Gluten Free Strawberry Spinach Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette Dressing

On the 4th of July I had a sweet tooth. Actually, I have had a sweet tooth all week, but not for dessert. I went to the grocery store, hungry, the other day and ended up with a cart full of naturally gluten-free foods, such as gluten-free cocktail onions and raspberry balsamic vinegar. Obviously, not just sweet foods, but tangy, as well. Must be something going on with my diet. Hmmm. Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy this recipe strawberry spinach salad, as well as the dressing. We did!

Strawberry Spinach Salad and Strawberry Vinaigrette Dressing

51

Yield: Serves 4

Strawberry Spinach Salad and Strawberry Vinaigrette Dressing

A wonderful spinach salad with the sweetness of strawberries and honey in a sweet tart dressing.

Ingredients:

    For the Salad
  • 1 bag of baby spinach
  • 1 small basket of fresh strawberries, stemmed and sliced and then sliced in halves
  • 8 scallions (greens and whites only), thinly sliced (optional)
  • Walnuts or Pecans, caramelized or not (optional) See recipe at Candied Walnuts(optional)
  • Gluten free blue cheese, feta cheese, or goat cheese, crumbled (optional)
  • For the Strawberry Vinaigrette Dressing
  • 8 large strawberries, sliced
  • 6 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons honey or agave nectar
  • Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions:

  1. Reserve a small amount of the ingredients above to add on top the salad after slicing for garnishing. (not pictured above)
  2. Add all ingredients to a large salad bowl, add some of the dressing below, to taste, and toss. Use vinaigrette dressings sparingly, as they go a long way. If you decide to place a bottle of dressing on the table for all to use, warn them to use it sparingly. Balsamic is very strong.
  3. Garnish with reserved ingredients.
  4. To make the dressing, whisk all ingredients together until mixed. If you desire to use a food processor you will end up with a creamier dressing (as pictured above), though not clear.

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