Strawberry Spinach Salad with Strawberry Dressing
This beautiful strawberry spinach salad with strawberry dressing is made with tender baby spinach leaves, arugula and strawberries. Add red onions, cucumber, avocado and a handful of roasted sunflower seeds, then toss it with a sweet and tart strawberry vinaigrette for the best summer salad!
Servings 4
Calories 385kcal
Equipment
- mini food processor, or blender for the vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 5 ounces baby spinach leaves
- 5 ounces baby arugula leaves
- ¼ small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 mini cucumber, sliced
- 1 medium avocado, peeled, pitted and cubed
- 2 cups strawberries, washed, hulled and sliced
- 4 ounces blue cheese, or feta or goat cheese
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds, or coarsely chopped pecans or hazelnuts
Quick Strawberry Vinaigrette
- 1 ½ cups fresh strawberries, sliced
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, extra virgin
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
Instructions
- Place the sliced red onions in a bowl and cover with cold water. Let stand while you prepare the rest of the salad. Soaking the onions will remove the harsh bite.
- If you're using raw sunflower seeds (or pecans) toast them in a skillet on the stove top over medium heat. Watch carefully and remove from the heat as soon as they start to brown a little. Let cool.
- Combine the strawberry vinaigrette ingredients in a blender or mini food processor. Blend until smooth, then set aside.
- Add washed and dried greens to a large bowl.
- Arrange the sliced cucumber, drained red onion, sliced strawberries, and blue cheese crumbles on top. Just before serving, sprinkle with toasted sunflower seeds (or other nuts) and add the cubed avocado.
- Toss with Strawberry Vinaigrette and serve.
Notes
Nutrition information does not include the dressing as you won't need to use it all. For nutrition information for the strawberry vinaigrette, see this recipe: Quick Strawberry Vinaigrette Salad Dressing.
If you've dressed the salad, it is best eaten right away.
If you don't plan to eat it all right away, dress only what you need. Store the undressed salad in the fridge for up to 3 - 4 days (without avocado which will turn brown.)
Refrigerate the leftover strawberry dressing in a jar with a lid for up to 5 days. Give it a quick shake before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 385kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 516mg | Potassium: 916mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 4474IU | Vitamin C: 97mg | Calcium: 278mg | Iron: 3mg