Strawberry & Spinach Salad
Strawberry week is here, It’s Strawberry season in Vancouver and there are stands popping up all over the place. So what better way to kick it off than with a classic, Strawberry & Spinach Salad.
The addition of Goat Cheese, Slivered Almonds and White Balsamic dressing puts it over the top. There is almost no chance of leftovers after this salad hits the table.
Close your eyes and travel with me to your next dinner with friends. lol, ok I just realized you can’t close your eyes and read the rest of this so how about read first then close your eyes and imagine 😉 .
Imagine Sitting on the back deck, cold Beer or Sangria in one hand the warmth of the sun beating down. A roast slowly grilling on the BBQ and the look and smell of Strawberries, toasted Almonds and Balsamic waiting on the table.
Easiest Strawberry & spinach Salad Ever
Now that I probably have you salivating lets get into how easy this Salad really is. White Balsamic!… I’m not saying you have to use it but if you can find it… buy it. Regular dark Balsamic can be used but White Balsamic has a slightly sweeter taste that’s incredible with Strawberries.
The other beautiful thing about White Balsamic is.. it is White. Which means that it won’t darken those vibrant colours of the Strawberries, Spinach and Goat Cheese.
To make it literally throw all the dressing ingredients into a mason jar, put the lid on nice and tight, and shake. This recipe will make enough for two Strawberry & Spinach Salad’s, but I’m sure that won’t be an issue. I think you will be happy making a second Salad the next night…
Give the Slivered Almonds a quick toast on the cooktop or oven, whatever your preferred method. Cut some beautiful ripe Strawberries into fork size bites, Open up a package of baby Spinach and get ready to build an amazing Salad.
Layering a Beautiful Salad
So you have your Dressing made, you’ve toasted some awesome Almonds, got your baby Spinach… what’s left.
How about a quarter of a Red Onion sliced a little thicker and half a cup of the wonderful creamy Goat Cheese.
Hmmmm, feels like I’m forgetting something… 😛 … only the star of the show. How about Cutting up the Strawberries into nice fork size bites. Now we have everything!!!
My Big Hint:
I don’t toss this Salad, what I mean is I don’t mix everything together. Place the baby Spinach on the bottom and all the vibrant coloured ingredients on top. I find when people start digging in with tongs everything falls down naturally. So there’s no need to toss everything together, it tosses itself.
Now I do dress the Salad, because no one likes a naked Salad. Two to three tablespoons of dressing over the Spinach and give a little mix. In a separate bowl add the Strawberries, Red Onion, and half the Almonds. Splash in two to three tablespoons of the Balsamic dressing, and toss.
Place the dressed Spinach in a serving bowl, top with the Strawberries, Onion, and Almonds. Crumble the Goat Cheese evenly around the top and sprinkle with the remaining toasted Almonds.
Voila, a beautiful vibrant looking Strawberry & Spinach Salad. With enough dressing left to make another one tomorrow… Enjoy!
Strawberry & Spinach Salad
Ingredients
- 1 142g Baby Spinach package
- ¼ large Red Onion
- ¼ cup Toasted sliced Almonds
- ½ cup Goat Cheese
- 10-12 Ripe Strawberries
- ½ recipe White Balsamic and Maple Syrup dressing
White Balsamic and Maple Syrup dressing
- ⅓ cup Olive Oil
- 3 Tbsp White Balsamic
- 2 Tbsp Maple Syrup
- 1 tsp Dijon Grey Poupon ( white wine base ) for a Gluten free dressing
- pinch Salt & Pepper
Instructions
Dressing
- Everything in a mason jar, shake, done! remember to only use ½ or less of the recipe for this Salad otherwise it will be drenched.
The Salad
- Toasted the sliced Almonds, slice the Red Onion into thicker slices, cut the Strawberries into fork size pieces and measure out Goat Cheese.
- Empty the Spinach into a serving bowl, spoon 2 – 3 tablespoons of dressing over the top and lightly toss. After tossing try to lift the Spinach so it has as much height as possible. This way when you add all the other ingredients on top it won't be a flat pancake on the bottom of the bowl.
- Add the Strawberries, Red Onion and half the Almonds to a mixing bowl. Add 2 – 3 tablespoons of dressing and mix.
- Spread the Strawberry mix evenly around the top of the Spinach.
- Dot the Goat Cheese evenly around and sprinkle the remaining sliced Almonds over the top.
- Grab an ice cool Sangria and…Enjoy!