Spinach, Strawberry & Goat Cheese Salad with Poppyseed Vinaigrette

I’m going to keep this brief and simple today, for you and for me. This lovely little salad comes together in just a few minutes, dressing included. provided you have your ingredients gathered. It’s a perfect summer salad with the beautiful strawberry as the star of the show and it will make you look like the superstar you are in the kitchen. Yes, you are, don’t be modest now!

There’s something about vinegar that brings out the flavor of the strawberry like nothing else and this vinaigrette is so easy! I hope it inspires you to make your own salad dressing more often. If you don’t have red wine vinegar you could substitute white wine vinegar or champagne vinegar. Balsamic vinegar is a classic pairing with strawberries but it will muddy the look of the salad so you might opt for a white balsamic if that’s what’s in your cupboard. If you do use balsamic vinegar, red or white, it will bring its own sweetness so reduce the amount of agave/honey or omit it altogether.  Let your tastebuds be your guide

 

(serves 2 – 3)

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

1/2 tablespoon agave nectar or honey

salt & pepper

1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

4 medium/large strawberries

2 – 3 cups baby spinach

2 – 4 tablespoons goat cheese, crumbled

If you are serving this salad immediately, start your dressing right in the salad bowl as shown, otherwise make it in a smaller, separate bowl and toss just before serving.

Combine red wine vinegar, agave,

 a small pinch of salt, some fresh ground pepper,

Whisk in olive oil and stir briskly until well combined.

Remove stems and slice strawberries.

Add to the vinaigrette along with a few handfuls of spinach. Keep in mind the spinach will wilt down a bit.

Toss to coat the spinach and strawberries with vinaigrette.

Add  2 – 4 TB goat cheese (as much or as little as you like). Serve and enjoy this delicious and very nutritious salad!

A happy quote to go along with a happy dish…