Strawberry Spinach Salad with 4 Dressing Options

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As the bashful sunshine emerges from its shell and the springtime bulbs begin to bloom, I’ve found myself pondering what this season of optimism represents for me. During my childhood, spring meant primarily one thing: gardening time! With my dad’s hide-and-seek-worthy corn crop, rows of thirsty fruit trees, and more raised beds than both hands could count, there was always plenty of garden work to be done. Once dinnertime rolled around and we had tuckered ourselves out from a fruitful day of watering and weeding, I was often tasked with gathering our salad fixings for the evening. With my trusty basket in tow, I’d wander outside—barefoot, of course—and stroll through the garden; allowing the intoxicating scent of ripening strawberries and verdant spinach leaves guide the way. Once satisfied with my pickings, I’d waltz back inside to give everything a good rinse before assembling my salad masterpiece.

Now, even the most vibrantly colorful, hand-picked straight from the garden salads are nothing but a bowl of veggies without an equally mouth-watering dressing. While my family opted for whatever dressing our fridge had to offer, I’ve since adopted B.Y.O.D. (bring your own dressing) after trying my hand at making my own. Lucky for me, Mountain Rose Herbs recently launched our latest, greatest, and tangiest addition to our organic culinary offerings—vinegars! With an easily swappable and customizable strawberry spinach salad base, these four dressing recipes showcase each unique vinegar in a versatile and creative way. Whether your veggies are hand-picked from the garden or the grocery store, these dressings will elevate any salad into a vibrant and flavorful celebration of spring.

Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe

Makes about 4 – 6 servings. 

Ingredients

Directions

• 5 ounces organic fresh baby spinach (about 8 cups, packed)
• ½ cup organic strawberries, thinly sliced and packed
• ¼ cup organic red onion, thinly sliced
• ⅓ cup organic roasted pistachios, roughly chopped
• ⅛ cup organic hemp seeds + ADD
• ¼ cup organic dried apricots, thinly sliced
• ¼ cup organic crumbled goat cheese
• ⅓ cup prepared salad dressing of choice, more or less to taste (4 options below!)
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. In a large salad bowl, combine the spinach, strawberries, and red onion. Use salad forks or tongs and give veggies a good toss.
2. Sprinkle in the pistachios, hemp seeds, dried apricots, and goat cheese. Mix gently to combine.
3. Drizzle about half of the dressing over salad and toss. Taste and add more dressing as desired.
4. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

Dressing Option 1:

Pink Peppercorn & Honey Vinaigrette with Apple Cider Vinegar

Makes about 1 cup dressing.

Did you know that pink peppercorns aren’t part of the peppercorn family? They are actually the berries of the Peruvian pepper tree! Featuring our organic Apple Cider Vinegar, this crowd-pleasure pink peppercorn and honey vinaigrette boasts a bright and tangy flavor that compliments the delicate nature of spinach beautifully.

Ingredients

Directions

• ¼ cup organic apple cider vinegar + ADD
• 1½ Tbs. organic unfiltered raw honey or sweetener of choice
• 1 Tbs. fresh organic lemon juice
• 2 – 3 organic garlic cloves, finely minced or grated
• 1 tsp. organic pink peppercorns, crushed + ADD
• ½ tsp. Himalayan pink salt + ADD
• ¼ tsp. organic freshly ground black pepper + ADD
• ½ cup organic extra virgin olive oil + ADD

1. Add all ingredients aside from the olive oil to a small bowl. Mix well and allow to macerate for about 10-15 minutes.
2. Whisking vigorously, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until emulsified.
3. Transfer to jar with airtight lid. Store in the refrigerator to chill while prepping salad ingredients or until you’re ready to use.
4. Shake to recombine ingredients before each use and enjoy within one month.

Dressing Option 2:

Elderberry Vinaigrette with Red Wine Vinegar

Makes about 1 cup dressing.

Who doesn’t love a twist on the classics! This elderberry vinaigrette featuring our organic Red Wine Vinegar is truly a waltz for the tastebuds. The tart bite from the elderberries paired with robust fruitiness of red wine vinegar highlights how even simple additions to a classical recipe can make the world of a difference.

Ingredients

Directions

• ¼ cup organic red wine vinegar + ADD
• 3 Tbs. organic elderberry syrup + ADD (premade or make your own elderberry syrup!)
• 1 – 2 organic garlic cloves, finely minced or grated
• 1 Tbs. Dijon mustard
• ½ tsp. Himalayan pink salt + ADD
• ¼ tsp. organic freshly ground black pepper + ADD
• ½ cup organic extra virgin olive oil + ADD

1. Add all ingredients aside from the olive oil to a small bowl.
2. Whisking vigorously, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until emulsified.
3. Transfer to jar with airtight lid. Store in the refrigerator to chill while prepping salad ingredients or until you’re ready to use.
4. Shake to recombine ingredients before each use and enjoy within one month.

Pro Tip: Maceration is not necessary for this dressing, as the elderberries have already undergone the infusion process when being made into syrup.

Dressing Option 3:

Poppy Seed Dressing with White Wine Vinegar

Makes about 1 cup dressing.

Not only are poppy seeds a delightful bite in muffins, but they make for a delectable salad dressing too! This poppy seed dressing featuring our organic white wine vinegar is a match made in salad heaven when paired with a bowl packed to the brim with juicy strawberries, crisp spinach, and crunchy pistachios.

Ingredients

Directions

• ¼ cup organic white wine vinegar + ADD
• 3 Tbs. unfiltered raw honey or sweetener or choice
• ½ tsp. organic yellow ground mustard seed + ADD
• ½ tsp. organic onion granules + ADD
• ½ tsp. sea salt + ADD
• ¼ tsp. organic freshly ground black pepper + ADD
• ½ cup organic grapeseed oil + ADD or neutral oil of choice
• ½ Tbs. organic poppy seeds + ADD

1. Add all ingredients aside from the olive oil to a food processor. Blend for 15-20 seconds to combine.
2. While the food processor is running, slowly drizzle in grapeseed oil. The dressing should be opaque and slightly thick once fully emulsified.
3. Transfer dressing to a small bowl and add the poppy seeds. Stir to combine.
4. Transfer to jar with airtight lid. Store in the refrigerator to chill while prepping salad ingredients or until you’re ready to use.
5. Shake to recombine ingredients before each use and enjoy within one month.

Dressing Option 4:

Bilberry Balsamic Vinaigrette with Balsamic Vinegar

Makes about 1 cup dressing.

Also referred to as the “European blueberry”, bilberries and balsamic go together like bread and butter—they even roll off the tongue the same! The slightly tart, slightly sweet qualities of bilberries paired with the rich, arcane nature of balsamic vinegar offers a deliciously complex bite that will keep you craving more.

Ingredients

Directions

• ¼ cup organic balsamic vinegar + ADD
• 1½ Tbs. organic dark maple syrup or sweetener of choice
• 2 – 3 organic garlic cloves, finely minced or grated
• 1 Tbs. organic dried bilberries + ADD
• ½ tsp. Himalayan pink salt + ADD
• ¼ tsp. organic freshly ground black pepper + ADD
• ½ cup organic extra virgin olive oil + ADD

1. Add all ingredients aside from the olive oil to a food processor. Blend for 30-45 seconds, or until bilberries have broken down into small bits.
2. While the food processor is running, slowly drizzle in olive oil to emulsify.
3. Transfer to jar with airtight lid. Store in refrigerator to chill while prepping salad ingredients or until you’re ready to use.
4. Shake to recombine ingredients before each use and enjoy within one month.