This Spinach Strawberry Salad with Blue Cheese is more than just a dish; it’s a vibrant celebration of flavors and textures, a true Southern classic that effortlessly combines the sweetness of fruit with the savory depth of blue cheese and the irresistible crunch of candied pecans. Complemented by juicy mandarin oranges and a luscious homemade balsamic vinaigrette, this salad is guaranteed to captivate your palate and earn its title as the Best Ever Strawberry Spinach Salad you’ll ever experience. Its simple elegance makes it perfect for any occasion, from casual weeknight dinners to sophisticated holiday gatherings.
Prepare to dazzle your taste buds with a symphony of sensations. The crisp, tender spinach provides a fresh foundation, while succulent strawberries burst with natural sweetness. The tangy pop of mandarin oranges cuts through the richness, all brought together by the bold, creamy notes of blue cheese. Each bite offers a delightful contrast, leading to an incredibly satisfying and remarkably balanced culinary journey. This recipe is not just about combining ingredients; it’s about crafting an unforgettable dining experience that embodies the warmth and richness of Southern hospitality.
Why This Salad Will Become Your Go-To Recipe
The magic of this salad lies in its ability to convert even the most ardent salad skeptics. Just last week, during a casual pizza night with friends, I witnessed its undeniable power. Our friend John, known for his aversion to salads, hesitantly took a bite. His eyes immediately lit up, and he pressed me for the secret behind the dressing’s exquisite sweetness. I revealed the simple yet profound combination of aged balsamic vinegar and a touch of honey, which perfectly rounds out the ensemble of flavors. To his wife’s astonishment, and my delight, John proceeded to enjoy three generous servings throughout the meal. This transformative experience unequivocally sealed the deal: this cherished recipe had to be shared with the world.
What makes this salad truly exceptional is its masterful balance. The sweet, tart, savory, and subtly spicy elements create a harmonious blend that dances on your tongue. It’s light yet satisfying, refreshing yet complex, making it an ideal choice for a variety of meals. Whether you’re seeking a vibrant side dish, a light lunch, or a stunning appetizer, this spinach strawberry salad delivers every time. Its roots trace back to the iconic “Baby Blue Salad” from Homewood Gourmet in Birmingham, Alabama, a testament to its enduring Southern charm and culinary legacy, having even been featured in Southern Living magazine back in 2006. This isn’t just a salad; it’s a proven crowd-pleaser with a history of delighting palates.
Crafting Perfection: A Deep Dive into Key Ingredients
While this recipe is incredibly forgiving and encourages personalization, understanding the role of each ingredient can elevate your salad from good to truly exceptional. Here’s a closer look at the components that make this salad a standout:
- Baby Spinach: We opt for baby spinach because its delicate, tender leaves offer a softer texture and milder flavor compared to mature spinach, making each bite easy and enjoyable. Its vibrant green hue also adds to the salad’s visual appeal. If baby spinach isn’t available, or you prefer a different base, tender spring greens or a medley of mixed salad greens make excellent substitutes, offering similar tenderness and a complementary flavor profile. You could even introduce a hint of peppery arugula for an extra layer of complexity.
- Blue Cheese: The inclusion of blue cheese is pivotal to this salad’s classic Southern identity. Its characteristic pungency and creamy texture provide a delightful contrast to the sweetness of the fruit and dressing. I personally favor creamy Gorgonzola for its balanced intensity, but any good quality blue cheese, such as Maytag or Roquefort, will work beautifully. For those who find blue cheese too assertive, crumbled feta cheese is a fantastic substitute, offering a salty tang without the same sharp intensity. Alternatively, goat cheese can provide a milder creaminess and earthy notes.
- Canned Mandarin Oranges: These golden segments are a cornerstone of convenience and flavor in this salad. Simply drain them, and they’re ready to brighten your dish with their sweet, juicy pop. For a more gourmet touch or when mandarins are in season, supremed (skinless, membrane-free) fresh oranges – like navel or even striking blood oranges – are a delicious alternative. Supremed oranges offer a burst of fresh citrus flavor and a stunning visual element. The process of supreming an orange is simpler than it sounds and yields elegant, juicy segments. You can learn How to Supreme an Orange for a truly professional touch.
