Well, I don’t know about you, but I definitely overindulged this weekend. I caught up on sleep yesterday and now I’m ready to balance out Saturday night’s rosé, cheese and chocolate party (!!!) with some fresh, redeeming meals. Greens to the rescue!
I hate to keep a good recipe from you, but this one has been in the works for a while (for good reason). I’m excited to finally share it with you all today. It’s a refreshing strawberry, spinach and quinoa salad featuring a zippy lemon dressing, savory toasted almonds and creamy, tangy goat cheese. It’s the kind of summery, dinner-sized salad that will fill you up without weighing you down.
Have you all heard of Plated? Perhaps you saw the founders on Shark Tank, but if not, they deliver ready-to-cook ingredients along with simple, gourmet recipes. It’s the perfect solution for busy people who love to cook at home, but don’t want to deal with the hassles of recipe hunting and grocery shopping.
Plated asked me to come up with a recipe (enter this strawberry quinoa salad), which earned Chef Elana’s stamp of approval in Plated’s test kitchen. Then they sourced the ingredients, made sure that strawberries ship beautifully and took step-by-step photos to show how to make the recipe. They’ll be sending out perfectly portioned, fresh ingredients to make this salad next week!
Plated will be delivering the ingredients to make this salad from August 11 – 17! If you’re curious about Plated’s offerings, now’s the perfect time to place an order. Cookie and Kate readers get 10% off their first order with code COOKIEANDKATE. (Sorry, this applies to new Plated customers only. Offer expires October 1, 2014.)
Click here to check out Plated’s current offerings! As usual, four of the recipes contain meat/fish and the three others, including this salad, are meatless. Plated is sharing a portion of the proceeds from your orders with us, so thank you in advance for your support.
I’m also including the salad recipe below. Enjoy!
Chopped Strawberry and Spinach Salad with Quinoa and Goat Cheese
- Author:
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Salad
Fresh strawberry salad featuring chopped spinach, quinoa, goat cheese and toasted almonds, tossed in lemon dressing. This salad is gluten free! Amounts listed below yield one big, dinner-sized serving of salad, so multiply as necessary.
Ingredients
Salad
- 2 ½ cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
- 5 to 6 strawberries (to yield ¾ to 1 cup sliced strawberries), hulled and cut into ¼-inch thick slices
- 1 ½ ounces chilled goat cheese, crumbled
- 2 tablespoons slivered almonds
Quinoa
- ¼ cup quinoa, rinsed under running water in a fine mesh colander
- ½ cup water
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Lemon dressing
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon honey
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the quinoa: In a small saucepan, combine the rinsed quinoa and ½ cup water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until all of the liquid has been absorbed, about 15 to 17 minutes. Remove the pot from heat, sprinkle in ⅛ teaspoon salt and fluff the quinoa with a fork. Let the quinoa cool, uncovered, for 7 to 8 minutes.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, mustard, honey and a few twists of freshly ground black pepper until emulsified. Set the dressing aside.
- Toast the almonds: In a small pan over medium heat, toast the almonds, stirring often, until they are fragrant and turning golden, about 5 minutes.
- Assemble the salad: In a bowl, combine the chopped spinach, sliced strawberries, warm quinoa and toasted almonds. Crumble goat cheese over the salad. Drizzle in just enough dressing to lightly coat the spinach (I only used about half of the dressing) and toss.
Notes
Make it vegan: Skip the goat cheese.
Make it nut free: Skip the almonds or substitute toasted sunflower seeds.
Storage suggestions: Store dressing separately. Toss the dressing with the rest of the ingredients just before serving.
Change it up: Sliced fresh cherries, peaches or apples would make great substitutions for the strawberries!
If you love this recipe: You’ll also love my strawberry, basil and goat cheese panini and strawberry kale salad with nutty granola croutons.
▸ Nutrition Information
Disclaimer: This recipe was created in partnership with Plated and I will be receiving a portion of the proceeds from your orders. Thank you for supporting the partners that support Cookie and Kate!
Vegetable enthusiast. Dog lover. I'm probably making a big mess in my Kansas City kitchen right now. 
Librarian Lavender
The salad looks great! We have something like Plated where I live as well and I think it’s really nice!
