Spring Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-23 · Updated 2026-05-23

A fresh and vibrant salad featuring sweet strawberries and tender spinach, tossed in a creamy poppy seed dressing perfect for a light Mother’s Day starter. This American-inspired salad recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 15 minutes, pairs baby spinach leaves, fresh strawberries, sliced, crumbled feta cheese into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 190 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 6 cups baby spinach leaves
• 2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted
• 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp poppy seeds
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp black pepper

The salad spinner we’d dry the greens in → Best Salad Spinners for 2026: Picks That Actually Dry Greens

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large salad bowl, combine 6 cups baby spinach, 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries, 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese, 1/3 cup toasted sliced almonds, and 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion.
2. Step 2: In a separate small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tsp poppy seeds, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp black pepper until smooth and creamy.
3. Step 3: Pour the poppy seed dressing over the salad mixture and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
4. Step 4: Serve immediately as a refreshing starter or side dish.