Spring is in the air, and there’s no better way to celebrate the season than with light and refreshing salads. These dishes are perfect for welcoming the warmth, featuring crisp greens, vibrant veggies, and zesty dressings. Let’s dive into three spring salad recipes that promise to bring a burst of freshness to your table.

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

This salad is a festival of flavours and textures, marrying the sweetness of ripe strawberries with the earthy tones of fresh spinach, all topped with a delicious homemade poppy seed dressing.

Salad Ingredients:
• 4 cups spinach leaves
• 1 cup sliced strawberries
• ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
• ¼ cup sliced almonds, toasted

Dressing Ingredients:
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine the spinach and strawberries.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, poppy seeds, salt, and pepper until well combined.
3. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat.
4. Sprinkle the crumbled feta and toasted almonds over the top.
5. Serve!

Pea and Mint Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

Bright, zesty, and bursting with green goodness, this pea and mint salad pairs the sweetness of peas with the cool freshness of mint, all brought together with a tangy lemon vinaigrette.

Ingredients
• 2 cups fresh or frozen peas, blanched
• ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1 teaspoon honey
• Salt and cracked black pepper to taste
• Shaved Parmesan cheese, for garnish

Instructions

1. If using frozen peas, blanch them in boiling water for a minute, then plunge into ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain well.
2. In a salad bowl, combine the peas and chopped mint.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper until the dressing is emulsified.
4. Pour the dressing over the peas and mint, tossing gently to ensure everything is well coated.
5. Garnish with shaved Parmesan cheese just before serving. This salad is a wonderful side dish or a light meal on its own.

Avocado, Tomato, and Cucumber Salad with Lime Dressing

For a salad that’s as satisfying as it is simple, this combination of creamy avocado, crisp cucumber, and juicy tomatoes is a winner. A zesty lime dressing ties everything together beautifully.

Salad Ingredients
• 1 ripe avocado, diced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cucumber, diced

Dressing Ingredients
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine the diced avocado, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper to create the dressing.
3. Drizzle the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently to combine.
4. Serve!

Whether as a side dish or the star of your springtime table, spring salads are sure to delight your taste buds and bring a little bit of spring sunshine into your meals. Enjoy experimenting with these recipes and making them your own by adding your favourite seasonal ingredients!