Delicious Strawberry-Spinach Salad Recipe with Lemon-Poppy Seed Dressing

[RMDave]

I made this salad as part of my "show from hell" on Thursday. People seemed to love it, but there seems to be one heck of a lot of sugar in it.

Dressing
1 lemon
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
1/3 cup sugar
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp poppy seeds

For dressing, zest lemon using Microplane Grater to measure ½ tsp. zest. Juice lemon using Citrus Press to measure 2 tbsp juice. Combine zest, juice, vinegar, sugar, oil and poppy seeds in Measure Mix n Pour. Whisk until well blended. Refrigerate until ready to use.

After whisking, refrigerating, re-whisking and pouring it over the salad, there was still sugar slowly dripping over the salad.

Is there really enough lemon juice and vinegar being used? 1 tablespoon of oil? That's it?

Anybody have any suggestions? As I said, people seemed to love the salad.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

That's the recipe I've always used. People do love it. I double the oil. I use C&H Baker's Sugar to make it, which is a super-fine granulated sugar, and dissolves quicker. OR I use Agave Nectar, about 1/4 cup.

 

[chefjeanine]

Dave,

This is one of my favorite recipes. . .and yes, there is a great deal of sugar. When I use sugar, I just make sure the person mixing the dressing whisks the heck out of it. I wanted you to know that I have successfully made this with Splenda and people were equally as pleased as when I've used sugar.

Strawberry Spinach Salad
Dressing
1 lemon
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
1/3 cup sugar
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp poppy seeds

Salad
¼ cup sliced natural almonds, toasted
8 oz. (1 ½ cups) strawberries, hulled and quartered
½ med. Cucumber, sliced and cut in half
¼ small red onion, sliced into thin wedges (1/4 cup)
1 package (6 ounces) baby spinach


For dressing, zest lemon to measure ½ tsp zest. Juice lemon to measure 2 tbsp juice. Combine zest, juice, vinegar, sugar, oil and poppy seeds in a bowl. Whisk until well blended. Cover; refrigerate until ready to use.

Preheat oven to 350° F. For salad, spread almonds in single layer over bottom of a small bar pan.

Bake 10-12 minutes or until lightly toasted. Remove from oven; cool almonds in bar pan.

Meanwhile, hull strawberries; cut strawberries into quarters.

Score cucumber lengthwise; remove seeds. Slice cucumber; cut slices in half/ Slice onion into thin wedges.

Place spinach in large serving bowl; add strawberries, cucumber and onion. Whisk dressing; pour over salad, gently tossing to coat. Sprinkle with almonds. Serve immediately

 

[BethCooks4U]

This is an awesome recipe. I make it exactly as the recipe reads and everyone loves it.

 

[cookingwith_tara]

I used Splenda, as well, and everyone loved it!!

 

[leftymac]

I make this salad all the time, and have also used both splenda and sugar, with no discernable taste difference. I've also used canola and olive oils in place of the vegetable oil.The huge amount of sugar makes up for the small amount of oil in it, I guess.

 

[RMDave]

That's the recipe I've always used. People do love it. I double the oil. I use C&H Baker's Sugar to make it, which is a super-fine granulated sugar, and dissolves quicker. OR I use Agave Nectar, about 1/4 cup.

I'll try the super-fine sugar. Thanks so much for responding.

 

[RMDave]

I'm going to try this with Splenda for sure. Thanks, Keith. I used Olive Oil the other evening.

 

[PamperedSD]

I'm going to see if my host for my 3-day breast cancer walk show this weekend but I don't have a pc whisk or the Measure Mix n Pour. Any idea what I can use in place of the Measure Mix n Pour?

Thanks!

 

[LeslieSGI]

I made this at one of my very first shows and I did not have the MM&P either. I used an old Naturally Fresh salad dressing jar with a screw top. Tighten and shake (with appropriate silliness) until dissolved. No one complained or noticed. They LOVED the salad and it is now one of my "go to" recipes.

(And I use Splenda instead of sugar, too.)​

 

[esavvymom]

and there is nothing in the "rules" that says you can't cut the sugar down a bit either. You won't miss it. (I typically cut sugar down some- if it calls for a cup, I'd put in 2/3 and see how that is.)

 

[leftymac]

I'm going to see if my host for my 3-day breast cancer walk show this weekend but I don't have a pc whisk or the Measure Mix n Pour. Any idea what I can use in place of the Measure Mix n Pour?

Thanks!

The Whisk comes in the New Consultant Kit. What happened to yours?

 

[PamperedSD]

The Whisk comes in the New Consultant Kit. What happened to yours?

I have the mini kit so I don't have it or the Ultimate Mandoline either . I always use the DCB for my shows but I'm looking for new go to recipes and I think this is going to be one.

THANKS!

 

[leftymac]

I have the mini kit so I don't have it or the Ultimate Mandoline either . I always use the DCB for my shows but I'm looking for new go to recipes and I think this is going to be one.

THANKS!

Nothing says you HAVE to use a PC whisk anyway. There's nothing wrong with using a non-PC whisk, and just explain to customers that you don't have it. They won't care.