Strawberry Kiwi Spinach Salad - An Easy Recipe
Strawberry Spinach Salad
It was a hot fourth of July when I first had this Strawberry Spinach Salad. Over the last several years, its probably fair to say that spinach salad of any kind is my new favorite salad. It just a bonus that spinach happens to be so good for you! The versatility with a spinach salad is also great. With a few additions and subtractions, this is my favorite spinach salad that has a bit of a sweeter side to it. I hope you will try it and enjoy it. You make a simple dressing that you pour on just prior to serving. The red of the strawberries, contrasting with the green of the spinach leaves and kiwi fruit is fun and festive.
Ingredients for Strawberry Spinach Salad
For the Dressing:
One third cup of vegetable oil
Two tablespoons of Strawberry Vinegar
Two tablespoons of Strawberry Jam
You can blend this ahead of time, and keep cold in the refrigerator.
Ingredients for the Salad:
One and a half heads of spinach leaves
3/4 cups of macadamia nuts, I like them sliced for a salad but chopped is fine.
One cup of sliced strawberries
Three kiwi fruit, peeled and sliced
If you like onions, some like to put in a little bit of red onion, chopped up. It adds a little more color and "kick"
Possible Variations:
You can make this whole salad in a raspberry version, and just add raspberry vinegar, raspberry jam, and raspberries into the salad.
You could use almonds for the nuts, even sunflower seeds or walnuts. I love macadamia nuts, and it gives it a Hawaiian flair.
If there is no kiwi in your area, substitute pears, if you like. I love a ripe pear in this salad.
Directions
Make sure your spinach leaves have been thoroughly washed and allowed to drain off the excess water. I shake the leaves over the sink then put them on paper towels or into a strainer for this.
Break up your leaves if you like, or leave them whole, which is what I do. I don't leave the stems much, but a little is fine. Just trim a little. If the leaves are bigger than normal, just make them bite sized.
Prepare your kiwi, peeling and slicing.
Have strawberries washed, then take off their green tops.
I like to put in a salad bowl, especially a glass one that will show the beautiful colors through.
Nutrition from the spinach alone
I recall back when I was a little bit anemic, and needed to raise up my iron levels in my blood. This was when I really grew to love spinach both raw in salads or cooked just right.
Many of us know that there is a lot of iron in spinach, but I didn't realize that per serving, spinach contains three grams of protein!
Of course, spinach is naturally low in calories, and is a good source of other vitamins like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, other minerals and fiber. People needing more iron in their diets, also will appreciate the higher fiber content of spinach.
This salad has lots of nutrition packed into just the spinach alone, not to mention the other fruits and macadamia nuts.
