Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
A few weeks ago, a few of my friends and I co-hosted a Spring Ladies’ Luncheon for our church. We used to serve sandwiches and salad for these luncheons, but found that all the salad would be gone in a flash, leaving a platter full of sandwiches nearly untouched. So, over the years, we have gradually adjusted the menu to include lighter and healthier fare, often consisting of a few green salads, a pasta salad and a fruit platter. Everyone seems to be happy with the nice assortment of fresh salads so we’ve stuck with it.
For this luncheon, we served a simple spread of fresh fruit, Chicken Pasta Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette and this Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing. I snuck a couple of shots using my iPhone before we all dug in.
Assorted Fruit Platter
Chicken Pasta Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette
With fresh strawberries coming into season, I immediately thought of making a traditional Spinach Strawberry Salad with a Poppy Seed Dressing. I first had this salad a number of years ago and was instantly hooked. This is an easy salad to make for a crowd as there are just a few ingredients in the salad itself. I bought a few large containers of baby spinach and one large container of strawberries from Costco’s to make enough salad for 30 women.
What are your favorite Spring or Summer salads? I’d love to hear your ideas. I’m co-hosting a Ladies’ Night Out next week and am looking for some easy salad recipes. Leave your ideas/recipes/pins in the comments below please.
Spinach Strawberry Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Salad
- 8 large handfuls of baby spinach washed
- 2 pints fresh strawberries halved
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds toasted
Dressing
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup raspberry apple cider or rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 1 teaspoon minced onion
- 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
-
Toss Salad ingredients together in a large salad bowl.
-
Whisk together Dressing ingredients. Drizzle lightly over salad just before serving.
This post has been linked up to Beyond the Peel’s Whole Food Wednesdays event.
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Perfect! I was just wondering what to do with a few leftover strawberries. I love them in savory salads. I might sneak in a bit of leftover grilled asparagus, too.
Grilled asparagus would be a nice addition – I just had a strawberry asparagus and spinach salad recently – adds more savoriness to this salad.
A lunch buffet filled with all types of healthy salads sounds absolutely perfect to me! Your poppy seed dressing sounds wonderful, Jeanette, and I’ll bet it was a hit with your friends.
The women at our luncheons love salads and we’ve found them more popular than any sandwiches. This poppy seed dressing is a favorite.
Sounds like a wonderful salad!
My favourite salad is a Pumpkin and Spinach Salad – http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/14443/pumpkin+and+spinach+salad
I roast the pumpkin the night before with dinner and its ready the next day! Its also great when you substitute sweet potato for the pumpkin.
Gorgeous salad, Jeanette, and one can not have too many poppyseed dressing recipes IMO. 😉
Shirley
I love strawberries in salads! This one looks great 🙂
Thanks Kalyn, Shirley and Winnie – I love this combination and it’s so easy to make.
I always forget to put strawberries in my salad, but this recipe is a great reminder to start putting them in!
so pretty and fresh! I am loving strawberries right now too
Berries and greens are a lovely combination. This is my favorite sort of summer salad!
Brian, Alison and Sommer – I love fresh fruit in my salads, especially this time of year when so many fresh fruits are coming into season.
where did you get the chicken pasta salad recipe from? forward me the recipe! i’m always looking for fresh pasta dishes that i can bring to potlucks :). i haven’t really found too many good ones. and i love strawberry salad with the poppy seed dressing!
Love this salad and this was a beautiful reminder to make it this week. I also want the chicken pasta salad – but you knew that.
Junia and Claudia, I’m going to get the chicken pasta salad recipe from my friend and make it. We’re having a Ladies’ Night Out next week so I may be making it for that event. Will keep everyone posted – it’s a really good salad!
Thanks for sharing this lovely salad with us! I love berries in my salads too 🙂
I haven’t had a good poppyseed dressing in AGES. They are usually made with a ton of sugar. This sounds so perfect. I look forward to trying it out on our lovely strawberries.
I can’t get enough fresh strawberries these days – and what a great twist with the poppy seed in this version.
Congratulations on your nomination Jeanette! So well deserved; I’m very happy for you.
Love this combo! Berries belong in salad. I like adding those toasted almonds too (sometimes sugared)! Look forward to seeing you this week!
Your Spinach salad looks wonderful! I love poppy seed dressing…just a touch sweet to compliment those strawberries!
Looks right up my alley!
This salad looks awesome! Thanks!
That is my kind of luncheon! Sadly I am allergic to strawberries, but the salad looks wonderful and I just love the dressing!
What a great salad! So perfect for summer.
Oh that poppy seed dressing sounds great!
Jeanette – this looks amazing! I can’t believe another 2 of your boys have concussions! Oh my dear gosh – praying they recover very very soon and you all enjoy a wonderful summer!
How do i get your chicken salad with mustard vinagrate- gluten free salad as pictured on your we site?? I love your poppyseed drg. thanks nancy wierenga
Hi Nancy, I’ll have to dig up the chicken salad recipe – it’s from my friend.