Cool down with Strawberry Spinach Salad
Usually about this time of year I find myself getting into a food slump. The newness and excitement of summer has worn off. Yet, it’s still a little early in some parts of the country for the gardens to be ready for harvest. We are officially in the dog days of summer…
It’s hot outside, which means I don’t really want to eat a lot in general. I don’t want to heat up the house by turning on the oven. Also, I’m busy all day keeping the kids busy, so it’s a challenge to make time for making dinner.
But, life doesn’t stop when I’m in a food slump! My family still needs to eat (and with 3 boys, believe me, they eat), so that means I get the challenge of working through my own slump to be of service to my family.
How do I do that? I look for creative ways to provide dinner without heating up the house or making heavy meals.
Salads are a great go-to during the summer because they pack a nutritional punch while still meeting all my needs (keeping the house cool, keeping the meal light, and being quick to fix).
This strawberry spinach salad is amazing. I first had a similar salad many years ago at a potluck. It was so delicious that, after that, I made it my mission to create a similar recipe. I finally accomplished it a few years ago.
This recipe is a family favorite! We eat it at holiday gatherings and for many meals during the summer when it’s hot outside. It’s also a hit at potlucks!
It’s also a wonderfully diverse salad. Have it as a side dish. Make it a meal by adding some protein (some chicken or tofu or some mild fish). You can exchange the feta cheese for blue cheese if you like that better. You can add blueberries or mandarin oranges.
I love having flexibility in my menu options! Flexibility allows me to make similar things (reducing the strain on my brain when meal planning) but still have enough diversity that I don’t bore my family by eating the exact same thing every day.
Give it a try and let us know what you think! Here’s to simple summer eating 🙂
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- 4 cups Spinach leaves roughly torn
- 3/4 cup sliced strawberries
- 1/2 cup feta cheese crumbles
- 1/4 cup Walnuts chopped
- 1/2 cup mild flavored oil I use light olive oil
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1 tbsp dried onions
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- 2 tsp poppy seeds
- Take the spinach leaves and roughly tear them in half (if they are large leaves). Place spinach in a large bowl.
- Slice strawberries and add to spinach. Mix in.
- Add walnuts and feta cheese.
- Combine all ingredients into a blender. Blend for about 1 minute, until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
- Pour dressing into a dressing bottle and drizzle over salad.
- Serve immediately.
- Refrigerate dressing leftovers in an airtight container for up to 10 days.
- Once dressing has been refrigerated, it will be almost solid. When using again, pull the dressing out to warm up slightly about 10 minutes before serving. Or, run under warm water for a couple of minutes. Shake well before serving.
- Add variation to this salad by changing the nuts, adding meat or tofu protein, or adding blueberries or mandarin oranges.