This fresh Spinach Strawberry Walnut Salad with Feta combines juicy strawberries, tender spinach, salty feta, and crunchy walnuts, all tossed in a honey-kissed lemon poppy seed dressing! Ready in just 15 minutes, it's the perfect summer side dish that tastes like it's from your favorite café.
If you love fresh summer salads, try my Watermelon Mint Salad, Greek Cucumber Salad, or Watermelon Salad with Basil next!
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This is one of my favorite summer salads. I love to serve it along with smoked pork loin roast, smoked pork butt, or smoked brisket and Traeger smoked corn on the cob.
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Why I Love This Salad
- Fresh and vibrant: Sweet berries and tender spinach create the perfect summer salad.
- Quick to make: Ready in 15 minutes with simple ingredients.
- Restaurant quality: Homemade poppy seed dressing elevates this beyond basic salad.
- Versatile: Perfect alongside any main dish or as a light meal.
Reader Review
"This salad is heavenly! Everyone needs to try it- my husband even loved it, and he is a picky eater!"
- Gwen
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ingredients
All ingredients for this recipe are shown in the pic below and special notes are made in the bulleted list to assist you.
- Spinach. Fresh baby spinach leaves provide the perfect tender base. I always keep some on hand for Spinach Smoothies. You can also use your favorite mixed greens.
- Strawberries. Use bright red, ripe berries for the best flavor.
- Feta Cheese. Adds salty, tangy flavor. Buy a block and crumble it yourself for the best results.
- Walnuts. You can also use pecans or almonds.
- Dressing: My homemade lemon poppy seed dressing is one of my favorite salad dressings. I make it with extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, and poppy seeds. You can also use agave nectar instead of honey.
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How To Make Spinach Strawberry Walnut Salad
Step 1: Make the Salad
Wash and dry spinach leaves. Hull and slice strawberries. Place spinach in a large bowl and add the sliced strawberries.
Add crumbled feta cheese and walnuts.
Step 2: Make the Dressing
Combine olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, sea salt, and honey in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Add the poppy seeds and blend briefly to mix.
Step 3: Toss and Serve
Drizzle the poppyseed dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine. Serve immediately and enjoy!
What to Serve with Strawberry Spinach Salad
This salad pairs beautifully with a variety of dishes. Here are some of my favorites:
- Summer BBQ: Serve alongside Smoked Chicken Breasts or Smoked Pork Chops.
- Light dinner: Top with Grilled Teriyaki Chicken, Smoked Boneless Chicken Thighs, or Smoked Chuck Roast.
- Elegant meal: Pair with Smoked Prime Rib or Traeger Smoked Steaks.
Top Tips
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh spinach and sweet strawberries make all the difference.
- Dress Just Before Serving: Add the creamy poppy seed dressing right before serving to keep the salad crisp.
Variations
- Add Protein: Grilled chicken, smoked shrimp, sliced avocado, or bacon.
- Different Nuts: Try crunchy almonds, candied pecans, or even sesame seeds.
- Cheese: You can also use goat cheese, blue cheese, or vegan feta.
- Additions: Add cucumber slices, red onion, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, or diced avocado. You can also add garlic cloves to the dressing.
Storage Instructions
Refrigerate: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. For best results, keep the dressing separate until ready to serve.
Meal Prep: If taking to work or a picnic, pack the salad ingredients and dressing separately and combine just before serving.
If you like this Strawberry Walnut Salad recipe, please take a moment to rate the recipe 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 and leave a comment below!
Printable Recipe
Spinach Strawberry Walnut Salad with Feta
Ingredients
Ingredients for the Salad:
- 4 cups baby spinach leaves washed and dried
- 2 cups fresh strawberries sliced
- ½ cup feta cheese crumbled
- ¾ cup walnuts whole or chopped
Ingredients for the Dressing:
- ¼ cup lemon juice freshly squeezed
- ¼ cup olive oil extra virgin
- 1½ tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon old fashioned Dijon mustard
- ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ tablespoon poppy seeds
Instructions
- Combine the baby spinach, sliced strawberries, crumbled feta cheese, and walnuts in a large mixing bowl.
- To make the dressing, blend or whisk the lemon juice, olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, and salt. Mix in the poppy seeds.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
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Notes
- Use fresh, ripe strawberries for the best flavor.
- Dry spinach thoroughly after washing.
- Add dressing just before serving to keep the salad crisp.
- Store dressing separately if making ahead.
- Perfect for meal prep - pack components separately.
Nutrition
The provided nutrition information is automatically calculated. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
**This post was originally published on April 3, 2023. It was recently updated with more information and helpful tips on February 5, 2025, but the recipe remains the same.
Gwen McKay says
This salad is heavenly! Everyone needs to try it-my husband even loved it, and he is a picky eater!
Jeri Walker says
I'm so glad you and your husband liked it Gwen! It's one of our favorites too! Thanks for taking the time to come back and leave a comment! 🙂