Strawberry Salad – pretty as a picture and tastes even better! With spinach, lightly candied pecans, avocado, feta and a poppyseed dressing, this is a bit of a show off salad but it’s super straightforward and worth the effort.
One of the most fabulous new salads I’ve tried in years!
Strawberry Salad
I’m finding more and more that I’m being nominated as the designated Salad Bringer. Something about people thinking I cook so much for my job, surely I don’t want to make something big to bring along.
Pfft! Side salad? I want to do the centrepiece!!! Or a show stopping dessert! 😂
So I’ve been progressively building an arsenal of what I call “Show-Off” salads – to make myself feel better, that I’m making a worthy contribution. You want a side salad?? I’ll show you a side salad!!
They’re not technically challenging or calling for fussy gourmet ingredients.
They’re just extra special salads that look as great as they taste – and this Strawberry Salad is my latest!
There’s a few components to this salad:
Poppyseed Dressing – dump and shake
Lightly candied pecans – quick and easy, 5 minute job
The salad part – chopping the strawberries is the part that takes the longest!
Assembling – dress the spinach, then layer up the salad. No point tossing, the strawberries end up at the bottom!
What you need
Baby spinach is my favourite type of green fluffage for this salad because it’s got a lovely mild flavour and a soft texture that I think goes well with strawberries. Other mild lettuces will work well – just avoid ones like rocket/arugula (peppery) and radicchio (bitter).
The avocado is optional, I’d happily scoff this salad down even without. But it’s so good WITH it – that little creaminess with all the other stuff going on here is terrific!
The pecans are just lightly candied because we don’t need tons of sweetness (nor toffee sticking in our teeth). The strawberries add enough fresh sweetness, and also the dressing is not the zingy sour type, it’s creamy and a bit sweet.
Poppyseed Dressing – So much more than just another dressing with the addition of lots of little black bits! The poppyseed add nuttiness to the dressing which adds an extra something-something to this salad.
It’s not as zingy as most dressings – it’s a bit creamy (from the mayo) with a touch of sweet. And I think it goes so well with the fresh juicy sweetness of strawberries!
I find that Strawberry Salads are best layered rather than tossed. If you toss it all together, then all the good stuff ends up on the bottom of the bowl!
(The good “stuff” being the strawberries, candied pecans, avocado and feta.😂)
So the way I put this salad together, I toss the spinach with a bit of dressing, then layer it up as shown below. Usually 3 layers for a giant salad for gatherings, or 2 if it’s just a smaller side salad for dinner.
Make this Strawberry Salad as…
Side salad for dinner – I usually skip the candied pecans and just use plain pecans. It’s pretty quick to put together if you skip this. It fresh enough to pair with mains with big flavours, such as BBQ Beef Brisket. But also flavourful and interesting enough to have on the side of quick everyday mains such as Garlic Chicken Thighs, Baked Fish, sticky country style Baked Pork Chops or some quick Garlic Prawns (Shrimp!)
A meal in itself – it’s so scoffable, this is definitely a salad worthy of a meal! I’ve been having it for lunch with nothing else on the side and its kept me satisfied all afternoon. Mind you, I had generous servings!
Try adding chicken! This Marinated Chicken Breast is ideal, or this Baked Chicken Breast. Slice it and serve on top or on the side.
IMPRESS YOUR FAMILY and FRIENDS! Take this to the next gathering where you’re asked to bring a salad and bask in the glow of praises!
Yes, the last point is the main purpose behind the creation of this salad and yes, I’m really that immature. 😇 – Nagi x
More Show Off Salads
Apple Salad with Candied Walnuts and Cranberries – that’s plumped cranberries, not just shrivelled up dried ones!
Pearl Couscous Salad and Wild Rice Salad – colourful, loaded with textures and colours, I make both of these regularly all year round
Prawn Mango Avocado Summer Salad – reserved for very special occasions!
Watch how to make it
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Strawberry Avocado Salad
Ingredients
Salad:
- 180g / 6 oz baby spinach
- 1 red onion (small), halved and finely sliced
- 375g / 12 oz ripe strawberries , sliced (Note 1)
- 2 avocados , quartered and sliced (Note 2)
- 120g / 4oz feta , crumbled
Candied Pecans (Note 3):
- 1 tbsp (15g) butter, unsalted
- 3 tbsp white sugar
- 1 cup pecans , roughly chopped
Poppyseed Dressing:
- 1 tbsp eschallots (French onion), very finely chopped
- 2.5 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 5 tbsp olive oil
- 1.5 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp white sugar
- 1 tbsp poppyseeds
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Place Dressing ingredients in a jar and shake well. Set aside for 10 minutes+ (keeps for a week).
Candied Pecans:
- Place butter and sugar in a non stick skillet over medium high. When butter is melted, add nuts.
- Stir 5 minutes – sugar will go sandy, then eventually melt into a caramel.
- Once sugar melts, cook for 2 minutes then spread pecans out on tray.
- Cool then break to separate.
Assemble Salad:
- Place spinach and onion in a bowl, drizzle with about 3 tbsp Dressing, toss.
- Transfer 1/3 spinach in a bowl. Scatter over 1/3 of each strawberries, avocado, feta, pecans. Drizzle with a bit of dressing.
- Top with another 1/3 spinach, strawberries, avocado, feta, pecans, then a bit more Dressing. Repeat once more.
- Serve immediately!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
He couldn’t figure out how to get through the dog door with his new toy….
Ahhh Dozer. You might not be the sharpest tool in the shed but you’ve got a heart of gold and you’re damn cute, so we love you anyway! 😂
Once again, your recipe was a hit. Admittedly, when I let the family know I was making this, they all have me that weird look, like I was the weirdo.It was the, Here’s-mom-trying-a-new-recipe kind of look. Some of you may know what I’m talking about, the half smile, rolling of the eyes.
