Spinach Strawberry Walnut Salad Recipe
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Easy spinach strawberry walnut salad with lemon poppy seed dressing and candied walnuts, absolutely the best ever. My most requested salad to date in real life and here on the blog: sliced strawberries and fresh baby spinach leaves dressed in a simple yet divine strawberry lemon poppy seed dressing with just a touch of maple and olive oil
Strawberry Spinach Salad
Needless to say this is all about that luscious vinaigrette and the quality of the ingredients you are using to make it. Everything buzzed up in your mini food processor or blender until smooth. You can serve it just like this, as a side dish or pile it up with some of our best crispy vegan chicken or meaty seitan.
I had just the perfect strawberry ready to be picked yesterday morning, but somehow word got out about that and one of our rascal squirrels helped himself to an early breakfast. Can’t really blame him, right?!
Let’s Talk About The Nuts
You might know by now that I’, really partial to walnuts: toasted, candies, raw, I’m a walnut girl forever ever. However, you my friend can adapt this recipe with your own favorite nuts, pecans, pistachios and even slivered almonds would be nice. If trying to avoiding nuts you can swap for toasted pepitas / pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds or hemp. Go nutty 😉
The Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing
- You can take this in a few different directions, I wanted something creamy and luscious with sweet and zesty notes. The puree of fresh ripe strawberries, freshly squeezed lemon juice and a cold pressed extra virgin olive oil delivers the culinary magic I am after.
- Instead of the creamy dressing you can opt for a light poppyseed vinaigrette made with a white balsamic vinegar. If you can get your hands on a white peach balsamic that would be heavenly!
- For those of you on a WFPB diet I included a few ideas for an oil-free dressing in the recipe card below.
Why You’ll Love It
- Good for You
- Tastes Amazing
- Quick & Easy to Make
- It’s Beautiful & Nutritious
- Gluten-free
- 100% Vegan
- Perfect for a Crowd!
note worthy: spinach is one of the lowest-calorie foods on the planet. A great source of Iron, vitamin K, C and A, calcium and lutein. Strawberries contain only about 50 calories per cup and a re a great source of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin C + potassium. Awesome stuff!
How to Make Spinach Strawberry Walnut Salad
Easy Spinach Strawberry Walnut Salad
The best spinach strawberry walnut salad with lemon poppy seed dressing and candied walnuts. WFPB oil free dressing included.
Print Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb baby spinach
- 1 cup strawberries - sliced
- 1 cup walnuts - toasted or glazed
Strawberry Lemon Poppyseed Dressing
- 8 strawberries
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lemon - juiced
- 3 tbsp maple syrup / coconut nectar (or to taste)
- 2 tsp poppy seeds
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 pinch sea salt + more to taste
Instructions
- Add all of the salad dressing ingredients but the poppyseeds to the bowl of a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Taste and add more lemon and maple syrup / coconut nectar to taste. ( You can add a splash of water If you like to thin it out). Stir in the poppy seeds at this point.
- Add the spinach and sliced strawberries to a large salad bowl. Pour the dressing over the top and toss to coat well. Sprinkle with the walnuts and serve promptly.
WFPB Oil-Free Dressing:
- Simply replace the EVOO in the recipe with equal parts of water, white balsamic vinegar reduction, 1/2 banana or 1/4 cup apple sauce. Blend with the rest of the dressing ingredients and pour over the salad.
Video
Nutrition
Calories: 375kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 58mg | Potassium: 618mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 5315IU | Vitamin C: 65.9mg | Calcium: 138mg | Iron: 3mg
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 375kcal
This is indeed the best strawberry Dressing I have ever tried in my life. I’m looking for more ways to use it not just over Spinach. So delicious it’s going to be a staple In our home.
Amazing!! I’m a whole food plant based eater so I replaced the oil with 1/2 a “just ripe” banana. It turned out PERFECT! The consistency was spot on and it didn’t have a “banana” flavor because the banana was just ripened! Our group ate it all!
Perfect Tiffany! You can also use apple sauce or just plain water. So happy you love it 🙂
This is delicious! I put a combo of homemade glazed pecans and walnuts in the salad. Definitely a keeper and will make it again! Thank you for this great recipe!
what is the number of servings?