Strawberry Spinach Salad with Balsamic Poppy Seed Vinaigrette.

What a classic salad. Creamy goat cheese, sweet strawberries, toasted pecans and flavour packed red onion. Pair all that with a balsamic poppy seed vinaigrette and you have the perfect spring salad.

Another salad filled with flavour and nutrients, you could add chicken breast to pack a protein punch. This salad can be a a meal for one or a nice addition to a lunch or supper.

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Balsamic Poppy Seed Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

For salad

- 4 cups fresh baby spinach

- 1/2 cup pecans, toasted and chopped

- 1/2 cup strawberries, sliced

- 1/4 cup red onion, slices thin

- 1/4 cup goat cheese, crumbles

For Poppy Seed Vinaigrette

- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

- 1 1/2 tablespoon poppy seeds

- 1 1/2 tablespoon honey

- 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard

- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt

- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:

1. In a small frying pan toast pecans on medium heat until golden brown and fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool. Chop roughly once cooled.

2. Slice onions finely and chop up strawberries.

3. For vinaigrette, combine all ingredients in a all mansion jar and shake until combined.

4. Place spinach in medium sized bowl, add strawberries, onions, pecans and goat cheese. Drizzle 2-3 tablespoons of vinaigrette over salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately, spinach can get soggy quickly.

A nice fresh salad for a beautiful day. This is one of my favourites but the dressing is traditionally a creamy poppyseed, so this version is healthier! Light and refreshing and packed with springtime flavours and colours.

Enjoy!!

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