Maria
We’re in the process of moving and have been indulging a little too much. Can’t wait to get settled and started making more salads. Plus, you had me at goat cheese and strawberries.
Amy @ Parsley In My Teeth
Such a beautiful salad. And it’s wonderful that it can be shared through Plated! What a great idea!
amanda
my stomach is growling now! this looks so, so good!!
lisa @Garlic+Zest
Mmmm! Party in my mouth! I need a reprieve from an over-indulgent weekend as well. This will fit the bill! Dinner tonight.
Also, the Plated concept is interesting – I’d never heard of it before. Thanks for the heads up!
Kate
Hope you loved the salad, Lisa!
Emily L
It’s so exciting to see that Plated is featuring your recipe! Congrats!! My roommate actually subscribed to Plated for a month or so and she loved it! I will have to tell her to choose your recipe!
Meanwhile, I’ll have to make this salad soon! I overindulged too this weekend…
Kate
Thanks, Emily! Hope you both get a chance to enjoy the salad! :)
abby - little city adventures
some of my favorite foods! Looks delicious!
★★★★★
Ella
Yay, how exciting! I don’t remember seeing this particular concept on Shark Tank, but a lot of the stuff that comes off of that show turns out awesome. This salad looks delicious and combines all my favorite things! Just FYI Whole Foods brand makes vegetarian goat cheese (a lot of brands aren’t because they use animal rennet instead of vegetable rennet). Only recently made that discovery and I feel a lot better knowing I’m not eating any animals when I enjoy delicious goat cheese! I wonder how this would be with raspberries.
http://www.youtube.com/sparklesandsuch26
Kate
Thanks, Ella! I bet it would be awesome with raspberries. To be entirely honest, I don’t pay any attention when it comes to cheese but I’m glad to know that Whole Foods brand offers vegetable rennet goat cheese!
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
Wow, Plated sounds like such an amazing company! I’m assuming it’s probably not available in Canada but it’s such a cool concept (and one I think would make for a pretty ideal job too!) Great recipe as usual, Kate! :)
Kate
Yeah, it’s a very cool concept! I wish Plated had existed when I was commuting to an office job every day. Thanks, Angela!
Liz @ Floating Kitchen
Beautiful salad. So cool that Plated is featuring a recipe from you!!
Matt @ Plating Pixels
Wow congratulations on being featured with Plated! Your recipes, including this one, are truly wonderful and I’m sure busy people would love an easier way to make them. It’s so great when your passion is noticed and can help others.
★★★★★
Kate
Thanks again, Matt! :)
Katie @ Produce on Parade
Wow! Very cool! I saw the Plated people on Shark Tank as well. I loooove that show!
Kate
Thanks, Katie! My dad saw them on Shark Tank and told me about it. I want to watch that episode!
Stefanie @ Sarcastic Cooking
OMG I def indulged a bit too much this weekend too. My indulgences were not as classy as yours though. I spent my Saturday night with beers and cheeseburgers. Hahah. This salad is perfection. Also, congrats on the Plated partnership, so cool!
Kate
I love me some beer and fries, don’t get me wrong! Thanks, Stefanie!
Kate @Almond Butter Binge
Congratulations on the new partnership! And I’m happy to hear that Plated is expanding…the only thing available for me for weeks was something with salmon and asparagus that did not sound particularly appealing. I’ll have to check again now that this recipe should be there!
Kate
Thanks, Kate! I hope this salad is available to you!
Jordan
How exciting! Congrats on being a contributor for Plated. I just recently heard about Plated and I think this salad is just the nudge I need to try it. :)
Kate
Thanks, Jordan! I hope you’ll give Plated a try! It’s pretty neat.
Amanda @ Positively Amanda
I love strawberries in my salads. I’m going to have to try this!
Gaby
Perfect summer salad!! Looks beautiful!
Amy @ Thoroughly Nourished Life
Congratulations on this new adventure Kate! This salad looks absolutely divine, and the Plated concept is a great one.
This salad sounds like the perfect way for me to get back on track after my high tea (with surprise fondue) on the weekend. I don’t think I’ve ever had strawberries in my salad before (they never last long enough after I buy them) but I am looking forward to a new addition to my green and leafys :)
Kate
Thanks, Amy! I’ve never experienced high tea. :) I think you will love strawberries in salad! I like to balance out the sweetness with tangy dressing and goat cheese.
