Strawberry Salad – pretty as a picture and tastes even better! With spinach, lightly candied pecans, avocado, feta and a poppyseed dressing, this is a bit of a show off salad but it’s super straightforward and worth the effort.
One of the most fabulous new salads I’ve tried in years!
Strawberry Salad
I’m finding more and more that I’m being nominated as the designated Salad Bringer. Something about people thinking I cook so much for my job, surely I don’t want to make something big to bring along.
Pfft! Side salad? I want to do the centrepiece!!! Or a show stopping dessert! 😂
So I’ve been progressively building an arsenal of what I call “Show-Off” salads – to make myself feel better, that I’m making a worthy contribution. You want a side salad?? I’ll show you a side salad!!
They’re not technically challenging or calling for fussy gourmet ingredients.
They’re just extra special salads that look as great as they taste – and this Strawberry Salad is my latest!
There’s a few components to this salad:
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Poppyseed Dressing – dump and shake
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Lightly candied pecans – quick and easy, 5 minute job
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The salad part – chopping the strawberries is the part that takes the longest!
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Assembling – dress the spinach, then layer up the salad. No point tossing, the strawberries end up at the bottom!
What you need
Baby spinach is my favourite type of green fluffage for this salad because it’s got a lovely mild flavour and a soft texture that I think goes well with strawberries. Other mild lettuces will work well – just avoid ones like rocket/arugula (peppery) and radicchio (bitter).
The avocado is optional, I’d happily scoff this salad down even without. But it’s so good WITH it – that little creaminess with all the other stuff going on here is terrific!
The pecans are just lightly candied because we don’t need tons of sweetness (nor toffee sticking in our teeth). The strawberries add enough fresh sweetness, and also the dressing is not the zingy sour type, it’s creamy and a bit sweet.
Poppyseed Dressing – So much more than just another dressing with the addition of lots of little black bits! The poppyseed add nuttiness to the dressing which adds an extra something-something to this salad.
It’s not as zingy as most dressings – it’s a bit creamy (from the mayo) with a touch of sweet. And I think it goes so well with the fresh juicy sweetness of strawberries!
I find that Strawberry Salads are best layered rather than tossed. If you toss it all together, then all the good stuff ends up on the bottom of the bowl!
(The good “stuff” being the strawberries, candied pecans, avocado and feta.😂)
So the way I put this salad together, I toss the spinach with a bit of dressing, then layer it up as shown below. Usually 3 layers for a giant salad for gatherings, or 2 if it’s just a smaller side salad for dinner.
Make this Strawberry Salad as…
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Side salad for dinner – I usually skip the candied pecans and just use plain pecans. It’s pretty quick to put together if you skip this. It fresh enough to pair with mains with big flavours, such as BBQ Beef Brisket. But also flavourful and interesting enough to have on the side of quick everyday mains such as Garlic Chicken Thighs, Baked Fish, sticky country style Baked Pork Chops or some quick Garlic Prawns (Shrimp!)
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A meal in itself – it’s so scoffable, this is definitely a salad worthy of a meal! I’ve been having it for lunch with nothing else on the side and its kept me satisfied all afternoon. Mind you, I had generous servings!
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Try adding chicken! This Marinated Chicken Breast is ideal, or this Baked Chicken Breast. Slice it and serve on top or on the side.
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IMPRESS YOUR FAMILY and FRIENDS! Take this to the next gathering where you’re asked to bring a salad and bask in the glow of praises!
Yes, the last point is the main purpose behind the creation of this salad and yes, I’m really that immature. 😇 – Nagi x
More Show Off Salads
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Apple Salad with Candied Walnuts and Cranberries – that’s plumped cranberries, not just shrivelled up dried ones!
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Pearl Couscous Salad and Wild Rice Salad – colourful, loaded with textures and colours, I make both of these regularly all year round
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Prawn Mango Avocado Summer Salad – reserved for very special occasions!
Watch how to make it
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Strawberry Avocado Salad
Ingredients
Salad:
- 180g / 6 oz baby spinach
- 1 red onion (small), halved and finely sliced
- 375g / 12 oz ripe strawberries , sliced (Note 1)
- 2 avocados , quartered and sliced (Note 2)
- 120g / 4oz feta , crumbled
Candied Pecans (Note 3):
- 1 tbsp (15g) butter, unsalted
- 3 tbsp white sugar
- 1 cup pecans , roughly chopped
Poppyseed Dressing:
- 1 tbsp eschallots (French onion), very finely chopped
- 2.5 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 5 tbsp olive oil
- 1.5 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp white sugar
- 1 tbsp poppyseeds
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Place Dressing ingredients in a jar and shake well. Set aside for 10 minutes+ (keeps for a week).
