This strawberry spinach salad is fresh, colorful and has a tasty 5 ingredient dressing. It's a simple 15 minute recipe that adds a burst of flavour and 'wow' to your table. The easy dressing brings together the beautiful flavours of balsamic, maple syrup and fragrant toasted seeds. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten free.
Strawberry Spinach Salad
This is one of my favourite salads. And I LOVE salads so that's saying a lot.
There is just something so special when strawberries and spinach come together. The sweet fruit really balances the earthy green leaves. The crunch of the fragrant walnuts just adds to the wonder of this super salad. All those nutrients and goodness just make you feel awesome when you eat it!
To really bring out the flavours in the spinach strawberry walnut salad, I've added a really great dressing. 5 simple ingredients come together as something really special here.
Toasting the seeds brings out their flavour. I've then paired them with balsamic vinegar for acidity in the dressing, maple syrup for sweetness and a little paprika for a bit of WOW flavour.
I love eating spinach raw, but whenever I have leftover I usually just cook it on the stovetop for an easy hit of iron and goodness.
Adaptations
There are many ways you can adapt this simple spinach salad! Try adding some of these ingredients:
- Swap the walnuts for other nuts, such as pecans, pistachios, almonds etc...
- Try different types of seeds in the dressing. Toasting them makes them fragrant and delicious.
- If strawberries aren't in season, try using raspberries, blueberries, blackberries etc instead.
- Swap half of the spinach for other types of lettuce.
- For vegetarians, try adding a little crumbled gorgonzola, blue cheese or feta.
- Veggies could also try adding a few sliced boiled eggs.
- If you're serving this salad for dinner, why not try Vanilla Spinach Cake for dessert!
If you're looking for more salad recipes, try these!
Shaved Sprout Salad (vegan)
Broccoli Salad (vegan)
Brazilian Gaucho Potato Salad (vegetarian)
Creamy Pea Salad (vegetarian)
Vegan Caesar Salad (vegan)
Fruit Salad (vegan)
Green Salad with Pepita Dressing
Why this is the BEST spinach salad
- This is a sugar free dressing. Many spinach salad recipes call for a lot of sugar in the dressing, but I've used just a little maple syrup so the flavour of the spinach and strawberries shines through.
- This is a fresh and colorful salad.
- It's easy to make in just 15 minutes.
- It's perfect for a party, picnic or potluck! Just bring the spinach salad dressing in a jar and add it before serving.
- This recipe makes the most of spring and summer's best produce.
- It's an easy spinach salad - seriously, just toast the seeds, add the other ingredients and stir. Then toss the salad ingredients, pour on the dressing and presto! It's ready.
- The tasty toasted seed dressing has balsamic, maple syrup, red onion, seeds and a little paprika. It's bursting with flavours that compliment the spinach, strawberries and walnuts.
- This is a vegan spinach salad with a dairy free dressing.
- This simple spinach salad tastes AMAZING.
Spinach Salad Dressing
This dressing is easy but full of flavour and perfect for the spinach strawberry salad. Many spinach salad dressings are full of sugar, but this is my refined sugar free version, using a little maple syrup for sweetness.
To make it, just toast the seeds lightly in a dry frying pan to really bring out their flavour.
Then add them to a bowl with very finely chopped red onion as well as the maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, oil and a little paprika (optional).
Stir it together and it's ready to dress the salad!
Get the Spinach Salad Recipe
Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out for you!
Leave a comment and star rating below and share a picture with the hashtag #veggiedesserts. I love seeing your recreations of my vegetarian and vegan recipes and cakes.
Thanks for checking out my recipe. I love hearing from my readers. You all allow me to do what I love and write this UK food blog, sharing vegetarian and vegan recipes, vegetable cake recipes, vegan cake and also easy vegan desserts.
Kate x
Strawberry Spinach Salad
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp seeds I used a mix of sesame, flax, sunflower and pumpkin
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- ⅛ teaspoon paprika optional
- ¼ red onion very finely diced
- Salt and pepper
- 2 cups (250g) fresh spinach, rinsed and dried
- 1 cup (250g) strawberries, halved, quartered or sliced depending on their size
- ¼ cup (30g) walnuts roughly chopped
Instructions
For the spinach salad dressing
- Heat a dry frying pan and add the seeds. Toast them by tossing gently in the hot pan until they begin to turn golden and fragrant.
- Add the toasted sesame seeds to a bowl with the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, paprika and onion. Season with salt and pepper. Chill until ready to serve.
For the spinach salad
- In a large serving bowl, add the spinach (if the leaves are very large, chop them slightly) and gently toss with the strawberries and walnuts. Drizzle with the dressing and serve.
Notes
- Don’t add the dressing until serving.
- Keep the dressing in the fridge until ready to dress the salad and serve.
- Swap the walnuts for other nuts, such as pecans, pistachios, almonds etc...
- Try different types of seeds in the dressing. Toasting them makes them fragrant and delicious.
- If strawberries aren't in season, try using raspberries, blueberries, blackberries etc instead.
- Swap half of the spinach for other types of lettuce.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Toni
I loved it! Such an amazing salad!!
Karly
Love this salad!! So easy and it was delicious.
Ashleigh Dougherty
I would never normally add strawberries to a salad, but I do love them so might have to give it a try! Great way to use them up when they are sitting in the fridge.
Jenni
Oh yes this looks like a perfect salad to be making for garden get togethers
Olivia Jade
That's actually a really interesting combination. I'd love it with walnut pieces or pecan nuts, the spinach would add that extra flavour 🙂 x
Laura Dove
This looks really tasty and so lovely and colourful too! I love fruit in salads, especially in the summer.
Rhian westbury
I would never have thought about adding fruit especially a berry into a salad, I've only ever heard of apple before. But I bet you're right the balance between sweet and savoury must be lovely x
Jennifer Gladwin
I would never have thought of putting spinach and strawberries together! I love them both though so I'll have to give it a try.
Rebecca | AAUBlog
I love the combo of strawberries and spinach, but everything else you've added just makes it sound even better - will definitely try this!
Treasure Every Moment
Oo this sounds really interesting! I've not tried strawberries in something savoury before, but can imagine the sweetness really works 🙂
Sarah Bailey
I keep reading about the use of strawberries in salads, but I am yet to try it, something which I really need to change as it sounds like such an interesting idea.
Emma
This is going straight into my spring lunch rotation - it sounds scrumptious!
Micaela Levachyov
I have to admit that I am not a fan of fruit in a salad but my family seem to love the idea so I am out voted!!
Kelly Anthony
One of my favorite salad combinations is strawberries and spinach. It is just so good. I also like your simple and healthy dressing that brings the whole salad together.
kim
Such a delicious recipe! Love this for springtime brunches!
Danielle Wolter
i love a good spinach salad. there is something about spinach and strawberries that is just so great together. Def awesome for the warmer months coming up!
Neli Howard
Ohmygosh. This salad has my name all over it. I love the combination of textures with the strawberries and spinach. And the dressing? Pure heaven. I would lik ea giant bowl of this for my lunch right now.