strawberry feta salad with strawberry vinegrette

There is nothing more beautiful or fragrant than a strawberry picked fresh from the field. Warmed by the summer sun, the bright red and juicy berry begs to be eaten. The berries that make it home are the perfect addition to any dessert, but why stop at dessert? Freshly picked strawberries are the perfect combination of sweet and tart. The perfect complement to a fresh spinach, briny feta and crunchy pecans. My mouth waters just thinking about it.

A salad this perfect needs a great dressing. One that incorporates the sweetness of the strawberry with the acidic brininess of the feta. A simple vinegar and olive oil vinaigrette is brought to new levels with the addition of pureed fresh strawberries and chopped thyme. One bite and the flavors of summer explode in your mouth.

All vinaigrettes need to be balanced with a touch of sweetness, vanilla sugar is the perfect way to incorporate that sweetness and add a interesting new flavor profile with vanilla beans. Do you have some vanilla beans lying around? If so, you can make homemade vanilla sugar that will taste excellent in this spinach and strawberry salad recipe.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Yields 6 cups

Ingredients:

  • 6 cups baby spinach (washed and dried)
  • 1 cup fresh strawberries
  • 1/2 cup cubed feta
  • 1/2 cup pecans

Strawberry-Vanilla Vinaigrette

Yields 2 cups

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
  • 1 cup pureed strawberries
  • 1 tbsp. vanilla sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. finely chopped thyme
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Puree 1 cup of fresh strawberries in a blender. Add remaining ingredients and puree until smooth and incorporated. Chill or serve at room temperature. The dressing will hold in the fridge 7-14 days.

Assembly

Place spinach in the center of a salad plate. Slice strawberries in half. Garnish salad with strawberries, feta and pecans. Drizzle with strawberry-vanilla vinaigrette.

* For a complete meal add a protein such as grilled chicken or salmon to the top of the salad.