Strawberry Spinach Salad is a great side to make anytime of the year. This salad is sweet, creamy and absolutely delicious, you are going to love it!

With the New Year here, I don’t know about you but I am looking to start off 2023 eating a little healthier. Years ago, I taught a healthy cooking class and the participants LOVED this salad. Not only is it a great healthy option, if you add some protein like grilled chicken or salmon to it, it can also be a great main dish to serve. However, on its own this salad is a fantastic side. Since strawberries are found all throughout the year at the grocery stores, this salad can be served any time of the year. Make it for Valentine’s Day, for those summer gatherings, Thanksgiving or Christmas. It doesn’t matter what time of year you serve it, you and your guests are going to love it!

Greens, red fruit, goat cheese and honey roasted almonds tossed in a homemade balsamic dressing

What ingredients do I need for Strawberry Spinach Salad?

Fresh baby spinach: Used for the base of this salad. Grab a bag or package of your favorite baby spinach at the store. Most store bought spinach is already washed multiple times. However, feel free to wash it again if you so desire. If you feel the leaves are too big, feel free to cut them into bite sized pieces. For my salad, I left most of them alone, but I did cut off some of the long stems.

Fresh strawberries: Adds bright color and tons of sweet flavor. Wash the strawberries well. I like using vegetable spray for all my fruits and vegetables. Cut off the stems and slice the strawberries.
Goat cheese: The addition of goat cheese adds both a creamy texture and unbelievable flavor! It’s tangy, tart and a little earthy. If you haven’t tried it, now is the time!
Sliced almonds: Adds some crunch and texture. In addition, it adds some extra sweetness. I used Fresh Gourmet honey roasted sliced almonds. These salad toppings are great, just open and throw a few handfuls on your salad. However, if you don’t like almonds, add either pecans or walnuts, or eliminate the nuts altogether.

Balsamic vinegar dressing: Balsamic vinegar brings out the flavors of the strawberries, so feel free to use your favorite balsamic dressing or try my homemade one that I used for this recipe. It’s easy to make any only takes a few minutes whip up!

Strawberry Spinach Salad in a bowl with goat cheese crumbles and honey roasted sliced almonds drizzled with homemade balsamic dressing

What ingredients do I need for homemade balsamic dressing?

Just a few simple ingredients are combined then shaken to make this homemade balsamic dressing!

Extra virgin olive oil

Balsamic vinegar
Honey
Dijon mustard

Salt
Pepper

Is spinach healthy for you?

Spinach is a leafy green vegetable that has many health benefits. Some health benefits include:

Lowering blood pressure
Reducing age-related eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration
Improved cognition

Great source of vitamin K which helps bone health and growth
Great source of vitamin A which helps to keep the skin healthy and reduce fine lines and wrinkles
High source of iron. Iron helps with the production of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is essential for transporting oxygen from your lungs to the rest of the body.