This strawberry goat cheese salad is like a burst of sunshine on a plate!
The combination of sweet, juicy strawberries and tangy, creamy goat cheese is absolutely divine.
I love how the flavors and textures play off each other. The fresh greens and crunchy nuts add the perfect balance.
Feel free to customize it, too! Swap out the walnuts for pecans or almonds, use feta instead of goat cheese, etc.
Either way, it’s sure to be a huge hit.
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad
Flavor Explosion: This recipe has everything you could want in a salad. It’s sweet, tangy, and savory all at once. Talk about tantalizing your tastebuds!
Vibrant Presentation: The salad’s appearance is as gorgeous as its taste is delicious. Everything is beautifully bright and vibrant. The red strawberries, fresh greens, and purplish onion are all visually appealing.
Quick Preparation: You can assemble this salad in just 15 minutes. It’s an ideal choice for busy weeknights or last-minute entertaining.
Seasonal Appeal: Featuring fresh strawberries, this salad is perfect for spring and summer. Take advantage of seasonal produce for maximum flavor.
Ingredients
- Fresh Strawberries: Juicy and sweet, these berries add a burst of freshness and vibrant color.
- Goat Cheese: Crumbled goat cheese is creamy and tangy. It provides a rich, savory contrast to the sweet strawberries.
- Mixed Baby Greens: They offer a delicate, slightly peppery base for the salad.
- Red Onion: Slice the onions thinly for an earthy, slightly sharp flavor.
- Toasted Walnuts: Crunchy and nutty, they’re toasted to enhance their flavor. They also add a satisfying texture.
- Balsamic Vinaigrette: It’s made with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon, salt, and black pepper. It ties all the flavors together and pairs perfectly with the veggies.
How to Make Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad
Whip up this sweet-n-tangy salad by following these steps:
1. Make the dressing. Combine the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon, salt, and pepper in a small jar. Seal it tightly and shake vigorously to combine. Set aside.
2. Toast the walnuts. Toast them in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently. Continue until they’re fragrant and lightly browned. Then, remove them from heat to cool.
3. Make the salad. Combine the mixed greens, strawberries, red onion, and walnuts in a large salad bowl. Then, drizzle the vinaigrette over it and toss gently to coat. Finally, sprinkle the goat cheese over the top.
4. Serve. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad
As with all salad recipes, the recipe here is just a suggestion. You can tweak it however you like to suit your tastes.
Whatever ingredients you use, incorporate these tips when preparing your salad:
- Fresh is best. Your salad will only taste as good as the ingredients you use in it. So be sure to select the freshest produce and cheese you can find.
- Keep things thin and uniform. Slice the onion thinly so it doesn’t overpower the other ingredients. For everything else, try to make similar-sized slices. The salad’s texture and consistency will be better that way.
- Be gentle! If you’re too forceful, the greens will wilt. Toss everything gently and carefully.
- Switch up your seasonings. Play with the salt, pepper, and honey ratios in the dressing.
- Try fun variations. Try substituting pecans or almonds for the walnuts. You can also use feta or blue cheese for the goat cheese. As for add-ins, try avocado or chicken for extra protein, or use spinach or arugula instead of mixed greens.
How to Store
As with most salads, it’s crucial to store the salad and dressing separately. Place each in its own separate container to prevent sogginess.
To Store: Store the separate containers in the fridge. The salad should last for up to 3 days, while the dressing will last for about a week.
More Summer Salad Recipes
Can’t get enough of refreshing summer salads? Try one of these, too:
Copycat Olive Garden Salad
Arugula Salad with Shaved Parmesan
Ina Garten Greek Salad
Watermelon Feta Salad
Ambrosia Fruit Salad Recipe (for dessert!)
Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad
6
servings10
5
minutes255
kcalThis strawberry goat cheese salad is bursting with color and flavor! It’s sweet, savory, and has the perfect balance of wonderful textures.
Ingredients
- For the Salad
8 cups mixed baby greens
2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup toasted walnuts, roughly chopped
4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
- For the Balsamic Vinaigrette
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a small jar, combine the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Seal with a lid and shake vigorously until the dressing is well combined. Set aside.
- Toast the walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until fragrant and lightly browned. About 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
- In a large salad bowl, combine the mixed greens, sliced strawberries, red onion, and toasted walnuts.
- Drizzle the desired amount of balsamic vinaigrette over the salad. Gently toss to coat the greens.
- Sprinkle the crumbled goat cheese over the top of the salad. Serve immediately and enjoy!
