Strawberry Spinach Salad with Almonds and Goat Cheese

Strawberry Spinach Salad.

I know this recipe isn’t altogether seasonal – the thought of fresh, local strawberries might make my heart go pitter-patter, but I accept that it will still be many months away before they reach my belly. However, I walked past a display of California berries the other day and I just couldn’t resist.

This dressing has a secret ingredient – Worcestershire sauce. My mom’s version calls for a lot of it – there’s even a scribbling at the top of her recipe, “Note: amount of Worcestershire not a mistake”. I think hers called for something like 1/2 cup – granted, it yields a large amount.

Unable to track down the index card where I had scribbled her formula, I riffed on it – with very tasty results.

Worcestershire sauce is based on a tangy blend of malt vinegar, molasses, tamarind, sugar, anchovies, onion and garlic – really, it makes perfect sense for a vinaigrette. And while it has a distinct aroma in the bottle, you really can’t detect it in the salad.

The other components of the dressing are grated onion (in a small amount, but not negotiable – it’s very important!), sugar, oil, pungent white vinegar and crunchy poppyseeds. It’s quite sweet – it really enhances the strawberries and takes the earthy edge off of the raw spinach.

Strawberry Goat cheese salad with spinach.

Toasted almonds and creamy cheese add textural interest. To toast almonds, spread on a baking sheet in a 350 degree oven and bake for about 6 minutes, watching closely and shaking the pan a couple of times.

I didn’t have goat cheese, and I had some feta to use up – you can use either, but my preference is for soft goat cheese.

Toss with some cooked, cooled quinoa and/or sliced chicken for a complete meal.

Strawberry Goat cheese salad with spinach.

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Almonds and Goat Cheese

Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 6
Salad
American

Ingredients
  

For dressing:

  • 2 tbsp worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp white vinegar
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • 3 tbsp granulated sugar
  • ½ tbsp finely grated onion
  • 1 tbsp poppy seeds
  • ¼ tsp salt or to taste

For Salad:

  • 12 cups 2-10 oz bags baby spinach
  • 2 cups 1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • ½ cup sliced almonds toasted
  • 4 oz 6 tbsp/110 g soft goat cheese or feta, crumbled

Instructions
 

  • Whisk together all dressing ingredients, taste, and add more salt if needed.
  • In a large bowl, combine baby spinach and sliced strawberries. Add a splash of dressing and toss. Repeat, adding small amounts of dressing and tossing until leaves are lightly coated (you will have extra dressing).
  • Divide among six plates and top with sliced almonds and goat cheese (or add almonds and cheese to the large bowl and gently toss everything together).

Last Updated on March 20, 2024 by Jennifer Pallian BSc, RD

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Jennifer Marko
5 years ago

Making this right now. I had everything but the loaf pan. Borrowed one from my neighbor. I’m not really a baker so I hope the pan size is right. I measured it 2 ways, the top edge is 9 by 5 but under neath of that is 8 1/2 by 4 1/4. I guess it’s close enough. Wish this very inexperienced girl luck 🙂

Mia
Mia
5 years ago

Thanks for the delicious recipe. Finally a pound cake with 2 eggs! Was searching for a cream cheese pound cake but not with 6 eggs as all the other recipes suggested. This was so decadent and moist. I made it to serve with afernoon tea for some guests and got so many compliments. Will definitely add to my regular recipes. The cream cheese makes it so moist and melt in your mouth. I baked mine in a round cake pan and it was ready in 1hr10 mins. I drizzled lemon icing on it to make it look fancier but it really doesnt need anything. I prefered it plain straight out of the oven. So yummy!

Jennifer Marko
5 years ago

I’m crying! The middle collapsed after I put the toothpick in to check if it was done…

Sunk in NL
Sunk in NL
5 years ago

I made this cake twice this week and it is incredibly tasty.&#160 My only problem is that both times it sunk in the middle – it was about half the height in the middle as it was on the sides.&#160 I used a pretty good quality loaf pan (Paderno) and reduced the baking time by 15 minutes when I made it the second time because it was overcooked the first time.&#160 Any idea why the middle is not rising like the sides are?&#160 (I am willing to try almost anything because the cake is that good.)

ashley
ashley
5 years ago

Ummmmm! This looks so good and similar to the pound cake that I’ve eaten which was fantastic, but it was a bunt so my question is can this be made as a bundt instead of a loaf just to get more servings??????

Mia
Mia
5 years ago

Thanks for the delicious recipe. Finally a pound cake with 2 eggs! Was searching for a cream cheese pound cake but not with 6 eggs as all the other recipes suggested. This was so decadent and moist. I made it to serve with afernoon tea for some guests and got so many compliments. Will definitely add to my regular recipes. The cream cheese makes it so moist and melt in your mouth. I baked mine in a round cake pan and it was ready in 1hr10 mins. I drizzled lemon icing on it to make it look fancier but it really doesnt need anything. I prefered it plain straight out of the oven. So yummy!

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