Strawberry Spinach Salad
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced onion
- 10 ounces fresh spinach - rinsed dried and torn into bite-size pieces
- 1 quart strawberries - cleaned hulled and sliced
- 1/4 cup almonds blanched and slivered
- Carbohydrate 21.2595159494646 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Fat 15.0478693853685 g
- Fiber 2.30446251029341 g
- Protein 3.29130000073393 g
- Saturated Fat 1.8787813763788 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (130g)
- Sodium 5.6863383849998 mg
- Sugar 18.9550534391712 g
- Trans Fat 0.596192000338257 g
- Calories 226 calories
Step-by-step
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the sesame seeds, poppy seeds, sugar, olive oil, vinegar, paprika, Worcestershire sauce and onion. Cover, and chill for one hour.
- In a large bowl, combine the spinach, strawberries and almonds. Pour dressing over salad, and toss. Refrigerate 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
The Emulsion and Acid Balance
Distilled white vinegar provides a sharp, clean baseline that cuts through the half cup of olive oil while holding the sugar and minced onion in suspension. Whisking the oil slowly into the vinegar and aromatics forces temporary droplet dispersion, while chilling the dressing for a full hour allows the sesame and poppy seeds to hydrate slightly and soften their crunch. Because fresh spinach leaves feature a high water content and delicate cellular structure, applying the dressing too early will cause wilting; chilling the combined salad for just ten to fifteen minutes provides enough time for flavors to marry without compromising the rigidity of the greens.
Texture and Produce Selection
Using raw, unblemished produce transforms a simple bowl of greens into a study in contrasting textures. Rinsing the spinach thoroughly and drying it completely in a salad spinner ensures that residual wash water does not dilute the oil-based coating or cause premature spoilage. Slivered almonds introduce a firm, roasted snap that offsets the yielding softness of the sliced strawberries. Visual doneness for the dressing is achieved when the sugar fully dissolves into a uniform, translucent liquid without graininess at the bottom of the mixing bowl.
