Description
This vibrant Strawberry Spinach Salad combines fresh spinach with juicy strawberries, creamy avocado, tangy feta, and crunchy toasted almonds and pistachios. It is perfectly dressed with a homemade strawberry balsamic vinaigrette, making it a refreshing, flavorful, and nutritious lunch or side dish ideal for summer.
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 1 package (5 ounces) organic spinach
- 8 ounces strawberries, halved (about 2 cups halved strawberries)
- 1 large avocado, sliced
- ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup feta crumbles
- ⅓ cup raw sliced almonds
- ¼ cup chopped shelled roasted pistachios
For the Balsamic Strawberry Vinaigrette:
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, grated or finely minced
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ tablespoon strawberry jam (or jam of choice)
- Freshly ground salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Dressing: In a mason jar or small bowl, combine balsamic vinegar, olive oil, grated garlic, Dijon mustard, strawberry jam, salt, and pepper. Shake or mix well until fully emulsified. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Toast the Almonds: Heat a dry skillet over medium heat, then add the raw sliced almonds. Stir occasionally for 2-5 minutes until the almonds turn slightly golden and fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large bowl, add the organic spinach as the base. Layer the halved strawberries, sliced avocado, thinly sliced red onion, crumbled feta, toasted almonds, and chopped pistachios evenly over the spinach.
- Dress and Serve: Either drizzle the salad with the prepared strawberry balsamic vinaigrette now or serve the dressing on the side for guests to add individually. Top each serving with extra toasted almonds as a garnish. Serve immediately for the freshest flavor. Serves 4.
Notes
- This salad is best enjoyed the same day you make it to maintain freshness, though it remains tasty the next day.
- If strawberries aren’t available, substitute with other fresh fruits such as blueberries, peaches, raspberries, or blackberries.
- The strawberry balsamic vinaigrette can be personalized by using any fruit jam you prefer, like raspberry or blackberry, to create different flavor variations.