Strawberry Walnut Spinach Salad (Printable Format)

Vibrant mix of spinach, strawberries, walnuts, and balsamic vinaigrette for a refreshing meal.

# What You Need:

→ Salad Components

01 - 6 cups fresh baby spinach, washed and dried
02 - 1 ½ cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - ½ cup walnut halves, toasted
04 - ¼ small red onion, thinly sliced
05 - ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)

→ Balsamic Vinaigrette

06 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
08 - 1 teaspoon honey
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - ¼ teaspoon sea salt
11 - ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a large salad bowl, combine the baby spinach, sliced strawberries, toasted walnuts, and red onion.
02 - If using, sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese over the salad.
03 - In a small bowl or jar with a lid, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined and emulsified.
04 - Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad just before serving. Toss gently to coat all the ingredients evenly.
05 - Serve immediately for the freshest flavor and texture.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The sweet and tangy balance hits every craving at once, making it impossible to stop eating
  • It comes together in literally 15 minutes but looks like something from a restaurant menu
  • The texture contrast—crunchy walnuts against tender spinach—makes every bite interesting
02 -
  • Dress this salad right before serving—once it sits, the spinach starts to wilt and those perfect textures turn soggy
  • The walnuts absolutely must be toasted. Raw walnuts taste flat and make the whole salad feel unfinished
  • Slice the strawberries right before assembling or they'll start to weep and dilute the dressing
03 -
  • Invest in a salad spinner. The difference between wet and properly dried spinach is the difference between a good salad and a great one.
  • If your balsamic vinegar is too sharp, let it reduce in a small pan over low heat for 5 minutes—it concentrates the sweetness and adds a syrupy quality to the dressing.

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