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Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe with Glazed Walnuts and Easy Champagne Vinaigrette

fresh strawberry spinach salad - featured image
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A fresh and light salad combining baby spinach, ripe strawberries, and caramelized glazed walnuts, tossed in a tangy and easy champagne vinaigrette. Perfect for a quick, nourishing meal or side dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups fresh baby spinach, washed and dried
  • 1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 1 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons champagne vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Optional: crumbled feta or goat cheese
  • Optional: thinly sliced red onion or shallots

Instructions

  1. Glaze the Walnuts: Heat a small saucepan over medium heat. Add walnuts and brown sugar, stirring constantly until sugar melts and coats walnuts evenly, about 3–5 minutes. Remove from heat and spread walnuts on parchment paper to cool and harden.
  2. Prepare the Vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together champagne vinegar, olive oil, honey (or maple syrup), Dijon mustard, and a pinch of salt and black pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste.
  3. Prep the Produce: Rinse and dry baby spinach thoroughly. Hull and slice strawberries. If using, thinly slice red onion or shallots.
  4. Assemble the Salad: In a large bowl, combine spinach, strawberries, and optional onions. Drizzle about half the vinaigrette over the greens and toss gently to coat. Add crumbled cheese if desired.
  5. Add Glazed Walnuts: Just before serving, sprinkle cooled glazed walnuts over the salad to keep them crunchy. Toss lightly once more or serve with nuts on top.
  6. Final Taste Check: Taste the salad and add more vinaigrette or seasoning if needed. Add fresh cracked pepper on top if desired.

Notes

Use fresh, ripe strawberries for best flavor. Roast walnuts lightly before glazing to deepen flavor if desired. Keep walnuts separate until serving to maintain crunch. For vegan version, substitute honey with maple syrup and omit cheese or use plant-based cheese. Avoid freezing glazed walnuts as they lose crunch.

Nutrition

Keywords: strawberry spinach salad, glazed walnuts, champagne vinaigrette, fresh salad, healthy salad, quick salad, easy salad recipe

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