Spinach Strawberry Salad with Pecans Recipe
A fresh and vibrant Spinach Strawberry Salad with toasted pecans, creamy feta, and a tangy balsamic vinaigrette. This quick and easy salad combines sweet strawberries with nutty pecans and crisp baby spinach, perfect for a light lunch or side dish.
- Author: Nora
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Total Time: 13 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Assembling and toasting
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Salad Ingredients
- 6 cups baby spinach
- 1 pint fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1/2 cup toasted pecans
- 1/4 cup feta cheese (optional)
Dressing
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinaigrette
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Prepare the greens and fruit: Wash and dry the baby spinach and strawberries thoroughly to remove any dirt or moisture, which helps the salad stay crisp.
- Slice strawberries: Slice the strawberries just before assembling the salad to maintain their freshness and prevent them from becoming mushy.
- Toast pecans: In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast the pecans for 2–3 minutes, stirring often until fragrant and lightly browned. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Assemble salad: In a large bowl, layer the baby spinach, sliced strawberries, and toasted pecans evenly.
- Add feta cheese: Sprinkle the optional feta cheese over the salad for a creamy and tangy flavor contrast.
- Toss with dressing: Drizzle the balsamic vinaigrette over the salad and gently toss to combine all ingredients without crushing the berries or wilt the spinach too much.
- Season and serve: Season with salt and pepper to taste, then serve immediately for the freshest flavor and texture.
Notes
- For a nut-free version, omit the pecans or substitute with seeds like sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
- Use fresh, ripe strawberries for the best sweetness and juiciness.
- To make your own vinaigrette, whisk together balsamic vinegar, olive oil, a touch of honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
- This salad is best served immediately after dressing to prevent sogginess.
- Feta cheese is optional and can be omitted to keep the salad vegan.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 11g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
Keywords: Spinach strawberry salad, pecan salad, fresh berry salad, balsamic vinaigrette salad, healthy salad recipe