My experience with 5 Ingredient Strawberry Salad started when I wanted a simple, delicious side dish for lunch or dinner during Spring and Summer. Using fresh strawberries that are in season, paired with sweet, juicy mandarin oranges and heart-healthy walnuts, this fruity, tangy salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing quickly became a go to recipe with just 5 ingredients that I can make anytime.
I’ve served this strawberry spinach salad to kids, at potluck gatherings, and even as a Strawberry Fields Salad variation. With hearty spinach or a touch of balsamic vinaigrette, everyone I know gets to enjoy Summer salad recipes. It’s a dish I’ve made many times and have often been asked for the recipe, proving that fresh, simple ingredients can create something truly memorable.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
One of the reasons I keep returning to this summer salad is how crisp and refreshing it feels with strawberries, spinach, and crunchy almonds all combined. Home cooks like me love how easy it is to toss together with a homemade dressing that brings a sweet-tangy flavor to every bite. Adding two mandarin oranges gives it a juicy punch, and as noted by Allrecipes member schnoodlemom, you really can make this a crowd pleaser every time. It’s simple, colorful, and perfectly balanced in taste and texture, making it a recipe I enjoy sharing often.
Why This Recipe Works:
This recipe is gonna be work definitely because:
- Quick prep time makes this 5 Ingredient Strawberry Salad easy and fast to assemble.
- Simply wash and slice strawberries or slice onion, then prepare dressing to dress salad in just a 5 minute recipe.
- It’s easy to make, beautiful, and colorful with little effort and no cooking required.
- A dressing shaker keeps the snappy balsamic vinaigrette dressing well combined.
- Spinach and other flavorful leafy vegetables form a solid salad base that’s super tasty with sweet fresh strawberries and zesty red onion.
- A healthy side dish with almost no fat, no added sugar, and a small kick of honey from balsamic vinegar.
- You can try a simple dressing substitution or swapping dressing with Subway Sweet Onion Sauce for a Copycat recipe.
- This salad recipe turns into a tasty salad every time you make it.
Ingredients needed to make this 5 ingredient Strawberry salad:
Here is what you need make this easy 5 ingredient strawberry salad:
- Strawberries
- 1 quart strawberries, cleaned, hulled, sliced, sliced lengthwise, 4-5 times width, 10 strawberry pieces. These fresh strawberries add a sweet and juicy burst to the salad.
- 1 quart strawberries, cleaned, hulled, sliced, sliced lengthwise, 4-5 times width, 10 strawberry pieces. These fresh strawberries add a sweet and juicy burst to the salad.
- Spinach
- 10 ounces fresh spinach, fresh spinach, rinsed, dried, torn, bite-sized pieces, frozen spinach, mixed salad greens, flavor, fresh ingredients, wash, ready, substitute. The spinach forms the salad base, offering hearty and leafy vegetable goodness.
- 10 ounces fresh spinach, fresh spinach, rinsed, dried, torn, bite-sized pieces, frozen spinach, mixed salad greens, flavor, fresh ingredients, wash, ready, substitute. The spinach forms the salad base, offering hearty and leafy vegetable goodness.
- Almonds
- ¼ cup almonds, blanched, slivered, substitute. These crunchy almonds add texture and a nutty flavor. You can also use cashews as a substitute for variation.
- ¼ cup almonds, blanched, slivered, substitute. These crunchy almonds add texture and a nutty flavor. You can also use cashews as a substitute for variation.
- Red Onion
- Sliced red onion, red onion, thin slices, slice in half, dice. The zesty red onion gives a mild sharpness to balance the sweet strawberries.
- Nuts / Toppings
- Chopped pecans, cashews, crunch, texture. Adding pecans or cashews enhances the crunch and texture of the salad, making it more satisfying and visually appealing.
- Chopped pecans, cashews, crunch, texture. Adding pecans or cashews enhances the crunch and texture of the salad, making it more satisfying and visually appealing.
Directions ( How to make 5 ingredient strawberry salad):
Here it is described in simple steps how to make this 5 ingredient strawberry salad:
Step 1: Prepare Ingredients
Gather ingredients and get ready to make the dressing for your 5 Ingredient Strawberry Salad.
