Zesty Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe: Fast & Flavorful

Summer’s bounty bursts with vibrant flavors in this quick 15-minute strawberry spinach salad that promises a delightful culinary escape.

Crisp spinach leaves mingle with juicy strawberries, creating a refreshing canvas of color and nutrition.

Tender greens provide the perfect backdrop for sweet, ripe berries that dance across the plate.

Crunchy nuts add unexpected texture, while a zesty vinaigrette ties everything together with tangy sophistication.

Each forkful delivers a perfect balance of sweet, fresh, and bright notes that will awaken your taste buds.

Light, nutritious, and effortlessly elegant, this salad turns simple ingredients into a gourmet experience that feels like summer on a plate.

Dive into this quick and delicious recipe that proves healthy eating can be both simple and spectacular.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes (for glaze)

Total Time: 15 minutes

Calories: 204 kcal

Servings: 5

Ingredient List for 15-Minute Strawberry Spinach Salad

• Balsamic Vinegar: Adds tangy depth and creates a luxurious glossy finish to elevate the salad's flavor profile.
• Honey: Balances the vinegar's sharp taste with natural sweetness and helps create a silky glaze texture.

• Baby Spinach: Offers vibrant green base packed with nutrients, bringing crisp and tender texture to the salad.
• Strawberries: Provides juicy sweetness and bright color, selecting ripe and firm berries for maximum flavor.
• Blueberries: Introduces bursts of antioxidant-rich fruit, choosing plump and deep blue berries for best taste.

• Feta Cheese: Delivers creamy, salty contrast to sweet fruits, selecting well-crumbled, high-quality cheese.
• Pecans: Introduces rich, buttery crunch and nutty undertones, toasting beforehand enhances their deep, warm flavor.

Tools You’ll Need for Strawberry Spinach Salad

• Small saucepan: Perfect for creating the rich, glossy balsamic glaze.
• Large mixing bowl: Essential for tossing together fresh spinach, berries, and cheese.
• Heat-proof bowl: Ideal for cooling down the balsamic glaze safely.
• Spoon: Helps stir the glaze and mix salad ingredients.
• Cutting board: Needed for slicing strawberries and chopping pecans.
• Sharp knife: Crucial for precise ingredient preparation.

How to Make 15-Minute Strawberry Spinach Salad

• Balsamic Magic

A sweet and tangy sauce transforms ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary culinary experience. Gently heat balsamic vinegar with honey in a small saucepan, watching it bubble and reduce slowly. The liquid will thicken and become glossy, creating a rich drizzle that elevates the entire dish.

• Colorful Composition

Layer soft baby spinach as your green canvas, scattered with jewel-toned strawberries and blueberries. Sprinkle crumbly feta for a creamy contrast and add crunchy toasted pecans for textural excitement. Each element adds depth and character to the salad.

• Final Flourish

Carefully drizzle the cooled balsamic reduction over the salad right before serving. The glossy sauce will create beautiful artistic patterns across the vibrant ingredients, making the dish look as delicious as it tastes. Let the colors and flavors mingle, creating a refreshing and elegant meal that feels both sophisticated and effortless.

Tips & Variations for Strawberry Spinach Salad

• Easy Flavor Boosters
• Replace feta with goat cheese, blue cheese, or fresh mozzarella for different flavor profiles and textures.
• Add grilled chicken, shrimp, or crispy tofu to transform this salad into a complete meal that satisfies hunger.
• Mix in raspberries, blackberries, or mandarin orange segments to create vibrant color and unexpected taste combinations.
• Prepare balsamic glaze and chop ingredients separately, storing them in airtight containers to keep salad components fresh for quick assembly later.
• Toast pecans quickly in a dry skillet for 2-3 minutes to enhance their nutty flavor and add extra depth to the salad's overall taste experience.

Serving Ideas for Strawberry Spinach Salad

• Picnic Perfect Plate: Pack this vibrant salad in portable containers for a fresh outdoor meal that will impress friends during summer gatherings.
• Brunch Brilliance: Serve alongside quiche or frittata for a light, colorful morning spread that adds elegance to weekend breakfast celebrations.
• Protein Power Boost: Enhance the salad with grilled chicken strips, sliced almonds, or hard-boiled eggs to transform it into a more substantial and satisfying main course for lunch or dinner.
• Wine Pairing Magic: Complement the sweet and tangy flavors with a crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or a light Rosé that highlights the strawberry and balsamic notes.

Storage Plan for Strawberry Spinach Salad

• Salad Prep Magic: Chop strawberries and toast pecans ahead of time to cut down on last-minute kitchen stress. Store ingredients separately in airtight containers for quick assembly.
• Fridge-Friendly Strategy: Keep prepared salad components separated until serving. Store spinach, berries, and nuts in individual sealed containers to maintain crispness and prevent sogginess.
• Make-Ahead Brilliance: Balsamic glaze can be refrigerated for up to one week in a sealed glass jar. Simply warm slightly before drizzling to restore smooth consistency.
• Leftover Love: If any salad remains, store greens and toppings separately. Mix just before eating to keep ingredients fresh and prevent wilting. Best consumed within 1-2 days for optimal taste and texture.

Vibrant Strawberry Spinach Salad

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4.8 from 24 reviews

• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Delightful strawberry spinach salad offers a quick Mediterranean-inspired blend of fresh produce and zesty flavors. Crisp spinach leaves, sweet strawberries, and tangy feta create a refreshing dish you can enjoy in mere minutes.

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Ingredients

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• 10 oz (283 g) baby spinach, fresh
• 3 cups (450 g) strawberries, cleaned, hulled, sliced
• 1 cup (150 g) blueberries
• 1 cup (100 g) pecans, toasted (some chopped, some whole)
• ⅓ cup (50 g) feta cheese, crumbled
• 1 cup (240 ml) balsamic vinegar
• ¼ cup (60 ml) honey or brown sugar

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Instructions

1. Prepare Balsamic Glaze: Simmer balsamic vinegar and honey in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally until the mixture reduces and thickens into a glossy, syrupy consistency.
2. Salad Preparation: Wash and thoroughly dry baby spinach leaves, ensuring they remain crisp and vibrant. Slice strawberries into uniform pieces and gently fold in whole blueberries.
3. Nut and Cheese Technique: Toast pecans in a dry skillet until fragrant, then roughly chop. Crumble feta cheese to create pockets of creamy texture throughout the salad.
4. Composition: In a large mixing bowl, delicately combine spinach, strawberries, blueberries, and feta, taking care not to bruise the delicate ingredients.
5. Finishing Touches: Transfer the salad to serving plates, strategically scatter toasted pecan pieces, and artfully drizzle the cooled balsamic glaze in an elegant pattern just before serving to maintain the salad’s fresh, crisp character.

Notes

• Glaze Timing: Prepare balsamic reduction first to allow cooling while preparing other ingredients, preventing potential wilting of delicate spinach leaves.
• Fruit Preparation: Pat strawberries and blueberries completely dry after washing to prevent excess moisture from making salad soggy and compromising overall texture.
• Nut Toasting Technique: Toast pecans carefully on low-medium heat, watching closely to prevent burning, as nuts can quickly transition from perfectly golden to bitter and burnt.
• Serving Strategy: Assemble salad just before serving to maintain crisp spinach leaves and prevent ingredients from becoming soft or losing their vibrant individual characteristics.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes (for glaze)
• Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 204
• Sugar: 19 g
• Sodium: 138 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 1 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 29 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 8 mg