- Fresh Strawberries: The inclusion of fresh strawberries not only introduces another layer of natural sweetness but also adds a beautiful color and a soft, juicy texture that complements the crisp greens and crunchy pecans. Choose ripe, firm strawberries for the best flavor and appearance. Their slight tartness balances the richness of the cheese and dressing. In the height of summer, feel free to experiment with other berries like raspberries or blueberries for a delightful variation.
- Sweet and Spicy Pecans: These candied pecans are the secret weapon of this salad, providing an essential crunch and a touch of tantalizing heat that brilliantly offsets the sweet and creamy elements. The process of preparing them involves a gentle soak, a coating of sugar and spices like chili powder and cayenne, and a quick bake until perfectly caramelized and fragrant. This simple step elevates the entire salad, transforming it into an extraordinary culinary experience. You can adjust the level of spice to your preference, from a subtle warmth to a more pronounced kick. For convenience, good quality store-bought candied pecans can also be used, though homemade always offer unparalleled freshness and flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Spinach Strawberry Salad
Absolutely! This salad is surprisingly amenable to make-ahead preparation, making it perfect for entertaining or meal prepping. To keep everything fresh and crisp, I recommend assembling the components separately. You can combine the greens, mandarin oranges, strawberries, and blue cheese in your serving bowl, but do not toss them. The crucial step is to keep the dressing separate and only add it right before serving. This prevents the greens from becoming soggy and ensures optimal texture and flavor. Alternatively, for ultimate freshness, you can store the washed and dried greens in an airtight bag and all the other add-ins (pecans, cheese, fruit) in individual sealed containers. This way, assembly takes mere minutes, allowing you to quickly toss, dress, and enjoy.
The candied pecans are a fantastic make-ahead component! They can be baked easily up to a day or two in advance. Once baked, allow them to cool completely on the parchment paper or foil-lined sheet pan. This step is essential to ensure they become perfectly crisp. Once cooled, transfer them to an airtight container and store them at room temperature. They will retain their delightful crunch and flavor, ready to be added to your salad just before serving. This preparation step significantly reduces your last-minute kitchen tasks.
Achieving a creamy vinaigrette involves the magical process of emulsification, where oil and vinegar, which normally separate, are combined into a stable, smooth mixture. The key to this transformation begins with whisking together all the non-oil ingredients first – that’s your balsamic vinegar, mustard, honey, minced garlic, shallot, salt, and pepper. Dijon mustard is particularly crucial here, as it acts as a natural emulsifier, helping to bind the ingredients together. Once this base is well combined, slowly, in a thin stream, drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil while whisking constantly and vigorously. You’ll observe the dressing gradually thickening and transforming into a homogenized, creamy emulsion. Persistence in whisking is key to preventing the dressing from separating. If it seems to be breaking, continue whisking rapidly; sometimes a small splash of warm water can help bring it back together.
This versatile Spinach Strawberry Salad with Blue Cheese is delightful on its own as a light lunch, but it truly shines as a side dish. It pairs beautifully with grilled chicken or fish, complementing the savory flavors with its sweet and tangy notes. Consider serving it alongside a perfectly seared steak for a more elevated meal, or as a vibrant accompaniment to roasted pork tenderloin. It’s also an excellent addition to a brunch spread, a potluck, or any holiday gathering where a refreshing, colorful side is desired. Its balance of flavors makes it suitable for almost any main course.
Absolutely! The homemade balsamic vinaigrette is a highlight, but it’s also highly adaptable. If you prefer a different sweetener, maple syrup or agave nectar can be used in place of honey. For a brighter, tangier dressing, you might consider adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Experiment with different vinegars like white balsamic or apple cider vinegar for a slightly altered flavor profile. You can also incorporate fresh herbs such as finely chopped basil or mint for an aromatic twist. Always taste and adjust seasonings to your preference, ensuring the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and savory notes.
