Spinach Strawberry Salad

The strawberries have been SO delicious this year! I just can't get enough of them. If you love them too, you may also want to check out strawberry shortcake and frozen strawberry pie.

Here's a recipe that combines fruits and vegetables for a beautiful and tasty result.

This recipe serves 12. I rarely need to serve 12 at one time, so I make the whole dressing recipe and keep it in the fridge in a jar. Then I just make enough salad as we'll eat at any one time, or make some to take for lunch at work, and toss with the dressing right before eating. You don't want to store the salad after it's been "dressed" because the spinach will wilt.

Combine all the dressing ingredients in a jar.



Then shake it up so that the sugar dissolves and the poppyseeds get distributed throughout.



Combine the spinach, onions and strawberries in a bowl. Drizzle with dressing.



Toss the salad. If you're serving it in a bowl, now add the toasted almonds and blue cheese. Otherwise, transfer to individual plates and then top with almonds and cheese.

This is a really delectable flavor combination: the sweetness of the strawberries, the pungency of the blue cheese, the toastiness of the nuts, and the spiciness of the onion - it's like fireworks in your mouth! (in a good way)

Today's tip: this salad is also very good with a basic balsamic vinaigrette.

For more great ideas, visit the Ultimate Recipe Swap.

Spinach Strawberry Salad

Dressing ingredients:
1/2 cup olive or vegetable oil
2 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. cider vinegar
2 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. ground mustard
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. poppy seeds

Salad ingredients:
8 cups torn fresh spinach
1/2 red onion, sliced
1 pound strawberries, sliced
1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted
Crumbled blue cheese, to taste

Combine dressing ingredients in a jar. Shake well until sugar is dissolved and poppyseeds are incorporated throughout. Combine spinach, strawberries and onion in a large bowl. Drizzle with dressing; toss to coat. Top with almonds and blue cheese.