Strawberry Fields Salad (Printable Version)
Sweet strawberries and crisp greens with creamy goat cheese, toasted nuts, and homemade balsamic dressing.
# What You Need:
→ Salad Components
01 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (baby spinach, arugula, and romaine)
02 - 1 pint fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
04 - 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese
05 - 1/3 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped
06 - 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
→ Balsamic Dressing
07 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
08 - 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
09 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
10 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
11 - Salt and black pepper to taste
# Directions:
01 - In a large salad bowl, combine mixed greens, sliced strawberries, red onion, goat cheese, toasted nuts, and fresh basil. Toss ingredients gently to distribute evenly.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified and smooth.
03 - Drizzle dressing over salad immediately before serving. Toss gently to coat all ingredients without crushing delicate greens. Serve at once.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together in under 15 minutes but looks like something from a restaurant menu
- The honey balsamic dressing perfectly balances the sweet strawberries with tangy goat cheese
02 -
- Dress the salad right before serving or the greens will wilt and the nuts will lose their crunch
- Goat cheese spreads better at room temperature so take it out of the fridge 20 minutes before you need it
03 -
- Use a mandoline or vegetable peeler to shave the red onion into paper thin slices that melt into the salad
- If your strawberries are not quite sweet enough let them macerate in a teaspoon of sugar for 10 minutes before adding them to the salad