Strawberry Feta Salad with Poppy Seed Granola

strawberry feta salad on a grey countertop

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Strawberry Feta Salad with Poppy Seed Granola

Let’s take a classic Strawberry, Spinach, Feta Salad and give it an updated twist with a topping of poppy seed granola. Just call me Goldilocks, but this granola is not too sweet, not too savory, it’s just right. And it adds a ton of flavor and crunch to this salad.

Prep Time20

Cook Time25

Total Time45

Course: Salad

Keyword: easy salad recipe, Entree Salad, granola, strawberries, summer recipe

Servings:

Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef

Cost: $8.00

Equipment

Half Sheet Pan
Parchment Paper
Mixing Bowls
Whisk

Ingredients

Poppy Seed Granola:

1/4 cup cooking oil
1/4 cup honey, maple syrup, or agave syrup
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 cups rolled old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup roasted unsalted sunflower seeds
1/2 cup slivered almonds
2 tablespoons poppy seeds

Balsamic Vinaigrette:

3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
1/2 teaspoon dried herbs
1/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Fresh Cracked Black Pepper

Salad:

8 ounces baby spinach
3 cups strawberries, quartered
4 ounces feta, crumbled

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 300°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the cooking oil, honey, and salt. Stir in the oats, sunflower seeds, slivered almonds, and poppy seeds.
On the prepared baking sheet, spread the granola evenly in a thin layer, about ¼-inch thick. Use the flat side of a measuring cup to ensure it is an even layer and help everything begin to stick together.
Bake without stirring, until golden brown and toasty, 25 to 35 minutes.
When the granola is done baking, let it cool to room temperature without removing it from the pan. Once cool, break it apart into pieces.
To make the vinaigrette, in a small mixing bowl or glass jar, whisk together balsamic vinegar, mustard, honey, and dried herbs. Slowly add in 1/3 cup olive oil while whisking. (Note: You can also combine all ingredients in a jar with a lid and shake it well or blend everything using a blender.) Whisk in salt and some black pepper.
Assemble the salad with a bed of spinach topped with strawberries and crumbled feta. Drizzle the salad with some of the vinaigrette. Break the granola into pieces and crumble it over top. Serve extra vinaigrette on the side.

Nutrition