Kelly
This salad looks so good. I can’t wait to try it! I’ll have to check out Plated too!
Holly
Wow, that looks amazing! And sounds like you had an awesome weekend!
Thalia @ butter and brioche
love coming across new salad ideas to recreate in my kitchen during the week.. definitely will be making this recipe for my vegetarian family. thanks for the inspiration!
Kate
Thank you, Thalia! Hope you all enjoy the salad!
Kelly
This looks and sounds amazing, what a fun, fresh option for summer!
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
This is my dream salad, love the strawberries and lemon dressing!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
I definitely overindulged this weekend!! I need a salad like this hard!
Jenmarie
This looks mouth watering! I’ve tried strawberries in my salad recently but I’m definitely curious to see how it tastes with a few added ingredients.
Leah
I love these flavor combinations – whenever I see a strawberry/spinach salad on a restaurant menu, I order it. I’m not sure why these pair well, but they do. Love the addition of quinoa. Healthy and delicious!!
Kate
Strawberry and spinach were meant to be! Hope you’ll give this salad a try, Leah.
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health
i could certainly see myself making a big batch of this salad.
Wendy
Just made this and served it for me and my mom. We were both making serious yummy noises the entire salad-eating time. Thank you for yet another keeper recipe. You are making my food planning weeks soooo much easier!!
Kate
Thanks, Wendy! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the recipes. :)
Annie
Salad is never a wrong choice especially in summer when I crave for something fresh and light. Strawberry and spinach are tasting good together as well!
★★★★
erin {yummysupper}
Hey you, what a fun partnership. Plated is a great concept… making it that much easier for folks to cook at home… I love that.
And of course your salad looks amazing! Maybe I’ll whip one up for lunch today:)
xoxo,
E
Brittany
I haven’t tried Plated but I’ve heard great things and I think it’s so cool that you were able to create a recipe for them! This salad is right up my alley.
Sonja
This looks fabulous! I hadn’t heard of Plated but it looks great. Kudos, friend!
CHELSA
I LOVE your blog, but I’ve never commented. I MUST say congrats for getting one of your healthy, awesome recipes into the PLATED biz. I watched them on SharkTank! I have friends who will send me their link, but honestly, I LOVE to grocery shop! Esp at our local farmers markets :)
Love your recipes, keep the wonderful inspiration coming please!
Allison
Congrats to you, Kate! It would be pretty cool to see your kitchen creation on a menu. I’ve never heard of this service, but I just popped over to the Plated site and it’s such an interesting concept. So great! Love seeing healthy food made more accessible. I’d order this salad, of course! I’ve also pinned it because I need to make it asap. :)
Jess
This looks wonderful! I can’t wait to try it this weekend!
Joanne
SO cool! I sometimes peruse Plated’s site for recipe ideas and actually spied your salad there! I was all squealing and shrieked I KNOW HER to the.boy. he had a very minimal reaction, but I was so excited! Looks great.
Kate
:D!
Lauren
How awesome is it that this salad is on Plated? Holy smokes! This summer is screaming “summer!” to me! Yum!
Kate
Thank you, Lauren! :)
Christine
My husband and I tried this for dinner last night. We loved the flavor combinations, and toasting the almonds makes for great flavor and texture. The dressing is great. We only had raspberries on hand, so used that instead. Thanks Kate!
★★★★★
Kate
Glad you enjoyed the salad! Raspberries sound like a great substitution.
Susan
Hi Kate,
I am new to your blog and trying to eat healthier. Great photos and recipes. Can I ask about the goat cheese used? You say to crumble it. The goat cheese I have seems very creamy. Am I buying the wrong cheese?
Thanks
Kate
Hi Susan! I use creamy goat cheese, too. If it’s chilled, you can take a fork to it and crumble it into smaller pieces. Just sort of tear into it and turn the fork at the same time. Hope that makes sense.
Susan
Thanks!
Leslie
Delicious! Ate half for lunch and layered the rest in a mason jar for tomorrow.
Kate
Awesome, thanks Leslie!
Valerie
I saw this on Pinterest and made it for lunch today- it’s delicious! Very filling and tasty. I look forward to having more of it tomorrow :)
★★★★★
Kate
Awesome! Glad you’re enjoying the salad, Valerie!
