Spinach & Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

I'm so happy that it's Spring! It's so much easier to eat healthy foods this time of year. All my favorite fruits & veggies are coming into season.
One said favorite is strawberries. Buying organic strawberries off season is nearly impossible...and, when you can find them, they're outrageously expensive. When I saw a pound of beautiful looking strawberries at the market this week, I grabbed some.
I was thinking about making a Mother's Day appropriate recipe...something that would be really pretty for a brunch. I've had strawberry salad with poppy seed dressing before & I thought I'd be able to throw something together. It came out really good...and met the approval of the whole family. This salad is perfect for kids, as it's just sweet enough to please them & it also has fruit in it!

Begin with 8 ounces of [organic] strawberries. Wash & hull them.

Next, add a 5 ounce bag of baby spinach to a salad bowl. Add the strawberries on top,

along with a 1/3 cup of coarsely chopped {shelled} pistachios.

To make the dressing, in a mixing bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup sour cream, 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt, 1/2 tablespoon agave nectar, 1/2 tablespoon {very finely minced} shallot, 1/8 teaspoon grated lime zest, 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt & some ground black pepper {to taste}.
Add 1 tablespoon grape seed oil & 1 tablespoon water in a slow steady stream, while whisking {to achieve a pourable consistency, add a bit more water, if necessary}.

Stir in 1 tablespoon of poppy seeds.

Drizzle some of the dressing over the salad, toss to combine & serve.

Spinach & Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

The Parsley Thief
Serves 4- 6

5 ounces baby spinach
8 ounces strawberries {hulled & sliced}
1/3 cup shelled pistachios {coarsely chopped}
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 tablespoon agave nectar
1/2 tablespoon very finely minced shallot
1/8 teaspoon grated lime zest
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper {to taste}
1 tablespoon grape seed oil {or, similar neutral oil}
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Add the spinach, strawberries & pistachios to a salad bowl. Make the dressing: Whisk together the sour cream, yogurt, agave, shallot, lime zest, lime juice, salt & pepper to a mixing bowl. Add the oil, while whisking, in a slow steady stream. Add the water; whisk until the dressing is a pourable consistency. If necessary, add a bit more water. Stir in the poppy seeds.
Drizzle some of the dressing over the salad, toss to combine & serve.
Click here for the printable recipe.