15-Minute Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe
A fresh and vibrant 15-minute strawberry spinach salad featuring a homemade balsamic glaze dressing, fresh berries, toasted pecans, and crumbled feta cheese for a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Dressing
- 1 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup honey (or brown sugar)
Salad
- 10 oz baby spinach (fresh)
- 3 cups strawberries (cleaned, hulled, sliced)
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1/3 cup feta cheese (crumbled)
- 1 cup pecans (toasted, some chopped)
Instructions
- Make the Balsamic Glaze: In a small saucepan, combine the balsamic vinegar and honey over medium heat. Stir occasionally as you bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Simmer the Glaze: Reduce heat to low and simmer the mixture, stirring frequently, until it thickens and reduces by about half. This should take approximately 10 minutes. Be careful not to overcook to avoid a glaze that’s too thick.
- Cool the Glaze: Remove the saucepan from heat and pour the balsamic glaze into a heat-proof bowl to cool. The glaze will thicken further as it cools. The final consistency should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon but still pourable.
- Prepare the Salad: In a large bowl, combine the fresh baby spinach, sliced strawberries, blueberries, and crumbled feta cheese. Toss gently to mix all ingredients evenly.
- Serve the Salad: Divide the salad mixture into individual serving bowls.
- Add Pecans: Top each salad serving with whole and chopped toasted pecans for added crunch and flavor.
- Drizzle Dressing: Finally, drizzle the cooled balsamic glaze evenly over each salad serving just before serving.
Notes
- To toast pecans, heat a dry skillet over medium heat and cook the pecans for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant and lightly browned.
- You can substitute honey with brown sugar in the balsamic glaze for a different sweetness profile.
- For a nuttier flavor, consider lightly chopping some of the toasted pecans while leaving others whole for garnish.
- This salad is best served fresh to maintain the crispness of spinach and berries.
Keywords: Strawberry spinach salad, balsamic glaze, fresh berries salad, healthy salad, quick salad recipe, vegetarian salad
