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    Home » Salads

    Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

    Lindsay Moe

    771 shares

    Make the perfect light lunch or healthy side dish with this strawberry spinach salad topped with poppy seed dressing! It’s so easy to make and the flavors are incredible, making this a salad everyone will actually want to eat!

    strawberry spinach salad in a bowl next to a small bowl of strawberries, a small bowl of gorgonzola cheese, and a little container of poppy seed dressing.
    Jump to Recipe

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are my own.

    Light summer meals are crucial for those hot days when you don’t want to turn the oven on. This strawberry spinach salad is at it’s best with ripe summer strawberries, and it’s so easy that there isn’t any real cooking required.

    What makes this the best strawberry spinach salad

    Salads with fruit are great because they add a little sweetness to the leafy greens that some people find bitter. This salad recipe also boasts a lovely homemade poppy seed dressing that gets its creaminess from high protein Greek yogurt.

    With fruit, vegetables, cheese, and nuts, this really is a complete meal for any time you want something on the lighter side. It would also be a great side dish for BBQ tofu, BBQ tempeh, low carb breakfast casserole, or spinach stuffed portobello mushrooms.

    a spinach salad with strawberries, gorgonzola, and walnuts.

    Ingredients

    • Spinach
    • Strawberries
    • Walnuts
    • Gorgonzola cheese
    all of the ingredients used to make strawberry spinach salad.

    How to make strawberry spinach salad

    1. Toss all ingredients together gently in a large bowl. Top with dressing.

    Poppy seed dressing ingredients

    • Olive oil
    • Honey
    • Apple cider vinegar
    • Greek yogurt
    • Poppy seeds
    • Salt & pepper

    How to make poppy seed dressing

    1. In a small bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. 
    2. Drizzle over salad and toss, or serve on the side.
    a close up of half of a strawberry spinach salad.

    Top tips and questions

    What kind of Greek yogurt should I use?

    I love Chobani’s whole milk plain yogurt, but this would also work with a low fat or fat free variety as well. I think a vegan yogurt would also work, but tends to be a little more watery so the dressing may not be as creamy.

    Is apple cider the same as apple cider vinegar?

    Make sure you’re using apple cider vinegar and not apple cider in the poppy seed dressing. They are not interchangeable. 

    Apple cider vinegar can be found in the grocery store near the other vinegar, and is a very healthy addition to foods, including salad dressings.

    Is gorgonzola cheese vegetarian?

    Gorgonzola cheese is not always vegetarian because it is often made with animal rennet. You can try to find varieties made with vegetable derived rennet if this is a concern for you.

    strawberry spinach salad in a bowl next to a spoon of poppy seeds and a small bowl of gorgonzola cheese.

    Can strawberry spinach salad be made ahead?

    This salad is best fresh, so I recommend keeping the ingredients separate until ready to serve. If you don’t plan to eat the whole salad, only add dressing to the amount you plan to eat and store the rest separately in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    Tips for customizing this strawberry spinach salad recipe

    • Swap the gorgonzola for feta or goat cheese
    • Swap the spinach for another leafy green such as kale
    • Instead of poppyseed dressing, try a store bought balsamic dressing
    • Swap the walnuts for almonds or pecans
    • Add thinly sliced red onion and avocado

    More salad recipes

    • Winter Salad with Butternut Squash
    • Vegetarian Autumn Grain Bowl
    • Panzanella Salad
    • Rainbow Quinoa Salad
    • Warm Kale and Quinoa Salad
    • Southwest Salad
    • Greek Orzo Salad
    • Mediterranean Couscous Salad
    • BBQ Chickpea Salad
    • Israeli Couscous Salad
    • Summer Salad with Fruit
    • High Protein Vegan Salad
    • Healthy Green Salad with Sriracha Peanut Dressing
    a close up of a strawberry spinach salad.

    If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!

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    Recipe

    strawberry spinach salad in a bowl next to a small bowl of strawberries, a small bowl of gorgonzola cheese, and a little container of poppy seed dressing

    Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Vinaigrette

    Juicy strawberries, tangy cheese, and fresh leafy greens are topped with homemade poppy seed dressing in this strawberry spinach salad.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 544kcal
    Author: Lindsay Moe

    Ingredients

    Strawberry Spinach Salad

    • 5-6 cups baby spinach
    • 1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced
    • 1 cup walnut pieces
    • 4 ounces crumbled gorgonzola cheese

    Poppy Seed Dressing

    • ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons raw honey
    • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt
    • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
    • Coarse kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

    Instructions

    Strawberry Spinach Salad

    • Toss the spinach, strawberries, walnuts, and gorgonzola together gently in a large bowl.

    Poppy Seed Dressing

    • Combine all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together until combined. Drizzle over salad, toss, and serve.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 544kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 429mg | Potassium: 607mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 3745IU | Vitamin C: 80.4mg | Calcium: 271mg | Iron: 2.8mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @theliveinkitchen or tag #theliveinkitchen!

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    Reader Interactions

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    1. [email protected] says

      June 03, 2014 at 9:33 am

      Such a beautiful salad to enjoy this time of year!

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        June 07, 2014 at 12:39 pm

        Thanks Nancy!

        Reply
    2. Mallory says

      June 03, 2014 at 9:28 pm

      This salad looks so refreshing! I love spinach and strawberries together! Just what I need after a couple days of cake recipe testing!

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        June 07, 2014 at 12:39 pm

        I also love a good salad after too many sweets!

        Reply
    3. Tamara Coleman says

      June 03, 2014 at 11:39 pm

      Perfect Summer Salad! Yum-O! 🙂
      http://www.prettybitchescancooktoo.com

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        June 07, 2014 at 12:39 pm

        Thanks Tamara!

        Reply
    4. Meg @ The Housewife in Training Files says

      June 04, 2014 at 5:29 am

      Strawberries and Poppyseed dressing is my ultimate fav combo! Love the fact that yours is homemade and healthy! Definitely giving it a shot. Pinned!

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        June 07, 2014 at 12:41 pm

        Thanks Meg! I couldn’t believe how unhealthy traditional poppyseed dressing was when I really looked at it, and I think this is a great alternative.

        Reply
    5. Anna @ Garnish with Lemon says

      June 05, 2014 at 9:02 am

      You can never have enough salads in the summer, Lindsay. They totally hit the spot.

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        June 07, 2014 at 12:42 pm

        So true! Perfectly nourishing when it’s too hot to eat.

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Lindsay! I've been creating easily customizable vegetarian recipes since 2011. I love the outdoors, brownies, and brand new books. I live and work in La Crosse, Wisconsin and founded Wild Flour Media to expand on my love for food photography and videography to my community and beyond.

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    771 shares