Dig into this strawberry spinach salad with quinoa, cucumber and fresh mozzarella. Topped with basil balsamic dressing and toasted almonds, it’ll surely become your go-to salad recipe this summer!
Hello friends! Has your weather been gorgeous lately too? I absolutely love this time of year when everything seems to slow down a bit and mealtime becomes more casual. There’s something about eating on the deck that makes it even more enjoyable, right?!
With the hot weather, we’re finding ourselves craving all kinds of fresh food. Over the weekend, I made this strawberry spinach salad with quinoa. Needless to say, it was a big hit.
Hello Strawberry Season!
Don’t those sliced strawberries look scrumptious? And with other garden fresh ingredients like baby spinach, red leaf lettuce, cucumber and green onion, this summery salad is packed with all kinds of goodness.
Of course, strawberries are in season right now, so I look for any opportunity to use them. This batch was particularly sweet and juicy. Yum!
If you’re a strawberry lover like I am, you may want to check out my full collection of strawberry recipes, including drinks, desserts and more. I’m also joining some of my friends today who are sharing their ideas for using fresh strawberries.
Some links used in this post are affiliates. Please refer to my disclosure policy for more information.
Tasty Strawberry Pairings
Anything in particular you like to pair with strawberries? For me, it’s basil and balsamic.
Naturally, it made sense to go in that direction for the dressing. This one is blended with fresh strawberries, along with typical staple ingredients you’d find in a homemade salad dressing with one key difference…
Instead of using balsamic vinegar, I used glaze. It intensifies and sweetens the flavour, which means a tiny bit of this zippy salad dressing goes a long way.
I also suggest trying balsamic glaze over chicken, flatbread, grilled veggies, bruschetta and more. So tasty!
We prefer dishing up our own salad, then lightly drizzling the balsamic dressing on afterwards. As an option, you can add it to the whole bowl just before serving. Be sure to include the toasted almonds for a bit of crunch.
And, because this salad is so packed full of protein from the cheese, quinoa and nuts, it can serve as a meal on its own without weighing you down. As an option, add a bit of grilled chicken. It’s a great salad to pack for summer picnics too. Enjoy!
Strawberry Spinach Salad with Basil Balsamic Dressing
Ingredients
- extra virgin olive oil
- balsamic glaze
- white wine vinegar
- dijon mustard
- salt and pepper
- fresh strawberries and basil
- baby spinach and red leaf lettuce
- cooked quinoa or ancient grain blend
- cucumber and green onion
- fresh mozzarella
- toasted almonds
The full list of ingredients and instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Directions
To make the basil balsamic dressing, add fresh strawberries, basil, olive oil, balsamic glaze, vinegar, dijon, salt and pepper to a blender. Blend until smooth and transfer to a jar.
To make the strawberry spinach salad, layer spinach, lettuce, quinoa, cucumber, green onion, strawberries and basil in a large bowl.
Drizzle salad evenly with dressing, toss lightly, then top with toasted almonds. Serve immediately.
Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe Tips
- Dressing and salad can be prepared ahead of time separately. Store in refrigerator until right before serving. Add nuts at the end to keep them crunchy.
- For the quinoa, I used a blend of quinoa and ancient grains that are gluten-free. Cook ahead of time and store in the refrigerator until needed.
- To make this salad nut-free, try replacing the almonds with sunflower seeds.
- For a vegan salad, simply eliminate the fresh mozzarella.
- Use balsamic glaze, not vinegar to make the dressing. I keep a bottle of this brand on hand, but you can make your own by reducing balsamic vinegar in a saucepan over medium-low heat until it thickens (stir and watch closely). Add a bit of brown sugar for a sweeter version.
Another Summer Salad Recipe to Try
Love fresh fruit in your savoury salad? I suggest making this Grilled Peach Salad with Maple Vinaigrette. It’s one of my all-time favourites with similar ingredients.
Strawberry Spinach Salad with Quinoa and Balsamic
Fresh strawberry salad featuring baby spinach, quinoa, fresh mozzarella, toasted almonds and more tossed in basil balsamic dressing. This salad is gluten free!
Ingredients
For the dressing
- ½ cup sliced strawberries
- 2 basil leaves
- 4½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1½ tablespoon balsamic glaze
- 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
- ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- freshly cracked black pepper (to taste)
For the salad
- 4 cups lightly packed fresh baby spinach
- 2 cups red leaf lettuce
- 1 cup cooked quinoa, cooled
- ½ cup chopped cucumber
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onion
- 5 basil leaves, torn into small pieces
- ½ cup fresh mozzarella, torn into pieces
- 1 cup sliced strawberries
- ⅓ cup toasted almonds
Instructions
For the dressing
-
To a blender, add fresh strawberries, basil, olive oil, balsamic glaze, vinegar, dijon, salt and pepper. Blend until smooth and transfer to a jar.
For the salad
-
In a large bowl, layer spinach, lettuce, quinoa, cucumber, green onion, strawberries and basil.
-
Drizzle salad evenly with dressing, toss, then top with toasted almonds. Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
- Dressing and salad can be prepared ahead of time separately. Store in refrigerator until right before serving. Add nuts at the end to keep them crunchy.
- For the quinoa, I used a blend of quinoa and ancient grains that are gluten-free. Cook ahead of time and store in the refrigerator until needed.
- To make this salad nut-free, try replacing the almonds with sunflower seeds.
- For a vegan salad, simply eliminate the fresh mozzarella.
- Use balsamic glaze, not vinegar to make the dressing. I keep a bottle of this brand on hand, but you can make your own by reducing balsamic vinegar in a saucepan over medium-low heat until it thickens (stir and watch closely). Add a bit of brown sugar for a sweeter version.
Be sure to pin this spinach and strawberry salad to your recipe boards on Pinterest!
More Strawberry Recipes
Now it’s time to check out some other delicious strawberry recipes. I want to try them all!
Fresh Strawberry Pie // Happy Happy Nester
Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes // Inspiration For Moms
Strawberry Tart // Paint Me Pink
Muddled Strawberry Basil Cocktail // Modern Glam
Strawberry Cocktail // Craftberry Bush
Refreshing Strawberry Cocktail // Maison De Cinq
Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Sandwiches // My 100 Year Old Home
Strawberry Basil Ice Cream // Most Lovely Things
Keto Strawberry Shortcake In A Jar // The Happy Housie
Strawberry Spinach Salad with Quinoa // Satori Design For Living
Glazed Strawberry Sweet Bread // Sincerely, Marie Designs
Breakfast Granola Tart // My Sweet Savannah
Easy Strawberry Banana Cheesecake Salad // Twelve on Main
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Have a delicious day!
Norma says
I love summer salads! Can’t wait to try this one!!
Shauna Oberg says
Thank you, Norma! Enjoy :)
Krista says
This looks absolutely delicious – I love the mix of strawberries with balsamic!
Shauna Oberg says
Thank you! It’s a delicious combination, right?!