Spinach Strawberry Salad with Candied Pecans, Feta, & Raspberry Poppyseed Dressing

I've had many variations of Spinach Strawberry Salad through the years, and chances are that you have, too. They always have strawberries and spinach, of course. The other ingredients vary widely.

• Nuts are often included: toasted or candied pecans, walnuts or almonds are most common. Sometimes pine nuts.
• A variety of cheeses can be mixed in: gorgonzola, blue, feta, parmesan. 
• Sometimes red or green onions make an appearance.
• Sometimes mandarin oranges show up.
• Numerous dressings are used on this salad as well: simple vinaigrette, balsamic vinaigrette, poppy seed, minty, herbed; the list goes on.

Truthfully I've never tasted a combo I didn't like. Today's post is my favorite combination. Today anyway. Another day and with different ingredients on hand, I might choose a different favorite combo. I guess my advice is to use this recipe as a guideline, but feel free to mix up the ingredients. It's hard to go wrong when you start with spinach and strawberries.

This salad uses recipes from previous posts for making Candied Pecans and Raspberry Poppy Seed Dressing (which uses my Raspberry Vinegar). 

Step-by-step photos for making Spinach Strawberry Salad

Step 1. Assemble the ingredients: baby spinach, strawberries, red onion, feta cheese crumbles, candied pecans, raspberry poppy seed dressing

Purchase candied pecans or use my recipe to make your own.

View & Print Sugar & Spice Candied Pecans recipe

Purchase ready-made poppy seed dressing or use my recipe to make your own.

View & Print Raspberry Poppy Seed Salad Dressing recipe

Step 2. Wash, hull, and quarter the strawberries.

Step 3. Break or chop the pecans into pieces--not too small. I broke each candied pecan half into 3 or 4 pieces.

Step 4. Slice the red onion; make it super thin. I use a mandolin.

Step 5. In large bowl, toss the spinach, strawberries, onions, and cheese with dressing.  Sprinkle candied pecans on top (they'll stay crispier if they don't get tossed in with the dressing). 

This flavor combo is delicious and refreshing--it screams summer. And, the colors are so beautiful. My favorite salad. Today.

Want a bite?

What's your favorite summer salad?

Make it a yummy day!

Check out these other yummy salads:

• Everyday Italian Toss Salad
• Harvest Salad with Pears, Dried Figs, & Pepitas
• Salad Greens with English Cucumbers, Walnuts & Blue Cheese
• Snowpea, Grapefruit & Orange Salad

Spinach Strawberry Salad

By Monica              Servings: serves 4

Ingredients

• 6 oz (approx 6 cups) baby spinach leaves
• 1 pint (approx. 16 medium-size) fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered or sliced
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 3-4 tablespoons raspberry poppy seed dressing*
• 1/2 cup candied pecan pieces**

Directions

In large bowl, toss spinach, strawberries, onion, and cheese with dressing. Sprinkle candy pecan pieces on top just before serving (so they remain crisp).

*for recipe to make your own raspberry poppy seed dressing, go to: www.theyummylife.com/recipes/145

**for recipe to make your own candied pecans, go to: www.theyummylife.com/recipes/149