Yes, this Spinach Strawberry Salad with Blue Cheese offers numerous nutritional benefits, making it a healthy and delicious choice. Baby spinach is packed with vitamins K, A, and C, as well as iron and antioxidants. Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese, while also being rich in antioxidants. Pecans provide healthy fats, fiber, and protein. The homemade balsamic vinaigrette, made with extra virgin olive oil, offers heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. While blue cheese adds some saturated fat, it also contributes calcium and protein. By controlling portion sizes and customizing ingredients (e.g., opting for less sugar in pecans), you can easily tailor this salad to fit various dietary needs, making it a wholesome and satisfying meal component.
Explore More Delicious Salad Recipes
If you’ve fallen in love with the vibrant flavors and fresh ingredients of this Spinach Strawberry Salad, we encourage you to discover more of our favorite salad creations. Expand your culinary repertoire with these delightful options:
- Favorite Green Salad from Cookie + Kate
- Holiday Lettuce Salad
- Berry and Spinach Salad
- More of my Best Salad Recipes
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Spinach Strawberry Salad with Blue Cheese
10 minutes
10 minutes
20 minutes
6
A delicious and vibrant Southern green salad featuring the perfect blend of candied pecans, creamy blue cheese, sweet mandarin oranges, fresh strawberries, and a homemade balsamic vinaigrette. It’s a symphony of sweet, savory, tangy, and crunchy flavors.
Ingredients
Salad
- 5-ounce bag mixed spring salad greens or baby spinach
- 2 ounces crumbled blue cheese, crumbled
- 1 small can of mandarin oranges, drained
- 1-2 cups fresh strawberries, stems and any core removed, sliced
Candied Pecans
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ¼ cup warm water
- ½ cup pecan halves
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- A pinch or more of cayenne pepper
Balsamic Vinaigrette
- ¼ cup aged balsamic vinegar
- 1 ½ tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 ½ tablespoons honey
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 small shallot, minced
- Pinch of salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Make pecans first. In a small bowl, stir together the 2 tablespoons of sugar and warm water until sugar dissolves. Add the pecan halves to the sugar-water mixture and let them soak for 10 minutes, then drain thoroughly.
- In another small bowl, mix together the 1 tablespoon of sugar, chili powder, and cayenne pepper until well combined. Add the soaked and drained pecans to this spice mixture and toss until evenly coated.
- Spread the coated pecans in a single layer on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper or nonstick foil. Bake for 10 minutes at 350°F (175°C), stirring once about halfway through the baking time to ensure even toasting. Once baked, immediately transfer the pecans (still on the parchment or foil) to a cooling rack and let them cool completely while you prepare the rest of the salad. This allows them to crisp up perfectly.
- In a large salad bowl, gently combine the mixed spring salad greens or baby spinach, crumbled blue cheese, drained mandarin oranges, and sliced fresh strawberries. Set aside, keeping the ingredients untossed for maximum freshness.
- Prepare the vinaigrette: In a medium bowl, whisk together the aged balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, minced shallot, a pinch of salt, and a few gratings of fresh black pepper. Gradually and slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil while continuously whisking until the oil is fully incorporated and the dressing is thick, creamy, and emulsified.
- To serve, just before presenting, add the cooled candied pecans to the salad bowl. Pour enough of the homemade balsamic vinaigrette over the salad to lightly coat the greens and toppings. Toss gently to combine. Serve immediately, passing any extra dressing on the side for guests to add as desired.
Notes
For an alternative to canned mandarin oranges, you can use fresh segmented or supremed oranges. If blue cheese isn’t to your liking, crumbled feta cheese makes a wonderful substitute, offering a salty tang. Feel free to use store-bought candied pecans for a quicker preparation, although homemade always deliver a superior fresh taste and texture. This recipe has been thoughtfully adapted from a classic Southern Living publication.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 346Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 22gCholesterol: 7mgSodium: 265mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 3gSugar: 18gProtein: 4g
Thatskinnychickcanbake.com occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although thatskinnychickcanbake.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased can change the nutritional information in any given recipe. Also, many recipes on thatskinnychickcanbake.com recommend toppings, which may or may not be listed as optional and nutritional information for these added toppings is not listed. Other factors may change the nutritional information such as when the salt amount is listed “to taste,” it is not calculated into the recipe as the amount will vary. Also, different online calculators can provide different results.
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