Strawberry Feta Spinach Salad

Published: May 27, 2023 from dina

The Strawberry Feta Spinach Salad is refreshing and full of delicious flavor. Sweet, tangy and crunchy, it’s the perfect dish for a light lunch or side dish for dinner.

If you love spinach salads, you should try these Spinach Pomegranate Salad and Spinach Salad with Smoked Salmon.

Table of contents

recipe details

I love this Strawberry Feta Spinach Salad because it’s the perfect meal on a hot summer day. This easy salad has just the right flavor to refresh you.

TASTE GOOD: Sweet, tart, nutty, and cheesy, this salad has so much great flavor. It’s exactly what you’ve been longing for this season.
TEXTURE: Tender spinach leaves are paired with crunchy candied pecans and creamy feta cheese—a combination you won’t be able to resist.
TIME: This salad only takes 5 minutes to make.
EASE: It’s quick and easy. You can prepare this amazing dish in minutes.

what you will need

Ingredients for Strawberry Feta Spinach Salad: spring mix, feta cheese, pecans, strawberries, blueberries, brown sugar, butter, and poppyseed dressing.

Ingredient Notes

butter– Salted butter adds flavor.
Brown sugar– This one has a richer flavor than regular white sugar.
pecans– Raw or salted is fine.
feta cheese For a creamier consistency, use a block of feta that you crumble up yourself.
Berry- Fresh strawberries and blueberries. Only use fresh as frozen and thawed berries will be mushy.
baby spinach Alternatively, you can use the spring salad mix.
poppy seed salad dressing– This dressing is creamy and flavorful, perfect for this Strawberry Feta Spinach Salad.

Add-Ins and Substitutions

Substitute another dressing. You can make this salad with any dressing you like, like this Greek Salad Dressing, Simple Cilantro Lime Dressing, or Balsamic Vinegar.
Add other fruits. Try this salad with a variety of fruits including raspberries, kiwi, apples, pomegranates or pears.
Substitute other nuts. Make this salad with candied walnuts, pistachios, cashews, or almonds.
Use other types of cheese. Gorgonzola, blue cheese, goat’s cheese or Parmesan cheese are also great side dishes.

How to make a Strawberry Feta Spinach Salad

Caramelize the pecans. Start by toasting the chopped pecans in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, about 3 minutes. Then melt the butter, add the brown sugar and let caramelize for no more than 5 minutes.
Allow pecans to cool. Transfer the pecans to parchment paper to let cool.

Pro Tip: Make sure to scatter the cooling pecans so they don’t get into one big lump.

Steps to make Strawberry Feta Spinach Salad: Roast the pecans, then add the butter and brown sugar and allow to cool on parchment paper after caramelizing.

Assemble the salad. Slice the strawberries. Then fill a bowl with the salad mix and top with the feta, strawberries, blueberries, and pecans. Drizzle over the poppy seed dressing. Serve as is or stir first.

Steps to make Strawberry Feta Spinach Salad: Slice the strawberries, then place the berries, cheese, and pecans on a bed of spring mix and add the dressing.

recipe tips

Do not roast the nuts for too long. The pecans can take on a bitter, burnt taste if over-roasted. Therefore, only heat them for about 3 minutes.
Don’t burn the sugar- Don’t let the sugar and butter caramelize for more than 5 minutes to avoid burning the sugar.
Separate the pecans. These can cool into a large lump. So be sure to spread them out on the parchment paper while they’re still hot so they cool separately.
Use block feta cheese over sprinkles. The crumbles contain anti-caking agents that give them a dry and slightly hard texture. Block feta, which you crumble yourself, is creamier.

FAQs

How should I cut my strawberries?

You should slice your strawberries. This makes them easy to eat with the rest of the salad ingredients. You can also cut them in half if they are too small.

Can I make this spinach salad ahead of time?

Yes, you can make this spinach salad ahead of time by prepping the candied pecans and assembling the salad. Arrange the salad just before serving to prevent the spinach from collapsing.

Drizzle the dressing over the strawberry feta spinach salad with berries as a side.

serving suggestions

This Strawberry Feta Spinach Salad is a versatile summer salad that makes a delicious lunch or side dish for dinner. Enjoy it at your next get together or BBQ party.

Meat: Serve this with smoked chicken thighs, air fryer pork chops (VIDEO), smoked brisket, or garlic butter steak bites.
sandwiches: Enjoy with a brisket sandwich, turkey croissant sandwich, caprese sandwich, or classic BLT sandwich.
soups: Make this a soup and salad combo with a bowl of Potato Leek Soup, Tortellini Soup, Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup, or Easy French Onion Soup.
Bread: Serve some toasted bread and butter with this delicious salad. Try this focaccia bread, multigrain harvest bread or sourdough bread.

Make this recipe ahead of time

Go on: You can make this salad by candying the pecans and then slicing the strawberries. Assemble the salad without the dressing, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

storage: This Strawberry Feta Spinach Salad with no dressing will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for about 2-3 days. If you added dressing, it should be consumed within a day or it will become soggy.

Freeze: You can freeze the candied pecans in an airtight ziplock bag for up to 6 months. The remaining salad ingredients should not be frozen.

More delicious salads!

Do you love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a rating in the comments section below.

Let’s connect on social media! 😍 Find me on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest. And don’t forget to tag me if you try any of my recipes!

Full Recipe Guide

This Strawberry Feta Spinach Salad is a perfect light and refreshing meal full of delicious flavors. Homemade candied pecans make this a recipe not to be missed!

Press Pen rate

Course: salad

Kitchen: American

Diet: Gluten free

Preparation time: 5 protocol

Total time: 5 protocol

Servings: 6

Calories: 205kcal

Remarks

Do not roast the nuts for too long. The pecans can take on a bitter, burnt taste if over-roasted. Therefore, only heat them for about 3 minutes.

Don’t burn the sugar- Don’t let the sugar and butter caramelize for more than 5 minutes to avoid burning the sugar.

Separate the pecans. These can cool into a large lump. So be sure to spread them out on the parchment paper while they’re still hot so they cool separately.

Use block feta cheese over sprinkles. The crumbles contain anti-caking agents that give them a dry and slightly hard texture. Block feta, which you crumble yourself, is creamier.

Nourishment

Hello, I’m Dina, I’m so glad you stopped by! I think life is too short for bad coffee and boring food. With my easy-to-follow, step-by-step recipes, you’ll be amazed at how quickly a healthy and delicious meal can be prepared. I hope you find something you enjoy!

Source link