Spinach and Strawberry Salad

Spinach and Strawberry Salad with Almonds and Goat Cheese

Ah, spinach and strawberries!  This salad says summer, even though it's still February.  


It's easy and pretty tasty (in my opinion).  If you are packing this for lunch the next day, I recommend not adding the dressing until you serve.  

This recipe has red onion. If you hate onion, you can leave it out - but, I like red onion, it gives a contrast to the sweet strawberries. The trick to not let the onion overpower the salad, is to let the red onion soak in some lime juice.  I heard this somewhere that the lime juice changes the sharpness. I've tried this method a few times and it works.  You can use the lime juice afterward in the dressing. The onion flavour doesn't transfer over in the liquid.  

4-5 cups of Spinach, washed and spun dry
1 cup of sliced Strawberries
4 tbs of sliced Almonds
1/8 of small Red onion, thinly sliced in rings
3-4 tbs of Goat Cheese, crumbled (or your favourite mild cheese)

Dressing:
4 tbs of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (good quality)
Juice of 1/2 a Lime
Dash of Salt and some fresh ground pepper
1 tea of honey

Tools: Large salad bowl, small bowl, salad spinner, knife, cut board, juicer, salad tongs, whisk or fork.

Step 1:
In a small bowl, put the sliced onion with the lime juice.  Let it sit and marinate in the juice for a few a few minutes.  The juice will turn a slight pink color.  Remove the onions, but don't throw out the juice - you'll need it for the dressing.

Step 2:
In a large bowl add the spinach, top with strawberries, almonds, onions (post marinated in lime juice) and  crumble the cheese.  

Step 3:
In the small bowl with the lime juice, add the rest of the dressing ingredients and whisk well. Taste and adjust the seasoning if you like.

Add the dressing right before you are going to serve.  You can drizzle and mix together, or plate the salad and let people spoon the desired dressing they want to have.

Enjoy.