Strawberry Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing & Hot Honey Almond Bark

Fresh, colorful, and packed with seasonal flavor, this strawberry salad is the perfect way to celebrate spring and summer produce. Sweet strawberries, creamy avocado, crisp greens, and salty ricotta salata are topped with crunchy hot honey almond bark and finished with a light, creamy poppy seed dressing.

Serve it as a side salad at your next cookout or add grilled chicken (See our BBQ recipe here) for a satisfying, protein-packed lunch or dinner.

Why We Love This Recipe

• Fresh, seasonal ingredients full of flavor
• A balance of sweet, savory, creamy, and crunchy textures
• Heart-healthy fats from avocado, almonds, and olive oil
• Easy to turn into a complete meal with grilled chicken
• Beautiful enough for entertaining but simple enough for weeknight dinners

Hot Honey Almond Bark

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup slivered almonds
• 1 tablespoon hot honey (we like Mike’s Hot Honey)
• 1/2 teaspoon tapioca flour

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a small bowl, combine almonds, hot honey, and tapioca flour until evenly coated.
3. Spread onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
4. Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until lightly toasted and bubbling.
5. Transfer the parchment paper to a plate and refrigerate until cooled. Break into bite-sized pieces before serving.

Strawberry Salad

Ingredients

• 8 ounces fresh strawberries, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
• 1 avocado, diced
• 6 cups baby greens (baby spinach, spring mix, or Bibb lettuce)
• 1/2 cup ricotta salata, cubed
  • Goat cheese or feta may be substituted.
• Hot Honey Almond Bark
• Optional: Grilled chicken breast, sliced

Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons plain low-fat Greek yogurt

Directions

1. Combine all dressing ingredients in a mason jar or small container.
2. Shake vigorously until smooth.
3. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Assemble the Salad

1. Arrange greens in a large serving bowl or platter.
2. Top with strawberries, red onion, avocado, and ricotta salata.
3. Scatter pieces of the Hot Honey Almond Bark over the salad.
4. Add sliced grilled chicken if making it a complete meal.
5. Shake the dressing well and drizzle over the salad just before serving.

Recipe Tips

• Use ripe, in-season strawberries for the sweetest flavor.
• Chill the dressing for 20–30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
• Toasted pecans or walnuts make excellent substitutes for almonds.
• This salad is best dressed immediately before serving to keep the greens crisp.