Sweetheart Berry Salad Poppy (Printable Version)
A bright blend of berries, greens, feta, nuts, and tangy poppy seed dressing for a fresh summer dish.
# What You Need:
→ Salad Components
01 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (baby spinach, arugula, romaine)
02 - 1 cup strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - 1 cup fresh raspberries
04 - 1 cup fresh blueberries
05 - ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
06 - ½ cup candied pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped
→ Poppy Seed Dressing
07 - ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
08 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
09 - 1 tablespoon honey
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
11 - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
12 - ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
# How to Make It:
01 - Whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, lemon juice, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl or jar until fully emulsified and smooth.
02 - Place mixed salad greens in a large salad bowl. Add sliced strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, distributing evenly across the greens.
03 - Drizzle the poppy seed dressing over the salad. Toss gently using salad servers or large spoons to coat all ingredients evenly without bruising the berries.
04 - Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese and candied pecans or walnuts over the dressed salad. Serve immediately to maintain optimal texture and freshness.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Those first sweet-tart berries against crisp greens just hit different when the weather turns warm
- The homemade poppy seed dressing comes together in seconds and makes everything taste restaurant-worthy
02 -
- Once dressed, this salad starts weeping in about ten minutes, so timing is everything
- Toss the nuts and feta right before serving to keep their textures perfect
03 -
- Dry your greens completely, even five minutes of extra effort here makes the difference between soggy and spectacular
- Taste the berries first and adjust honey in the dressing if they're particularly tart