Strawberry Spinach Salad With Creamy Raspberry Dressing

canarygirl's Note:

This is my creamy version of this delicious salad.

• Total Time: 25 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• ½ cup sliced almonds or ½ cup slivered almond
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons water
• 4 bunches spinach , washed and torn (about 4 cups)
• 10 large strawberries , washed and quartered
• ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• ¼ cup raspberry vinegar
• ¼ cup olive oil (mild)
• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• 4 teaspoons poppy seeds
• salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375ºF.
2. Spread almonds on parchment paper on a baking sheet.
3. Sprinkle with sugar and spritz with water.
4. Toast almonds in oven until golden (about 10 minutes or so).
5. Remove and cool.
6. Toss together spinach, strawberries and onion.
7. Whisk together sugar, vinegar, olive oil, mayo, poppy seeds, salt and pepper.
8. Just before serving, drizzle salad with raspberry dressing and sprinkle with candied almonds.

Reviews

[Get's Alot]

I added the onion's and the strawberries to the whole mix. Came out great.

[Linda's Busy Kitchen]

I make a lighter version of this recipe from Duke Diet Fitness Center, then add the cheese. I use: 3 T. Splenda, (in place of sugar) 3 T. water 4 bunches (about 4 c.) spinach, washed, and torn 10 lg. strawberries, washed, and quartered 1/4 c. red onions, thinly sliced 2 T. Splenda, (in place of sugar) 1/4 c. Raspberry vinegar 1/4 c. olive oil, mild 1/4 c. Light mayonnaise, (I use Kraft, in place of mayonnaise) 4 tsp poppy seeds Nu Salt (in place of salt) and pepper I also add small Goat cheese chunks OR Feta cheese crumbles because I love them both. It's yummy, and is a real treat, especially when trying to shed those unwanted pounds.

[Sackville]

This was an excellent summer salad. We used fresh picked spinach and strawberries from our local u-pick farm. I had to sub balsamic vinegar for the raspberry vinegar but otherwise followed the directions. Next time I would use just a touch less vinegar though -- the dressing was a bit too acidic for my liking. Having said that, the mayonnaise and nuts were a really nice addition to the normal spinach and strawberry salad.