They said they would try it to humor me, I suppose. But boy! When they tasted it!… Everyone was amazed that such things like strawberries and nuts could go so well with spinach. And the dressing! It was a total victory. I only wish I could take total credit for the recipe. Thanks again, Nagi, for another wonderful meal
Yasssssss! I’m so glad they gave it a go!
Made this strawberry and avocado salad. My other half was sceptical. I said trust Nagi who is a household name in our house. It was just delicious. I shall make this often, thanks Nagi for making our meals delicious and interesting
Hi Nagi, you were right when you said this was a show off salad. Delicious!!!!
My new favourite.
I used candied sesame peanuts instead of the candied pecans.
I know, it sounds weird but how good is it!?! Thanks for leaving a comment Trudy! – Nx
It looks delicious! Do you think I can sub strawberries with blueberries? My BF is allergic to them
Sure could!
In your recipeic are the ”cup” american or english? I like to translate to ml in my metric world 😉 (Sweden)
Love your recipes 🙂
I love your recipes! I made this salad with your great chicken marinade, both were delicious!!
Welcome back Nagi! Nice and easy recipe!
Awesome new toy Dozer has …even if he can’t get thru the doggie door😂. Still a sweetheart.
Enjoy the weekend! Hugs🌻
This salad looks delicious and I can’t wait to try it! Ahh Dozer…you and my grandpuppy would have so much fun together! A new girlfriend!
I bet they would!!! He like pretty ladies… 😂
Ahh Dozer your just toooooo cute and beautiful Love Love 😂
Lucky he has his cuteness to get him through life…😂
Could you please share Dozer’s diet? My English Setter is no good on any sort of dry food.
Yes of course! I will write it up properly over the weekend and add it to the email, but here’s a preview of the draft 🙂 -> https://discountspot.info/tachyon/2019/05/Dozers-natural-food-diet-RecipeTin-Eats.pdf%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
PS I started writing and couldn’t stop. So much info in my head!
Mother of Dozer!! My setter Eleanor Rose thanks you so much.
Yum! I haven’t eaten a spinach salad with strawberries in along time! This is one of my sister’s fav salads that she makes!
I love Dozer in his yellow robe! Getting a pic of him trying to get thru his door with his new toy…is priceless N! 😂
It wasn’t hard to get that pic, he was banging against that door for AGES trying to get out 😂
Totally new and very appetizing – cannot wait to copy ! Have yet to make friends with strawberries in salads but am extending a hand now . . . just love the dressing and shall find use for it in other areas ! . . . . . think baby spinach here is Australia is just awesome and would never be without a packet in the crisper . . .
I would LOVE to know what you think if you try it! N x
Happened to have almost everything for this salad (had to sub blue cheese) so I made it for my lunch today. Really yummy! I love your recipes. Of all of the folks I follow for recipes, yours are the absolute best!
Oh wow Mary! I’m so pleased you enjoyed this, thank you! PS Blue cheese is amazing in this, I meant to put that in as an option so thanks for reminding me! N xx
My husband does not like feta. No — strike that. He HATES it. What could I substitute that doesn’t taste feta-like? Because I just gotta try this salad! We frequently do Costco roast chicken and salad for dinner, and this would be a real change from the usual.
Thanks!
Hi Donna! I have been racking my brains and I just can’t think of anything that has the same creamy-salty texture that won’t taste like feta! Blue cheese is sensational but I imagine that’s too feta like 🙂 It will still be amazing without feta! Just add a wee bit more salt into the dressing 🙂 N x
Hi Nagi. Just wondering if there would be an alternative dressing I could use? my husband has some stomach issues and shouldn’t eat too many seeds. What with the strawberries I think poppy seeds would be pushing it a little. does look wonderful though! cant wait to try it!
Yess! Plenty of suggestions – this one from the apple salad -> https://discountspot.info/apple-salad-candied-walnuts-cranberries/%3C/a%3E. or Honey Mustard Dressing https://discountspot.info/honey-mustard-dressing/%3C/a%3E or this maple syrup dressing https://discountspot.info/maple-syrup-dressing/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Can use blueberries for fewer, smaller seeds or mandarin slices are nice too. Maybe you could leave poppy seeds out of dressing and still have creamy, tangy sweet dressing to met husband’s needs.
What wonderful suggestions Valerie, thank you! N x
We’re on the same wavelength about Strawberry Spinach salad 😉 – I know your version will be spectacular! Definitely a must try.
And seriously, Dozer really is so damn cute. I need to kiss his nose and give his ears a scratch. xo
Someone just mentioned yours I think!!! I think they suspect I copied you!!
Love a good strawberry salad. This looks so so good!!
Thanks ladies!
Nagi, we have a strawberry allergy in the family, so I was wondering if raspberries might work in this salad? If not, can you suggest something else?
Dozer is so patient with you, Nagi. LOL Getting him a toy that makes him struggle like that is very naughty. Woof!! 😀
Oh gosh yes! Raspberries, blueberries, or other berries will give a similar texture and would be amazing! PS I didn’t get him that toy, I knew he would have that exact problem, it was a birthday present! 😂😂😂
Nutrition info please!
Oops! ON it 🙂
Omg. I love your website. I love your recipes. I love your tips, hints, and now, videos. Hubs took one look at this salad (every ingredient is a fave here) and shooed me off to the store.
Oh, and if we had a dog, it would be a Dozer-dog 😄 He’s such a charmer.
OK for hubs to say that, it’s a BIG compliment!!! N xx
This looks fabulous! Love the strawberries instead of the usual tomatoes. I will definitely have to try this one.
Now that’s a good way to look at it! 😂