Strawberry & Spinach Salad with Naturally Sweetened Balsamic Dressing

As the dark days of winter begin to draw to an end, the days become longer, and tiny specks of green begin to poke their way through the snow.

That’s when I crave greens and berries.

The first signs of spring and the bounty that’s awaiting us in the summertime.

A strawberry and spinach salad with naturally sweetened balsamic dressing satisfies that craving. The woodsy acidity of balsamic vinegar brings out the brightness of the strawberries — and then it’s all balanced with creamy goat cheese.

This is the type of salad you find at a high-end restaurant — the kind to which you sneak away to meet your girlfriends (sans kids and husbands) for a long lunch and a glass of wine.

Yet, the beauty of this salad, not the ingredients, is what makes it high-end. Because it’s so easy to make yourself.

And no need to worry about unnatural ingredients in bottled salad dressing. Just whip up a naturally sweetened balsamic dressing in a few minutes!

I’ve used the caramel-y, deep sweetness of Wildly Organic’s coconut syrup as the sweetener here. It adds richness and isn’t overly sweet. The balance of strawberries with the dressing, the crunch of the pecans, and the creaminess of the goat cheese make for a salad that tastes like your favorite restaurant with the satisfaction of knowing you made it yourself.

Strawberry & Spinach Salad with Naturally Sweetened Balsamic Dressing

• 3 to 4 cups organic baby spinach
• 2 cups fresh, organic strawberries, chopped
• 1/2 cup Wildly Organic Pecans, toasted
• 1/4 cup goat cheese crumbles
• 1/4 cup fresh chives, chopped (optional)

What’s your favorite salad? Do you make your own salad dressing?

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