Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe

Fresh strawberries pair brilliantly with young, leafy greens! Traditionally, strawberry salad is made with spinach. However, I prefer to use a mixture of fresh greens and lettuces of varying colors, tastes and textures. A blend of leafy greens will yield a more well rounded salad with plenty of crunch and texture! But, you can use just one type of salad green if desired! Or, use a bag of spring salad mix for ease and convenience!

• Baby Spinach has a slightly sweet, milder, more delicate flavor than mature spinach leaves. While baby spinach leaves are more tender they usually have their stems attached, which can have a bitter flavor. If you don’t care for the bitter taste, cut or tear each stem and discard them before proceeding with the salad.
• Red Romaine is an heirloom romaine with a crunchy texture and sweet, flavorful taste.
• Bibb Lettuce, also known as Boston or Butterhead lettuce, is a type of butter lettuce. It is soft in texture and has a smooth, buttery flavor a hint of sweetness.
• Baby Arugula, also known as Rocket, has a peppery flavor and is mildly bitter in taste.
• Radicchio, sometimes known as Italian chicory, is often mistaken for red cabbage. It is a variety of leafy chicory with a bitter and spicy taste.

• Feta Cheese is a a soft and crumbly brined cheese from Greece. It’s traditionally made with sheep’s milk and has a slightly grainy texture. Opt for a block of feta, as opposed to the pre-crumbled feta in a container, and crumble it yourself.
• Goat Cheese, also known as chèvre, refers to any cheese made from goat’s milk. While it’s available in many forms, I recommend soft, fresh goat cheese log for this salad. Use your hands to break the cheese into large crumbles.
• Gorgonzola is a mild, Italian blue cheese, made from unskimmed cow’s milk. It can vary in flavor and texture, from buttery or salty, to crumbly and firm. I recommend a creamy variety such as Gorgonzola Dolce, which is mild, creamy and sweet in flavor.
• Emmental is a yellow, semi-hard Swiss cow’s milk cheese that has a nutty, buttery flavor. I recommend shredding or dicing emmental cheese for this salad.
• Gruyère is a yellow hard Swiss cheese that has a sweet but slightly salty taste. It’s flavor varies widely with age. You can either shred or cube gruyere cheese for this salad.
• Parmigiano-Reggiano is a pale-golden, hard cow’s milk cheese. You can shave, dice or freshly grate parmesan for this salad.

This salad recipe is easily adaptable and incredibly flexible! The recipe below is a great starting point if you like your salad fully loaded! Feel free to swap out the fruits, cheese, or nuts to your preference! Or, simply add whatever ingredients you and your family love or have on hand!

• Red onion: Thinly sliced or diced red onions are a great way to add both color and flavor! If you don’t like the raw bite, try pickling red onion or soak it in cold water for 15 minutes before draining and using in the salad.
• Red Bell Pepper: Finely diced bell peppers are a fantastic way to add a bit of savory, sweet fresh crispness! Plus, their red color is a welcome addition!
• Cucumber: Strawberries and cucumbers are a natural combination! Remove the seeds or use a seedless cucumber before slicing the cucumber and adding it to the salad!
• Fresh Fruit: Diced pears and mango, or halved grapes add a welcome juicy sweetness!
• Dried Fruit: Dried apricots, blackberries or cranberries, as well as pomegranate seeds or toasted coconut flakes are a great way to add another layer of texture and flavor!
• Fresh Herbs: Basil, chives and scallions add fresh, herbaceous taste!
• Seeds: Poppy seeds, toasted sunflower seeds or toasted pumpkin seeds would add a delicious flavor and crunchy texture!
• Caramelized Nuts: If you want to add a crunchy sweet element to the salad, caramelized nuts, such as pecans work beautifully!
• Grains: Add cooked and cooled quinoa or farro for added nutrients.
• Legumes: Crispy roasted chickpeas are a delicious way to add a ton of texture and flavor, as well as vitamins, minerals and fiber! My sweet roasted chickpeas are amazing in this salad!
• Noodles: Cooked and cooled small-shaped pasta, or toasted and crushed ramen noodles are a wonderful way to add texture and make the salad more filling!
• Bacon: Cooked and crumbled salty bacon is a no-brainer if you are a bacon fan!
• Dressing: Not a fan of mint? Creamy balsamic or poppy seed dressing will work beautifully!

This salad is packed with fresh, good-for-you ingredients!

• Strawberries are a rich source of fiber and vitamins, plus they are sodium-free, fat-free, cholesterol-free and low-calorie. Nutrient-rich and packed with antioxidants, strawberries are a superfood that offer a wide range of health benefits including, improved eye care, and relief from high blood pressure, arthritis and various cardiovascular diseases.
• Green peas, or “garden peas”, contain an impressive amount of fiber (4.4 grams per ½ cup serving), antioxidants, vitamin A and iron. They have been shown to help you better manage your weight by keeping you feeling full for longer, improve your heart health by lowering your cholesterol, and support healthy blood sugar control.
• Avocados are packed with vitamins, antioxidants and minerals, such as folate, niacin and potassium, respectively. Plus they are low in carbs and sugar, and high in fiber and healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
• Nuts in general are a good source of protein and fiber. They also pack a number of vitamins and minerals. Plus, most of the fat found in nuts is monounsaturated fat, as well as omega-6 and omega-3.
• Chicken breasts are the most popular of all white meats for a reason! They are low in fat and a great source of lean protein! Plus, they are an excellent source of essential vitamins and minerals!