When we were first married, just for fun, my hubby's work hosted a lunch party with a contest for best salad. Having a little more time on my hands back then, I combined some things from my favorite salads and came up with the best Strawberry Spinach Salad ever! Not only did it win the contest, but I get asked for the recipe every time I take it somewhere. Every time. I'd say that's a winner!
Now, if you promise not to tell anyone my secret recipe, I'll share it with you today. (Just kidding. Pin away!) Want to know my secret ingredient? It's sugared almonds. Yum. (If you were wondering if this salad is low in calorie, the sugared almonds might give it away. You don't want to count calories on this one. Just enjoy it as a special treat.)
RELATED: Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cashews, Broccoli Flower Salad
By the way, happy Labor Day to all of my readers from the United States! I hope that many of you have the day off and can enjoy it with your family. We don't get to go on trips very often, but we're excited to visit the Ogden, Utah LDS temple today. It opens soon, and we get to tour the inside before it is dedicated. I'm so excited for my girls to see it!
Now--back to the recipe!
Best Ever Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing and Sugared Almonds
Strawberry Spinach Salad
Ingredients:
- 1 lb fresh spinach
- 1 c strawberries, sliced and quartered
- 1-2 stalks celery, sliced or ¼ lb mung bean sprouts (Salad is pictured with celery)
- 1 c purple seedless grapes, halved
- ¼ c sugared almonds, cooled (Go here for the recipe)
Directions:
Make sure that your spinach is dry, or the dressing will not stick to it. Toss ingredients together in a large salad bowl. Do not add dressing until ready to serve. Allow dressing flavors to blend before adding it to the salad.
Simple Poppy Seed Salad Dressing
Ingredients:
- ⅓ c sugar
- 1 T lemon juice
- ½ t dry mustard
- 2 T white vinegar
- ½ t salt
- ½ c canola oil
- 1 T poppy seeds
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a salad dressing shaker bottle. Shake until blended. Pour dressing over salad to taste and toss gently. This recipe makes quite a bit of dressing. Use all of it, or just use some--depending on your taste. Serve immediately.
*For best results, dressing should be made ahead and allowed to sit so that the sugar can dissolve and the flavors can blend before putting it on the salad.
The spinach will absorb the dressing as it sits, so this salad is best eaten immediately.
This is my all-time favorite salad. What's yours? I'd love to hear about it in the comments!
Thanks so much for stopping by today. While you're here, check out some of my other favorite recipes! (Images below are linked.)
Cathy
This looks great, sweet wholesome ingredients, and I love that white bowl! Saying hello from create link and inspire!
Cathy
Heidi
Thanks, Cathy. The bowl is from a garage sale. I love it, too!
Melanie
Looks like a great salad!
Heidi
Thanks, Melanie. It really is super yummy! Have a great week.
Heather
I love a good strawberry salad. This does look like a winner!
Heidi
Thanks, Heather. It definitely is a winner! I could eat the whole recipe myself.
Brianna @Flippin' Delicious
I love dabbling in making my own salad dressing. I can't wait to try your poppy seed dressing!
Heidi
Thanks, Brianna. It's definitely easy and yummy. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Michelle @ My Gluten-free Kitchen.com
I've made a similar salad but never added grapes or a homemade poppyseed dressing! I bet those are great additions. Look forward to trying it!
Heidi
You should definitely try it, Michelle. They make it to yummy! I hope you like it.
GiGi Eats
Sugared almonds and strawberries - SWOON! It's a dessert salad!
Heidi Fowler
I could eat this salad for dessert for sure! Thanks, GiGi!
Marilyn
Heidi, I LOVE this recipe and I'm so glad you shared your recipe for poppyseed dressing! I've never made this before but I'll be trying it soon!
Heidi Fowler
Watch out, Marilyn! You're going to love it!
Mitzi
I often make a strawberry spinach salad as a side for dinner and everyone loves it. But I've never made my own Poppy Seed dressing, so I'll give that a try, too-- thanks!!
Heidi Fowler
The dressing is really easy, Mitzi. You should definitely give it a try!
Dee
Looks so good!!!! A friend of mine makes a salad just like this and now I can without stealing her recipe lol I love a good salad. This looks refreshing. Pinning!
Have a good weekend!
Dee from http://www.thecsiproject.com
Heidi Fowler
It's as good as it looks, Dee. Definitely give it a try. I hope it's as good as or better than your friend's recipe.
Elise @frugalfarmwife.com
Looks so yum! I love strawberry-spinach salad, but I've never had it with sugared almonds. That sounds awesome!
Heidi Fowler
Oh, my goodness, Elise. The sugared almonds make the salad soooo good! You should definitely try it!
Amanda @MultiTestingMom
Oh wow, your salad looks AMAZING! I love strawberries in a salad - it's that salty/sweet combo.
Thanks for linking up at Let's Get Real. I'm off to follow you everywhere :) Can't pass up on seeing your beautiful photos.
Heidi Fowler
Amanda, you're so sweet. Thanks for all of the follows!
Amanda @MultiTestingMom
You are very welcome :) I really enjoy your site!
Candi @ A Day in Candiland
This is one of my favorite salads, I love the crunch and sweet and tangy.
Heidi Fowler
Thanks, Candi. Sweet, crunch, tangy--describes it pretty well!
Heather M
Oh, I LOVE strawberry spinach salad and your pictures are gorgeous. Before my tree nut allergy I used sugared pecans in mine. Almonds would be great!
Heidi Fowler
Thanks, Heather. What a bummer to be allergic to tree nuts. Sugared peanuts would be yummy, too! When life gives you almonds--substitute peanuts, right? (You're not allergic to those are you?)
Cindy (Vegetarian Mamma)
Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! :) I can't wait to see what you share this week! Its LIVE!
Cindy