Description
A refreshing and vibrant fruit and spinach salad featuring crisp apples, pears, and strawberries, topped with crunchy pumpkin seeds and dressed in a homemade strawberry vinaigrette. Perfect for a light, healthy meal or side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 1 apple (cored and sliced)
- 1 pear (cored and sliced)
- 1/2 lb strawberries (hulled and sliced)
- 2 Tbsp pumpkin seeds
- 8 oz (1/2 lb) spinach leaves
Strawberry Vinaigrette
- 1/4 cup cold filtered water
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar (or to taste)
- 1/2 lb fresh strawberries (hulled and halved, about 1 1/2 cups)
- 2 Tbsp honey
- 1/2 tsp poppy seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the Salad Ingredients: Wash and dry the spinach leaves thoroughly. Core and slice the apple and pear into thin slices. Hull and slice the 1/2 pound of strawberries. In a large salad bowl, combine the spinach, apple slices, pear slices, and sliced strawberries. Sprinkle the pumpkin seeds over the top for added crunch.
- Make the Strawberry Vinaigrette: In a blender or food processor, combine the halved fresh strawberries, cold filtered water, olive oil, red wine vinegar, honey, and poppy seeds. Blend until smooth and well emulsified. Taste and adjust vinegar or honey as needed for preferred balance of sweetness and acidity.
- Toss the Salad: Drizzle the prepared strawberry vinaigrette over the salad ingredients in the large bowl. Gently toss all the ingredients together to ensure everything is evenly coated with the vinaigrette. Serve immediately for optimal freshness and flavor.
Notes
- Use fresh and ripe strawberries for the best flavor in the vinaigrette.
- Red wine vinegar can be adjusted to taste or substituted with apple cider vinegar for a different tang.
- This salad is best served fresh to maintain the crispness of the fruits and spinach.
- For added protein, consider sprinkling some feta cheese or nuts like almonds or walnuts.
- Honey can be substituted with maple syrup for a vegan option, but note the diet category is not marked vegan here.