Candied Pecans:
- Place butter and sugar in a non stick skillet over medium high. When butter is melted, add nuts.
- Stir 5 minutes - sugar will go sandy, then eventually melt into a caramel.
- Once sugar melts, cook for 2 minutes then spread pecans out on tray.
- Cool then break to separate.
Assemble Salad:
- Place spinach and onion in a bowl, drizzle with about 3 tbsp Dressing, toss.
- Transfer 1/3 spinach in a bowl. Scatter over 1/3 of each strawberries, avocado, feta, pecans. Drizzle with a bit of dressing.
- Top with another 1/3 spinach, strawberries, avocado, feta, pecans, then a bit more Dressing. Repeat once more.
- Serve immediately!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
He couldn’t figure out how to get through the dog door with his new toy….
Ahhh Dozer. You might not be the sharpest tool in the shed but you’ve got a heart of gold and you’re damn cute, so we love you anyway! 😂
All my guests loved it and were intrigued by the combination of ingredients and flavours. Love being able to make ahead the candied pecans and dressing.
Thanks for this yummy recipe Nagi.
This salad is definitely the most popular tasty salad I’ve ever made. I discovered it last Summer, have made it for 5 different occasions and have been asked for the recipe every time. So delicious!! I make it exactly per recipe except only 2 layers as I serve it on a very large shallow bowl
I also love this and have made it for years but I add streaky bacon and use the bacon grease in the dressing just to add a savory layer.
Made this today for a family lunch. Everyone just loved it. Thank you Nagi for another delicious recipe! 😋
Stunning and delicious! Made this as a side for Good Friday lunch, everyone loved it, so much so we ran out of salad?! Would definitely make again and have shared the recipe with some of our guests.
This is absolutely delicious. The dressing, wow. I was having such a good time entertaining I forgot the avocado, but it was still divine. Meredith marinated Feta and I candied walnuts (what I had on hand) love the sliding scale for quantities. This will be made again.
Delicious and was an absolute hit when I prepared it for a dinner party. Will definitely make again.
Just made this for dinner with Norwegian cured lamb ribs, pinnekjøtt, and we loved it. 😄 Thanks, Nagi.
just home from xmas indulgence
this strawberry and avocado salad a huge hit
the dressing and candied pecans WOW
added bonus I got your new book “Dinner” as my secret Santa present – YAY
thanks Nagi
Thanks for your avocado hint. It’s hard for a single person to use a whole avocado at one time (although i can probably eat a whole avocado sliced, with sesame oil and soy sauce on it!).
Prepared this for Christmas Pot luck and was a hit! Another awesome recipe
Delicious!!!
Oops, typo on my email address! Sorry.
Your recipes have never let me down! So eager to get the cookbook.
This has become a firm favourite of mine!!! I started making this is Ramadan 2022! Whenever I want to eat clean, I make this as a side salad with Panko chicken! The sauce is delicious! I usually add some fried halloumi to it and take out the strawberries! Thank you for sharing!
Delicious! I made this for our group dinner. There arw 4 couples and we take turns hosting . We have been doing this for 36 years They all loved the salad .
I have tried so many of your recipes and love everything.
Thank you Nagi . Oh and I love Dozer . ❤️
WOW!! That’s a lot of dinner parties!! I’m glad you all enjoyed the salad! N x
Yes, fabulous is the word. Like you I’m always asked to bring a salad as I’m the only one in our extended family with kids. But salad is so boring! Not this one! Thanks again Nani. Your recipes are a life changer 😘
Love your recipes ❣️ Would you happen to have a recipe for watermelon and goat cheese salad? We’re having a BBQ for our 40th wedding anniversary in a couple of weeks and our sons in law have asked me to make this salad
Thank you so much 😊
I want a video for this Avo prep ahead tip! Thanks
Made this tonight for a family dinner and wow – everyone loved it. In particular they liked the caramelised pecans. Certainly will be making this one again. Love your recipes!