Step 2: Make the Dressing
In a medium bowl, whisk together sugar, oil, vinegar, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, onion, paprika, and Worcestershire sauce until well combined.
Step 3: Chill the Dressing
Cover dressing and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour to allow flavors to develop fully.
Step 4: Prepare the Spinach Salad
Combine sliced strawberries, torn spinach leaves, and almonds in a large bowl to form the spinach salad base.
Step 5: Add Dressing
Pour dressing over the salad and toss to coat evenly so each bite has flavor.
Step 6: Chill Before Serving
Refrigerate for 10 to 15 minutes before serving to enjoy a perfectly chilled, refreshing salad.
RASPBERRY VINAIGRETTE DRESSING:
The Raspberry Vinaigrette is what brings the salad together and gives it a fresh, fruity flavor. This creamy raspberry vinaigrette dressing is easy to make at home and is much healthier than many store bought versions. You can always use your favorite store version if you prefer, but making it yourself adds a personal touch and enhances the taste of the 5 Ingredient Strawberry Salad.
How to make 5 Ingredient Strawberry Salad (video):
Here is the visual representation of how you can make this 5-ingredient Strawberry Salad:
Make other dressings:
If you want to try a simple dressing for your 5 Ingredient Strawberry Salad, you can mix together ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and 2 tablespoons honey. Using a dedicated dressing shaker makes it easy to combine the dressings since oil, water, and vinegar don’t naturally mix. Vigorous shaking in a dressing shaker or even a mason jar ensures everything comes together. Make sure to shake hard, keep the container tightly sealed, and continue shaking until the dressing is smooth and ready to pour over your salad.
EXTRA TOPPINGS:
For an extra burst of flavor in your 5 Ingredient Strawberry Salad, you can add dried cranberries, feta, goat cheese, or even grilled chicken. These delicious toppings bring different textures and tastes, making your salad more interesting and satisfying for lunch, dinner, or any time you want a refreshing treat.
More Recipes You Should Also Try:
FAQs about 5 ingredient strawberry salad:
Can I make this salad in advance?
You can partially make it in advance by preparing the ingredients and store dressing in a separate container. Make sure not to dress salad too early, or your leafy green salad may become mushy and unpleasant. Like Creamy Coleslaw or Asian Slaw, the cabbage and other salads stand up to dressing better over a long time if you dress them just before serving, keeping your salad ready to eat and stay crunchy.
Can I use a substitute for nuts?
If you want to skip nuts, you can keep the crunch and protein using a substitute like crispy fried onions, extra onions, or diced celery. For more protein, add feta cheese for a dairy option, or diced salami and smoked turkey for a meat salad twist. To stay vegan, try tofu, tempeh, or other protein substitutions that suit your taste.
What other fruits can I use instead of strawberries?
If you want to switch up strawberries, you can try blueberries, blackberries, or other berries. You can also add peaches, apples, pears, mangoes, or fresh figs for a mix of sweet fruits. Top it with homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing for extra flavor and freshness.
Can I use frozen strawberries?
You can use fresh strawberries for the best taste, but frozen strawberries also work and still make a delicious salad. Just let them thaw a little before adding to keep your salad fresh and tasty.
What goes in a strawberry salad?
A perfect strawberry salad starts with fresh strawberries and salad greens like spinach or romaine, then adds a creamy element like feta, goat cheese, or mozzarella cheese, a tangy element such as balsamic vinaigrette or poppy seed dressing, nuts like pecans or almonds, red onion, and optional ingredients like avocado, cherry tomatoes, herbs, and proteins for extra flavor.
What does balsamic vinegar do to strawberries?
Adding balsamic vinegar to strawberries enhances their natural sweetness and creates a complex flavor profile with tartness, depth, and richness. The acidity and a touch of sugar help the strawberries macerate, releasing their juices and forming a delicious, syrupy sauce.
What is in a Panera strawberry salad?
A Panera strawberry salad is made with crisp romaine tossed in poppyseed dressing and topped with mandarin oranges, fresh strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, and toasted pecan pieces, creating a refreshing and colorful salad perfect for any meal.
What is the healthiest way to eat strawberries?
The healthiest way to enjoy strawberries is to wash them, remove the stem, and cut the top into a cone shape, then slice into quarters so you can eat them easily without throwing away stems.
