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Colorful and refreshing Strawberry Spinach Salad is an easy meal for a hot summer day. Bursting with nutrition from spinach, fresh berries, avocado, nuts, and seeds, it will fill you up without weighing you down. Enjoy it solo or topped with your favorite proteins.
Do you ever struggle with cooking during the hottest part of summer? Turning on the oven isn’t exactly appealing, and equally important, we want our hot-weather meals to taste light and fresh. This Berry-Spinach Salad fits the bill, and it’s become a go-to staple for me.
Instead of the traditional poppy seed vinaigrette, I threw in some extra omega-3s by using chia seeds. This tangy and crunchy salad is satisfying enough to enjoy on its own, but it’s also scrumptious with my Grilled Chicken with Peach BBQ Sauce. Or if you’re wild about avocados, try it with rich and nutritious Avocado Grilled Chicken.
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Savor a flavor explosion in every bite from fresh strawberries and blueberries, creamy avocado, crunchy almonds, and the tangy dressing.
- With only 10 minutes of prep time, this quick recipe makes it easy to whip up a nutritious and satisfying salad in no time.
- The homemade dressing lasts for a few days in the fridge, so it’s great for meal prep. Double or triple the recipe and have it on hand all week for quick salads.
- This salad will fill you up, thanks to a combination of healthy fats from olive oil and avocado. In addition, the fiber-rich spinach and chia seeds will keep you feeling satisfied and full longer.
- This recipe is naturally gluten-free and vegan, making it a great option for a variety of dietary needs.
What You’ll Need
For Chia Seed Vinaigrette
- Olive Oil – Forms the base for the dressing and adds richness. Choose a high-quality extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor
- Cider Vinegar – This zingy, slightly sweet vinegar adds bright flavor to the vinaigrette.
- Dijon Mustard – Adds tanginess and a hint of spice to the dressing.
- Dried Thyme – Adds a bit of savory, herbaceous flavor.
- Chia Seeds – Adds visual appeal and extra nutrition. You can definitely use poppy seeds if you prefer.
- Salt and Pepper
For The Salad
- Spinach – Fresh spinach makes an easy and nutritious base for this salad.
- Strawberries – Pick the ripest, reddest, and juiciest strawberries you can find to make this salad shine.
- Blueberries – Add sweetness, flavor, and a pleasing pop of juicy texture to this salad.
- Sliced Almonds – Adds nutrition and a nice dose of crunchiness.
- Avocado – Adds a creamy and rich texture and flavor.
How To Make Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Make the chia seed vinaigrette. In a small bowl, whisk together all the vinaigrette ingredients until fully combined. Or combine everything in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake well.
- Build the salad base. Lay out a bed of spinach on a plate and top it with the berries and avocado, then sprinkle it with almonds.
- Add the dressing. Drizzle the dressing over the top. For each salad, use roughly 2 tablespoons of vinaigrette.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Use your favorite combination of fresh berries. Feel free to experiment with flavors by adding different types of berries such as raspberries, blackberries, or a combination of your choosing.
- Toast the almonds for extra flavor. Toasting the sliced almonds in a dry skillet for a few minutes will bring out their natural nutty flavor and add a touch more crunch.
- Keep the avocado looking its best. To prevent the avocado from browning, toss it in a little lemon or lime juice before adding it to the salad.
- Experiment with savory toppings. If you want to add some savory flavor accents to this salad, try adding toppings like crumbled feta, diced red onion, or cooked quinoa for extra protein and texture.
- Change up the dressing. You can top this with whatever your favorite dressing. Store bought poppy seed dressing is more of the traditional route. I like this homemade version because it is less sweet. You can also use poppy seeds instead of chia seeds in the dressing.
For the best taste and appearance, I’d recommend making and serving this salad on the spot if you can. It takes just about 10 minutes. Since the spinach can wilt quickly once it’s dressed, wait to add the dressing until just before serving so it’s fresh and crisp.
Yes, it’s easy to make this salad without nuts. Simply omit the almonds or substitute them with pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.
Absolutely! I often like to add grilled chicken to this to make it a full and complete meal. Or serve alongside Pan Seared Salmon for a light and refreshing meal.
More Tasty And Filling Salad Recipes
- Big Mac Salad
- Chicken Caesar Salad
- Buffalo Chicken Salad
- Chicken Fajita Salad
- BLT Salad
- Dorito Taco Salad
Strawberry Spinach Salad
Ingredients
Chia Seed Vinaigrette
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 Tablespoon chia seeds
- salt and pepper to taste
Salad
- 8 cups Baby Spinach
- 1 cup sliced strawberries
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 1 avocado, diced
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine the ingredients for the vinaigrette. Whisk until thoroughly combined. Or place all ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid, and shake well.
- Top a bed of spinach with avocado, strawberries and blueberries. Sprinkle with almonds.
- Top with dressing to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I love salads like this that are so flavorful but still so simple to make. Even the vinaigrette was super easy to put together. Great recipe.
I could not imagine a more healthy and delicious salad recipe!
Oh, I love everything about this salad! Packed full of flavors and really easy to make!
All the flavors of summer in one delicious salad! Perfect for my date night dinner!