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Homestead Kitchen

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing

May 13, 2026
Strawberry spinach salad

The warmer weather has officially arrived around here, and honestly, I don’t think any of us wants to spend much time indoors anymore. The longer days mean we’re outside more, working on projects, catching up on chores that sat all winter, checking on the garden, and soaking up every bit of sunshine we can get.

This time of year always shifts the way we eat too. Heavy winter meals slowly get pushed aside for fresh fruits, crisp veggies, and simple recipes that come together quickly after long days outside. If I had my way, I’d happily eat a big salad for every single meal this time of year.

My husband, however, believes a meal isn’t complete unless there’s meat involved somewhere. So while I could sit down with a giant bowl of this strawberry spinach salad and call it dinner, he usually adds grilled chicken or steak on top to make it more of a main entrée. Thankfully, this easy spring salad recipe works both ways perfectly. Serve it as a light side dish or as a filling dinner salad.

This fresh strawberry spinach salad has quickly become one of our favorite healthy spring recipes. It’s packed with juicy strawberries, creamy avocado, crunchy pecans, tangy feta cheese, and a homemade lemon poppy seed dressing that tastes so much better than store-bought dressing.

Strawberry spinach salad

Strawberry Spinach Salad

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Servings: 4 People
Course: Main Course
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 5 oz fresh baby spinach
  • 1 pint fresh strawberries sliced
  • 1 avocado diced
  • 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese goat cheese works well also!
  • 1/2 cup candied pecans or walnuts
For The Homemade Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 Tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp poppy seeds
  • salt and pepper to taste

Method
 

  1. Wash and dry the spinach and strawberries thoroughly
  2. Add the spinach to a large serving bowl.
  3. Top with sliced strawberries, avocado, red onion, feta cheese, and candied pecans.
  4. In a small mason jar or bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, and salt and pepper.
  5. Drizzle the homemade poppy seed dressing over the salad just before serving.
  6. Toss gently and enjoy immediately.

Notes

Use fresh, ripe strawberries for the best flavor. 
Add the dressing right before serving so the spinach stays crisp.
Store the homemade lemon poppy seed dressing in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

How We Serve This Spring Salad

One of my favorite things about this healthy strawberry spinach salad is how versatile it is.

  • Serve it as a fresh spring side dish alongside grilled burgers or chicken.
  • Add sliced grilled chicken, steak, or even salmon to turn it into a full meal.
  • Bring it to Easter dinner, Mother’s Day brunch, or spring gatherings.
  • Enjoy it for a quick lunch after spending the morning outside working in the garden.

It’s light, fresh, colorful, and tastes exactly like spring should.

From our kitchen to yours,

Eliza