Strawberry Fields Salad (Printable)
Sweet strawberries meet crisp greens and tangy goat cheese in this refreshing 15-minute dish perfect for light lunches.
# Ingredient List:
→ Salad Components
01 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (baby spinach, arugula, romaine)
02 - 1 pint (2 cups) 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 Vinaigrette
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
# Steps:
01 - Combine mixed greens, sliced strawberries, red onion, crumbled goat cheese, toasted nuts, and torn basil in a large salad bowl.
02 - Whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey (or maple syrup), Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until emulsified and smooth.
03 - Drizzle vinaigrette over salad immediately before serving. Toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly without crushing delicate greens.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together in literally fifteen minutes but looks like something from a restaurant menu
- The sweet and savory combination feels sophisticated without any actual cooking required
02 -
- Never dress this salad ahead of time—the acid will wilt the greens and make everything sad within twenty minutes
- Room temperature strawberries have more flavor than cold ones straight from the fridge
03 -
- Invest in a good salad spinner—wet dressing clinging to wet greens is the quickest way to ruin a perfectly good salad
- If you're serving this at a party, arrange it on a large platter instead of tossing in a bowl—it looks stunning and lets guests see all those beautiful layers