Frische Erdbeer Spinatsalat Feta

An afternoon farmer's market visit turned into this salad quite by accident. I'd grabbed a basket of strawberries at peak ripeness, their sweetness practically announcing itself, and stood there holding them while eyeing bundles of tender baby spinach nearby. Something about that combination—sweet fruit with earthy greens—felt inevitable. A friend passed by and mentioned feta and almonds in a similar creation, and suddenly I had a vision of what would become my favorite weeknight lunch.

I made this for a small gathering last summer when everyone arrived hungry and I had exactly zero warning. While friends settled on the patio, I was in my kitchen tossing spinach and strawberries together, toasting almonds on the stove, and whisking a dressing that came together so quickly I almost couldn't believe it counted as cooking. Someone asked if I'd been planning the meal all week—the look on their face when I said five minutes flat was absolutely worth it.

Zutaten

• Babyspinat, 150 g (5 oz): Washed and dried spinach creates the foundation—avoid wet leaves or your dressing will slide right off, which I learned the disappointing way.
• Frische Erdbeeren, 250 g (8 oz): Choose berries that smell sweet and slice them just before assembling so they release their juices at exactly the right moment.
• Fetakäse, 100 g (3,5 oz): Crumble it by hand rather than chopping, and leave some pieces slightly larger for pockets of creamy saltiness.
• Geschälte Mandeln, 50 g (1/2 Tasse): Toasting them yourself makes all the difference—the nutty aroma filling your kitchen is a bonus.
• Eine kleine rote Zwiebel, dünn geschnitten (optional): This adds a sharp bite that balances the sweetness, though skip it if you prefer purely delicate flavors.
• Natives Olivenöl extra, 3 EL: Use the best quality you have on hand because this dressing is the star player.
• Balsamico-Essig, 1 EL: The deep, slightly sweet vinegar ties everything together with unexpected harmony.
• Honig, 1 EL: A touch of sweetness that doesn't overpower but makes the dressing feel complete.
• Dijon-Senf, 1 TL: This acts as an emulsifier and adds subtle depth that tastes like a secret ingredient.
• Salz und frisch gemahlener schwarzer Pfeffer nach Geschmack: Season as you go and taste at the end—you control how much punch this has.

Anweisungen

Mandeln rösten:

Pour the sliced almonds into a dry skillet over medium heat and stay close, stirring them around every thirty seconds or so. Watch for the moment they turn golden and smell like toasted dreams—usually around three to five minutes—then immediately transfer them to a plate before they burn.

Dressing anrühren:

Whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, and Dijon mustard in a small bowl until the mixture becomes creamy and unified. Season with salt and pepper, then taste it on a spinach leaf to make sure it sings.

Salat zusammenstellen:

Combine the spinach, strawberries, feta, and red onion in a large bowl—this is where your salad lives before it gets dressed. Everything can sit here for a moment while you finish other tasks.

Dressing hinzufügen und tossed:

Drizzle the dressing over everything and use salad tongs or two forks to gently turn the mixture so every spinach leaf catches some of that tangy-sweet coating. Don't aggressively toss or you'll bruise the berries and crush the cheese.

Mandeln als Finishing Touch:

Scatter the cooled toasted almonds across the top just before serving, because if you add them too early they'll lose their crunch. This final step is what makes people look up from their plate and ask for the recipe.

Merken

There's something about serving this salad on a warm evening that feels like success, even if all you did was chop and toss. A guest once said it tasted like spring on a plate, and that simple description captured exactly why I keep making it.

Variationen und Substitutionen

This salad bends to your preferences without losing its essential character. Goat cheese replaces feta beautifully if you want something tangier and less salty, while almonds can swap for candied pecans if you're feeling indulgent or walnuts if that's what's in your pantry. Fresh basil or mint leaves scattered through add brightness, and I've successfully added grilled chicken or cooked quinoa when the salad needs to transition from side dish to main event.

Das perfekte Dressing durchdenken

The dressing is genuinely where the magic happens—it's the connector between sweet berries, earthy spinach, and creamy feta. The honey rounds out the sharpness of the vinegar while the mustard acts as an invisible hand holding everything together in balance. I've experimented with apple cider vinegar and sherry vinegar in place of balsamic, and while both work, there's something about the deep sweetness of balsamic that feels exactly right with strawberries.

Serviertipps und Paarungen

Serve this salad on chilled plates when the weather is warm, and don't hesitate to bring it to gatherings in a bowl with the dressing on the side so people can dress it themselves—it always gets compliments for looking fresh and considered. A crisp Sauvignon Blanc or rosé wine actually does pair beautifully, though honestly, cold sparkling water with a lemon wedge works just as well. This salad travels well to picnics too, though pack the almonds separately and sprinkle them just before eating.

• Make this ahead of time except for dressing and almonds, which should go on at the last moment.
• Double or triple the dressing recipe because you'll want extra for drizzling over grilled vegetables later.
• Taste the berries before buying them—one bad one can shift the entire flavor profile.

Merken

This salad reminds me that the best meals often come together when you stop overthinking and start playing with what you have on hand. Make it once and it'll find its way onto your table again and again.

Rezept-Fragen

→ Wie werden die Mandeln für den Salat zubereitet?

Die Mandeln werden in einer trockenen Pfanne bei mittlerer Hitze 3 bis 5 Minuten geröstet, bis sie goldbraun und aromatisch sind.

→ Kann ich den Feta durch eine andere Käsesorte ersetzen?

Ja, Ziegenkäse eignet sich gut als Alternative und verleiht dem Salat eine ähnliche Cremigkeit.

→ Welches Dressing passt am besten zu den Zutaten?

Ein Dressing aus extra-virgin Olivenöl, Balsamico, Honig und Dijon-Senf ergänzt den Salat mit einer ausgewogenen Mischung aus Süße und Säure.

→ Wie kann der Salat vegan zubereitet werden?

Den Feta einfach weglassen oder durch eine vegane Käsealternative ersetzen, um den Salat vegan zu gestalten.

→ Lässt sich der Salat gut vorbereiten?

Die Mandeln können im Voraus geröstet werden. Die frischen Zutaten sollten jedoch kurz vor dem Servieren kombiniert werden, um Frische und Textur zu erhalten.