This Strawberry Spinach Salad with creamy poppy seed dressing is one of my favourite salads to make this time of year. I picked up a bag of locally grown spinach and a container of strawberries at the farm stand just a few minutes from my home. This mouthwatering summer salad has just a few ingredients that comes together quickly. 

Tender spinach, juicy strawberries, mandarin oranges, red onion and toasted slivered almonds are all tossed together with a sweet dairy free dressing. My go-to for this salad is a creamy poppy seed dressing. I add tahini which brings the creaminess to the dressing, and replaces any oil. 

This salad is an incredible mix of textures and flavours.

Salad Ingredients

• Spinach – choose locally grown tender spinach
• Strawberries – buy the juiciest fruit you can find
• Mandarin Oranges – adds sweet citrus flavour 
• Toasted Slivered Almonds – brings the crunch and nuttiness factor that no good salad should be without
• Red Onion – in my opinion, an integral part of every salad TIP: soak the onions in water to remove the harsh taste

Try serving the salad on a large board or platter instead of in a salad bowl for an impressive presentation.

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Strawberry Spinach Salad

An incredible mix of textures and flavours

Servings 2 people

Ingredients

For the Strawberry Spinach Salad

• ½ cup slivered almonds, toasted
• 8 cups fresh spinach, rinsed and dried
• 1 cup strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 1 mandarin orange, peeled, segmented and cut
• ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced

For the Sweet Tahini Poppy Seed Dressing

• ⅓ cup tahini
• 3 tbsp white wine vinegar
• 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 ½ tbsp shallot, minced
• ½ tsp garlic, finely minced
• 2 tbsp poppy seeds
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• ½ tsp ground black pepper

Instructions

Toast the Almonds

• Spread the almonds in a single layer on an ungreased baking sheet and toasted in a 350℉ oven for 3-5 minutes, watching that they don’t burn. Set aside.
• Place the sliced onions in a bowl and cover with cold water. Let sit while you prepare the rest of the salad.

Prepare the Dressing

• Add all ingredients to a jar with a tight fitting lid and shake well to incorporate. If it’s too thick, add a tablespoon or two of water to get to the desired thickness.

Assemble the Salad

• Place the spinach in a big serving bowl or on a large platter.
• Add the strawberries and mandarin pieces.
• Drain the red onion and add to the salad.
• Drizzle a few tablespoons of the dressing over the salad and toss to coat the leaves. You want the spinach leaves to be nicely coated but not swimming in dressing. Add a little more if needed to suit your preferences.
• Add the almonds and toss lightly to combine.
• Serve immediately, with extra dressing on the side as desired.