Strawberry, Spinach and Feta Salad

Fresh, easy, complete and delicious, This salad has it all! The combination of the freshness and sweetness of the strawberries contrasts with the intensity of the feta cheese, and we dress it all with a Modena and honey vinaigrette super easy to make and that enhances the flavor of the strawberries even more.

If I've convinced you already, you should know that everything is also accompanied by nuts, arugula, the touch of mustard... Complete and complementary ingredients that go wonderfully together.

I hope you feel encouraged to try this so fresh, colorful and tasty salad. It will refresh you and bring smiles on any hot day!

Ingredients

For the spinach and strawberry salad:

• 200 gr fresh spinach
• 50 gr arugula
• 1/2 sweet or red onion (half of a small onion, or 1/4 of a large onion)
• 35 gr strawberries
• 130 gr feta cheese
• 90 gr toasted pecans (or California walnuts)
• Mint leaves (optional, to garnish and further refresh the dish).

*Instead of a spinach and arugula salad, if you prefer you can use only 250 gr of spinach.

For the Modena and honey dressing:

• 70 ml balsamic vinegar
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 1/2 tablespoons poppy seeds (optional)

Preparation

1. Chop the onion very finely and leave it in a bowl with water to mellow its flavor.
2. Prepare the dressing: in the hand blender (for these vinaigrettes the Ingenio chopper), add all the dressing ingredients and blend until smooth.
3. Chop the nuts (you can also do it in the Ingenio), cut the feta into small cubes or crumble it and drain the onion.
4. Cut the strawberries in half or into quarters if they are large.
5. Let's assemble the salad: in a large salad bowl, arrange the spinach and arugula covering as much space as possible, add the onion (distributing it over all the green leaves) and scatter the strawberries. Next add the feta, crumbling or distributing it across the surface, and sprinkle the chopped nuts on top.
6. With a spoon, dress the salad with a little of the vinaigrette you prepared, and reserve the rest in a bowl that you can serve alongside the salad so each diner can finish dressing it to their taste.

Notes

• If you have washed the spinach or strawberries recently, it is important to dry them well before preparing the salad, otherwise it will become watery and lose intensity.
• This is an ideal recipe for strawberry season! It is definitely a great recipe in spring and early summer, when strawberries are at their best.
• If you want to make a vinaigrette without mustard but similar, you can simply mix oil, Modena vinegar, honey and a pinch of salt. Combine everything and it's ready to dress the salad!
• If you want to turn this starter into a main course, you can add strips of breaded chicken, believe me it goes wonderfully.
• Serve it with some slices of bread: I love to dip them on the plate to enjoy them with what remains of that delicious vinaigrette.
• You will find a great number of bowls and salad bowls in the salad bowls section.