It seems we’re starting off this week with a bit of a strawberry theme. This Strawberry Spinach Salad is a little bit different than the Strawberry Blueberry Parfaits – so feel free to eat them during the same meal.
I’m typically a pretty boring salad maker – as if adding fruit and nuts to salad is difficult (which, of course, it is not). I blame it on the fact that I am a meat-and-potato-farm-girl at heart. I grew up eating the basics. The only way we ate pecans was in pies. Strawberries were made into jelly. And spinach? The only kind I’d heard of was the slimy canned variety – and I didn’t touch it.
Now that I’ve branched out into loving all kinds of different foods (like actual strawberries – you should try them), I figure it might be time for me to try a few different salads beyond the basic kind with mixed greens and ranch dressing. Last week, I was out of mixed greens, but had a big container of spinach and several containers of strawberries. I did a little searching and came across this, which I tweaked and made for our lunch.
It was surprisingly very tasty. (Why was I surprised? I don’t know. Because it wasn’t basic mixed greens with ranch?) The combination of roasted pecans with the strawberries with the easy-to-make dressing packs a great punch of flavor.
Look at me. I’m such a big girl now – eating salads with fruit and nuts and vinaigrette.
Strawberry Spinach Salad with Vinaigrette Dressing
- 6 cups fresh spinach (give or take)
- 1 pound fresh strawberries, sliced into fourths
- ¾ cup pecans
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup balsamic or red wine vinegar
- ½ teaspoon ground mustard
- 2 shakes of sea salt
- In a small saucepan, roast pecans by warming them over medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Stir them frequently to keep them from scorching. (I didn't find it necessary to add any oil to the pan.)
- Toss the roasted pecans into a large bowl with spinach and strawberries
- In a jar, mix the oil, vinegar, mustard, and salt.
- Drizzle dressing over salad just before serving.
Isn’t it pretty?
Are you brave with your salads or do you typically stick with the basics?
