Summer Spinach Salad with Strawberry Hibiscus Bitters Dressing
There’s a particular kind of joy that belongs to summer strawberries. The kind that makes its way into breakfast bowls, picnic baskets, pink-stained fingertips, and salads you throw together when the afternoon feels too warm for anything complicated.
This Summer Spinach Salad with Strawberry Hibiscus Bitters Dressing is made for that exact mood. It’s fresh and simple, with tender spinach, juicy strawberries, salty feta, crunchy almonds, and a bright dressing that brings everything together with a botanical twist.
It’s also a playful reminder that bitters aren’t just for drinks. A few drops can bring depth, brightness, and a little surprise to all kinds of recipes. Especially when you’re in the mood to follow your curiosity in the kitchen.
What are bitters?
Bitters are botanical infusions made with herbs, roots, fruit, spices, and flowers, where at least one of the ingredients tastes bitter.
Most people think of them as something you add to cocktails, sparkling water, or spirit-free drinks, but they can be used in the kitchen too. Think of them as a tiny bottle of seasoning possibility. A few drops can add balance to a vinaigrette, depth to a sauce, warmth to baked goods, or a little unexpected flavor to something simple.
In other words, bitters don’t have to live in a glass. Sometimes they belong in a salad bowl.
Why bitters make a perfect salad dressing
A good summer dressing should feel light, lively, and fresh. This strawberry hibiscus salad dressing starts with simple ingredients: olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper.
The addition of Strawberry Hibiscus Bitters brings fresh, ripe berry and a floral-tartness that makes the leafy greens come alive. Paired with creamy feta, crunchy almonds, and tender spinach, the dressing turns a simple spinach salad into something that feels made for golden hour.
Why Strawberry Hibiscus Bitters make it sing
Strawberry Hibiscus Bitters are part of our summer release, and they were made for recipes that feel juicy, sun-warmed, and a little unexpected.
That’s one of our favorite things about cooking with bitters. They don’t have to take over a recipe. Added in drops and dashes, they can simply nudge flavors forward, adding depth and delight in a way that feels subtle, creative, and surprising.
Try them in this dressing, then let yourself keep playing. Add them to marinades, fruit compotes, cream tops, or chia pudding.
Summer Spinach Salad with
Strawberry Hibiscus Salad Dressing
serves 2
3 c spinach
4 oz feta
8 oz strawberries, chopped
2 T sliced almonds
3 T olive oil
1 T Strawberry Hibiscus Bitters
1 tsp red wine vinegar
pinch of salt
pinch of pepper
Divide spinach, feta, strawberries, and almonds evenly between two plates. In bowl whisk together olive oil, Strawberry Hibiscus Bitters, red wine vinegar, salt, & pepper. Dress the salad to your liking.
Make it your own
The best salads leave room for a little improvising. Swap the feta for goat cheese or gorgonzola. Use toasted pecans or walnuts. Add avocado for richness or cucumber for crunch. Add a handful of fresh basil from your garden.
If you want to make it more of a meal, add grilled chicken, salmon, chickpeas, or farro. If you’re serving it to friends, pair it with a refreshing spritz and enjoy it on the patio.
However you make it, let this be your invitation to use bitters with a little more freedom, and bring a little botanical surprise to something you already love.
