to eat.

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I wrote the recipe to include a balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing. See substitutions and variations below if you’re interested in a different dressing, such as a homemade balsamic dressing or a poppy seed dressing.


STRAWBERRY SPINACH SALAD INGREDIENTS

The fresh ingredients for this strawberry spinach salad recipe are minimal and super simple. You might even have all of these ingredients on hand already. 

Ingredients for spinach salad with text overlay.

For this strawberry salad, you will need:
 spinach or a spinach mix
 fresh strawberries
 red onion
 roasted salted pistachios
 feta crumble
 your favorite balsamic vinaigrette

HOMEMADE DRESSING INGREDIENTS

Prefer a homemade dressing to a store-bought one? No problem!

To make a homemade balsamic vinaigrette: mix together 2 Tablespoons of balsamic vinegar, 2 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 1 clove of minced garlic, and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup until combined. Proceed with dressing instructions per the recipe card below.

HOW TO MAKE THIS SPINACH STRAWBERRY SALAD RECIPE

Place spinach in a large bowl, then top with halved strawberries (don’t forget to wash them!), sliced red onion, pistachios, and feta crumbles, then toss to mix.

Strawberry spinach salad ready to be tossed.

Drizzle 2 Tablespoons of the balsamic vinaigrette onto the salad, then toss to coat.

For best results, serve salad immediately, and store any leftovers covered tightly in the refrigerator. Salad will only last about 1 day before wilting significantly. See below for make-ahead instructions.

SUBSTITUTIONS AND VARIATIONS

FRESH STRAWBERRIES: while my strawberry frosting and strawberry cookies both utilize freeze-dried strawberries to bring the strawberry flavor, unfortunately there is no substitute for fresh strawberries in this salad. Thanks to Bushel and Berry®, I had fresh strawberries available to me when I made this recipe. I particularly like this strawberry plant, Scarlet Belle™, because it produces juicy strawberries all season! It works well planted in patio pots, hanging baskets, or garden beds.

SPINACH: spinach and strawberries go together really well, but you can use any of your favorite leafy greens. I like the spinach mix our grocery stores carry. Half spinach and half arugula would be a great option, too.

PISTACHIOS: roasted and salted pistachios add a unique taste and crunchy texture, but you can substitute the pistachios for other nuts like slivered almonds, toasted pecans, or sunflower seeds. You can even consider making candied almonds if you’re feeling extra fancy (you can also replace the almonds in that recipe for crunchy pecans instead). You may also omit nuts completely or serve on the side to accommodate nut allergies or preferences.

FETA: not everyone is a fan of salty feta cheese, and that is totally ok. You can substitute the feta for any other cheese you prefer. If you like blue cheese, that would taste really great here, too, as would creamy goat cheese. If you don’t want a strong cheese, try shredded mozzarella, pearl mozzarella, or even freshly grated Parmesan.

RED ONION: the red onion here is a zingy, punchy addition that keeps this salad from getting too sweet. To cut the strong flavor, you can use pickled red onion or slice and soak onions in cold water prior to adding to the salad. If you don’t love red onion, try small slices of shallots or green onions instead.

DRESSING: this easy salad recipe is incredibly customizable, and if balsamic vinaigrette dressing isn’t for you, consider a poppyseed dressing or a dijon mustard dressing instead. 

HERBS: for extra flavor, try adding fresh herbs like basil or mint.

HOW TO SERVE THIS SALAD

This simple salad can be served on its own or as a side salad to a larger meal. Here are some ideas to make this salad a meal:

ADD PROTEIN: add your favorite protein to turn this into a heartier, more filling meal. Grilled chicken, tofu, hard boiled eggs, or a simple piece of salmon would go amazingly with this strawberry spinach salad. 

ADD GRAINS: for a vegetarian option, try tossing in some quinoa or even cooked pasta to turn it into a pasta salad.

CAN I MAKE THIS STRAWBERRY SALAD AHEAD OF TIME?

You can definitely assemble this salad ahead of time! Toss together all of the ingredients (except the dressing) and store in the fridge for up to 1 day. Add dressing right before serving. This will ensure that the tender baby spinach stays fresh and doesn’t get soggy.

A bowl of strawberry spinach salad.
A bowl of strawberry spinach salad with feta.
5 from 4 votes
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Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe

This easy strawberry spinach salad recipe features sweet strawberries, punchy red onion, salty pistachios, and tangy feta cheese. Serve on top of fresh baby spinach or in your favorite leafy greens mix. 
Prep Time20 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Recipe Author Lynn April
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 5 ounces (141g) spinach mix or desired leafy greens
  • 8 ounces (227g) fresh strawberries halved (about 2 cups when halved)
  • ½ small red onion thinly sliced
  • ¾ cup (84g) roasted salted pistachios1 coarsely chopped
  • ½ cup (28g) feta crumbles
  • 2 Tablespoons (30mL) balsamic vinaigrette2

Instructions

  • Place spinach in a large bowl, then top with halved strawberries, sliced red onion, pistachios, and feta crumbles. Toss to mix.
  • Drizzle the balsamic vinaigrette3 onto the salad, then toss to coat. Serve salad immediately, and store any leftovers covered tightly in the refrigerator. Salad will only last about 1 day. To make ahead: toss together all ingredients and store in the refrigerator up to 1 day. Add dressing right before serving.

Notes

  1. Pistachios: be sure you’re getting shelled pistachios and aren’t using raw. If you use unsalted, be aware you may need to add salt to your salad. Roasted salted have the best texture and flavor.
  2. Balsamic vinaigrette: if you’d rather make your own, combine 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 2 Tablespoons olive oil, 1 clove of minced garlic, and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup and mix until combined.
  3. Add dressing: you can also leave the dressing off of the salad and serve it on the side.
  4. Make it a meal: serve with grilled chicken breasts or salmon on top to turn this into the main dish.
Did you make this recipe?Mention @freshaprilflours on Instagram or tag #freshaprilflours!

Nutrition Disclosure

All nutritional values are approximate and provided to the reader as a courtesy. Changing ingredients and/or quantities will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 159kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 207mg | Potassium: 368mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2337IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 2mg

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