Easy Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe with Balsamic Maple Dressing

A simple and delicious Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe featuring a homemade Balsamic Maple Dressing. Perfect for a quick, healthy meal!

One of my favorite ways to enjoy fresh spring produce is with this easy strawberry spinach salad recipe. Sweet strawberries, tender spinach, crunchy pecans, and a homemade balsamic maple dressing come together in a simple salad that’s perfect for everything from weeknight dinners to summer entertaining.

I especially love making this salad during spinach season. Spinach is one of the first crops I harvest from my vegetable garden each spring, and it’s also one of the easiest vegetables for beginners to grow. Whether you’re picking fresh leaves from the garden or grabbing a bag of baby spinach from the grocery store, this salad is packed with fresh flavor and comes together in minutes.

If you’re interested in growing your own salad greens, check out my Beginner’s Guide to Growing a Vegetable Garden and my Winter Sowing Guide, where I share how I grow spinach, other cool-season crops, and flowers in my New Jersey garden.

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The Vermont Inspiration Behind This Dressing

Every time our family visits Vermont, I’m always amazed by how creatively local restaurants use pure maple syrup. It’s not just for pancakes. You’ll find it in glazes, marinades, dressings, and desserts.

After one trip, I started experimenting with maple syrup in homemade salad dressings and discovered it paired beautifully with balsamic vinegar. The rich sweetness balances the tanginess of the vinegar while helping bring out the natural sweetness of fresh strawberries.

It’s a simple addition, but one that transforms this strawberry spinach salad into something special.

Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe

Ready to prepare this vibrant and delicious salad? Here’s everything you’ll need:

Ingredients

• 1 package (5-6 oz) fresh baby spinach
• 1 package (16 oz) fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
• 1 package (8 oz) ciliegine fresh mozzarella balls, drained
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• ⅛ cup balsamic vinegar
• ⅛ cup real maple syrup (fake syrup need not apply)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• Optional protein: 1 lb cooked chicken, shrimp, fish, turkey, or your favorite lean meat (for a more substantial meal)

Directions to Make Easy Strawberry Spinach Salad With Balsamic Maple Dressing

1. Prepare the Salad Base: In a large mixing bowl, gently combine the fresh spinach, halved strawberries, and fresh mozzarella balls. If you’re adding protein, now is the ideal time to incorporate it.
2. Whisk the Dressing: In a separate small bowl or, for ease, a salad dressing shaker bottle, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and real maple syrup. Season with salt and pepper to your preference. Remember to taste and adjust—sometimes a bit more tang or sweetness can perfect it!
3. Dress and Serve: Pour the dressing over the assembled salad ingredients. Toss gently to ensure everything is evenly coated. Serve immediately to enjoy the freshest flavors!

Why This Salad Is Perfect for Garden Harvest Season

Spinach is one of the first vegetables I harvest from my garden each spring. I often winter sow spinach and other salad greens, which allows me to enjoy fresh harvests earlier in the season.

This salad is one of my favorite ways to use those tender young leaves. The combination of sweet strawberries, fresh spinach, and homemade balsamic maple dressing captures everything I love about spring cooking.

If you’re interested in growing your own salad greens, check out my Beginner’s Guide to Growing a Vegetable Garden and my Winter Sowing Guide where I share how I grow spinach and other cool-season crops in my New Jersey garden.

Serving Suggestions For Your Strawberry Spinach Salad

This Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe is incredibly versatile and pairs well with many dishes:

• Light Meal: Enjoy it as a refreshing and healthy stand-alone lunch or dinner.
• Accompaniment: It complements grilled chicken, salmon, or steak beautifully.
• Gatherings: This is a fantastic dish to bring to potlucks or picnics; simply keep the dressing separate until just before serving.
• Added Crunch: For an extra layer of texture, consider adding toasted pecans, walnuts, or slivered almonds.

Helpful Kitchen Tools

To make your salad preparation even smoother, here are a couple of my favorite tools:

• Wood Salad Bowl with Tongs: A beautiful wood salad bowl with tongs not only enhances your table setting but also provides ample space for tossing your salad without spills. It adds a lovely rustic touch to your meal.
• Salad Dressing Shaker Bottle: This is a true time-saver! A good salad dressing shaker bottle allows you to whip up your dressing quickly and cleanly. Just combine your ingredients, shake vigorously, and pour—no more struggling with forks to emulsify!

Strawberry Spinach Salad Variations

Feel free to customize your Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe to suit your taste:

• Cheese Alternatives: Feta cheese or crumbled goat cheese can be excellent substitutes for mozzarella, adding a different salty or tangy profile.
• Nutty Additions: Toasted pecans, walnuts, or slivered almonds contribute a delightful crunch.
• Other Berries: While strawberries are central, a handful of fresh blueberries or raspberries can also be a delicious complement.
• Extra Vegetables: Thinly sliced red onion, cucumber, or bell peppers can boost the vegetable content and add more flavor.

Storage Information

This salad is best enjoyed fresh. However, if you have leftovers or are preparing it in advance:

• Undressed Salad: Store the undressed salad (spinach, strawberries, mozzarella, and any other solid ingredients) in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
• Dressing: Keep the dressing in a separate airtight container (your salad dressing shaker bottle works perfectly!) in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days.
• Combine Just Before Serving: To maintain the freshness of the spinach and prevent the strawberries from becoming soggy, always add the dressing just before you plan to serve.

Final Thoughts About This Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe

There’s something especially satisfying about making a meal with ingredients that celebrate the season, and this strawberry spinach salad is one of my favorite ways to do that. The combination of sweet strawberries, tender spinach, fresh mozzarella, and homemade balsamic maple dressing creates a simple dish that feels both fresh and special.

As someone who grows vegetables and salad greens every year in my New Jersey garden, I always look forward to spinach season. It’s one of the first crops I harvest in spring, and recipes like this are a delicious way to enjoy those fresh-picked greens. Whether you’re harvesting spinach from your own backyard or picking up fresh ingredients from the grocery store or local farmers market, this salad is easy enough for a weeknight meal but beautiful enough to serve when entertaining.

If you’re interested in growing your own salad greens, be sure to check out my Beginner’s Guide to Growing a Vegetable Garden and Winter Sowing Guide, where I share how I grow spinach and other cool-season crops at home.

Have you tried this strawberry spinach salad recipe? I’d love to hear how you make it your own. Let me know in the comments below!

Thank you for visiting the blog today!

Enjoy your day! xo

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