Refreshing Fruit and Spinach Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette

Coming up with fresh lunch ideas that are both healthy and satisfying can feel like a real challenge. Between work deadlines, after-school activities, and trying to squeeze in a quick meal at your desk, it’s tempting to fall back on the same old sandwiches or takeout options day after day.

That’s why this fruit and spinach salad with strawberry vinaigrette has become my go-to lunch solution. It’s quick to throw together, packed with good-for-you ingredients, and can be customized based on whatever fruits you have in your fridge – plus that homemade strawberry dressing takes it from good to absolutely fantastic.

What Kind of Spinach Should I Use?

For this fresh salad, baby spinach leaves are your best bet since they’re tender and have a milder flavor than mature spinach. Regular spinach leaves work too, but you might want to tear the larger leaves into bite-sized pieces and remove any thick stems. If you’re shopping at the grocery store, look for bright green leaves without any yellow spots or wilting – the fresher, the better. Pre-washed bags of spinach are perfectly fine to use and save you some prep time, but if you’re buying loose spinach, just make sure to give it a good wash and dry it thoroughly so your dressing sticks better to the leaves.

Options for Substitutions

This fresh salad is super adaptable and you can switch things up based on what you have in your kitchen:

• Fruits: Feel free to mix and match your fruits! Instead of apples and pears, try peaches, mangoes, or oranges when in season. You can even use dried fruits like cranberries or cherries for a different texture.
• Pumpkin seeds: Any seeds or nuts work great here – try sunflower seeds, chopped almonds, pecans, or walnuts for that nice crunch.
• Spinach: While spinach makes a great base, you can swap it with arugula, mixed greens, or butter lettuce. Baby kale works too, though it has a stronger flavor.
• Red wine vinegar: For the dressing, apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar work just as well. Each brings its own subtle flavor to the mix.
• Honey: Maple syrup or agave nectar can replace honey if you prefer. Just start with a bit less as they tend to be sweeter.
• Poppy seeds: You can skip these or try chia seeds instead – they’ll give you that nice speckled look in the dressing.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making

The biggest challenge when making a fruit and spinach salad is timing – cutting and preparing the fruit too far in advance can lead to browning apples and pears, so toss them in a bit of lemon juice if you need to prep ahead.

When it comes to the strawberry vinaigrette, a common mistake is not blending the ingredients long enough, which can result in a chunky rather than smooth dressing – blend until the strawberries are completely pureed for the best texture.

Your salad can quickly become soggy if you dress it too early, so wait to add the vinaigrette until right before serving, and remember to dry your spinach leaves thoroughly after washing – a salad spinner works great for this, but paper towels will do in a pinch.

For the perfect balance of flavors, taste and adjust the vinegar and honey in your dressing before adding it to the salad, as strawberries can vary in sweetness depending on the season.

What to Serve With Fruit and Spinach Salad?

This fresh and sweet salad makes a perfect side dish, but you can easily turn it into a complete meal with a few simple additions. Try adding some grilled chicken breast or salmon on top for a protein boost that works really well with the fruity flavors. For a vegetarian option, I like to add some crumbled goat cheese and a handful of candied pecans – it makes the salad feel more filling while keeping things light. If you’re serving this as a side dish, it pairs beautifully with grilled meats, roasted chicken, or even a simple quiche for a lovely brunch spread.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: For the best results, keep the prepared vinaigrette separate from your salad ingredients. Store the dressing in an airtight container or mason jar in the fridge for up to 5 days. Give it a good shake before using since it naturally separates over time.

Prep Ahead: You can wash and dry your spinach leaves ahead of time – just wrap them in paper towels and store in a plastic bag in the crisper drawer. Cut your fruits just before serving to prevent browning. The pumpkin seeds can be stored at room temperature in a sealed container.

Assembly: When you’re ready to eat, simply toss your fresh ingredients together and add the dressing right before serving. This keeps everything crisp and prevents the spinach from wilting. If you’re packing this for lunch, put the dressing in a separate container and combine it when you’re ready to eat.

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	0-5 minutes
Total Time	10-20 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 600-700
• Protein: 8-12 g
• Fat: 50-60 g
• Carbohydrates: 45-55 g

Ingredients

• 1 apple (cored and sliced)
• 1 pear (cored and sliced)
• 1/2 pound strawberries (hulled and sliced)
• 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
• 8 ounces or 1/2 pound of spinach leaves
• For vinaigrette (sufficient for two salads):
• 1/4 cup chilled filtered water
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar (adjust to preference)
• 1/2 pound fresh strawberries (hulled and cut in half, about 1 1/2 cups)
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds

Step 1: Prepare the Dressing Base

In a food processor or blender, combine 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup cider vinegar, 1/2 pound of strawberries, and 2 tablespoons of honey.

Blend these ingredients until the mixture is smooth and well combined.

Step 2: Add Poppy Seeds to the Dressing

Add 1/2 teaspoon of poppy seeds to the pureed mixture in the blender.

Pulse once or twice to ensure the poppy seeds are evenly distributed throughout the dressing.

Once combined, transfer the dressing to a container and refrigerate it for up to a week to let the flavors meld.

Step 3: Assemble and Dress the Salad

Gather all of your salad ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

These could include greens like spinach or mixed salad leaves, along with other toppings such as nuts, cheese, or additional sliced strawberries.

Add the strawberry poppy seed dressing to taste, ensuring enough to coat all salad components.

Toss the salad gently to ensure even distribution of the dressing.

Serve immediately and enjoy the fresh, vibrant flavors!