Lauren
I’m hoping to make this in bigger bulk for lunches for a week, will the dressing hold up for 5-6 days if made in a bigger quantity?! Thanks!!
Kate
Hi Lauren, yes, it should be fine! Just keep it in the fridge. If the oil solidifies, you can let it warm to room temperature or zap it in the microwave for just a few seconds before whisking again.
Erica
Making this tomorrow for a crowd. There will be an amazing cheesecake there, so I want to bring something healthy! Will leave the nuts out because I don’t now about allergies. Have been surfing for strawberry salads and the quinoa is a great idea, and the lemon vinaigrette should be awesome. Thanks!
Kate
Hope the salad goes over great, Erica! Now I want a slice of cheesecake. :)
Nkem
Made this for a dinner last night; it probably received the most compliments! And I’m having the leftovers for lunch today – great recipe :-)
★★★★★
Kate
Happy to hear it! Thanks, Nkem!
Melissa French, The More With Less Mom
This sounds so good. I have included this in my June Real Food Meal Plan post. Thanks for sharing!
Kate
Thank you, Melissa!
Susan
This salad was amazing! Substituted organic Feta for the goat and pine nuts for the almonds to make the hubby happy. What a fantastic way to use seasonal produce.
Kate
Thank you, Susan! Happy to hear it!
Beth
I see you have 2 strawberry quinoa salad recipes on your site. One has more quinoa, slightly different dressing and nuts. Is one more conducive to serving to a group? I’d like to make one to serve at a bridal shower. Thanks!
Kate
Hi Beth, that’s a good question! I would go with this one, just because I published it a couple years later and have gotten better at writing recipes in the process. I think it would scale well. I think I would store the dressing separately and toss it just before serving. Otherwise, the spinach will wilt.
Fernanda Hurtado
Hi! Love your recipe!
I am a writer for Spoon_Northeastern (Spoon University), it is a food a magazine written by college students around the world. I am writing an article and in the past have made your delicious strawberry spinach quinoa salad and would like to include it in an article I am writing on fresh recipes for the spring.
I was wondering if I could use your recipe and photo of the recipe for the article? Of course, we would give you credit for it all and even include a link for readers to go to your website to check out the recipe.
Please let me know if this would be okay with you.
Thank you,
Fernanda
Kate
Hi Fernanda, here is my policy on that.
carla
thank you I am making as I type for the 4th of july! I will add blue berries for a red white and blue theme.
Bianca
Great Salad! Tastes amazing. the only thing I would pick on is too much oil. I enjoyed it before I put on the dressing.
★★★★
Kate
Feel free to take the oil down a notch next time, Bianca!
Shivani
I was never really a fan of quinoa, but it tastes amazing in this recipe and is making me more excited to cook with quinoa in the future! Thanks Kate for this great recipe!
★★★★★
Kate
Hooray! Happy to hear that. You are very welcome, Shivani. Thank you for your comment and review.
John C
Needed a quick dinner that would go from start to finish in 45 minutes. Where else would I go but to C&K for a delicious and healthy salad like this? Everything was already in the fridge and I had it on the table in less than 20 minutes. Oh yeah, I subbed feta for the goat cheese. The dressing alone was worth it! We’ll be revisiting this salad, for sure!!
★★★★★
Kate
Wonderful! Thank you, John for sharing. I appreciate the review.
Michele
I made this salad, added sunflower seeds instead of nuts and used Fuji apple dressing I had on hand. It was delicious! Going to try it this weekend with the lemon Dijon dressing.
★★★★★
Kate
Thanks for sharing how you made this work with what you had on hand, Michele! I appreciate the review.
H
I am OBSESSED with this recipe and now want to try all your dishes!! So satisfying and zingy. I now also feel the need to add the lemon dressing to all my other meals. Thank you!
★★★★★
Eileen
This simple salad is more than worthy of strawberry season. I made it exactly as written, and even used goat cheese, which I usually avoid. The salad offers big flavor for a weekday salad.
★★★★★
Lily
I can’t wait to try this! Just a note, though. You might want to change the vegan section of the notes to reflect changing the honey in the dressing . Non-vegans may not think to swap it when making this salad for friends/ family that are vegan. :)