Spinach Strawberry Salad with Orange Poppy Seed Dressing
Try this Spinach Strawberry Salad with Orange Poppy Seed Dressing recipe
Try this Spinach Strawberry Salad with Orange Poppy Seed Dressing recipe
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1/4 teaspoon mustard powder
- one 5 ounce package baby spinach rinsed and drained
- 12 strawberries, sliced
- 1 apple, chopped - i used granny smith here but honeycrisp is a good choice if you want a sweeter apple
- 1/2 cup organic canola oil or another neutral tasting oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons organic cane sugar (you may need more or less depe
- 1/2 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 2 tablespoons sweet onion very finely chopped
- Carbohydrate 3.306053336871 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Fat 0.678573334566461 g
- Fiber 0.422833332012657 g
- Protein 0.512760000695317 g
- Saturated Fat 0.0706313334679532 g
- Serving Size 1 1 -4 (32g)
- Sodium 292.010666667668 mg
- Sugar 2.88322000485834 g
- Trans Fat 0.0664880000971156 g
- Calories 20 calories
Step-by-step
- Prepare the dressing: Place the organic canola oil, orange juice, sugar ,poppy seeds, chopped onion, salt, and mustard powder in a jar with a lid. Shake well until combined.
- In a large bowl, place the spinach, sliced strawberries, and diced apples. Toss to combine.
- Pour â…” of the dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Add the remaining dressing if desired, or place on the table so more dressing can be added to individual servings if desired.
Traditional green salads rely on dense root vegetables for crunch, but this fruit-forward combination achieves textural contrast through tender baby leaves and crisp pome fruits. Achieving optimal mouthfeel in raw green dishes requires understanding how moisture interacts with plant cell walls. Water-soaked leaves wilt rapidly because osmotic pressure drops when dressings contain high concentrations of free water. Emulsifying the canola oil and citrus juice prevents immediate pooling at the base of the bowl by coating the spinach in a protective lipid barrier.
The Physics of Emulsification and Slicing
Dry mustard powder acts as a natural surfactant containing mucilage that bridges the gap between the oil phase and the orange juice. Whisking or shaking these components in a sealed jar shears the oil into microscopic droplets suspended evenly throughout the liquid. Slice apples into uniform pieces measuring roughly one-half inch thick to maximize surface area absorption without overwhelming the delicate texture of the baby spinach.
Storage and Make-Ahead Limitations
Freezing destroys this dish entirely because ice crystals puncture the vacuole membranes inside the apple and spinach cells, releasing cellular fluid upon thawing that turns the leaves limp and soggy. Prepare the dressing up to four days in advance and store it in a sealed glass jar in the refrigerator, but keep the fruit and greens uncombined until ten minutes before serving.
