Enjoy some summertime sweetness with this fresh and juicy Strawberry Salad, ready in less than 20 minutes!
As the weather gets warmer, I tend to crave meals that are light, bright, and full of life. And as soon as strawberry season hits, I can’t get enough of ’em. Not only can we fill up on phenomenal fruit salads, parfaits, and decadent desserts, but we can also whip up a sweet and easy strawberry salad—the perfect lunch for those sunny picnic days.
Strawberry salad comes together effortlessly in less than 20 minutes. It’s packed with vibrant leafy greens, fresh strawberries, juicy cherry tomatoes, tangy onion, crumbly feta cheese, and crunchy walnuts—all dressed in a fabulous homemade vinaigrette. The sweetness of honey plus the tanginess of balsamic vinegar match harmoniously and easily make this salad stand out among the rest.
Whether it’s a simple and sweet lunch for yourself or a dish to pass at a picnic, strawberry salad in the spring or summer is absolutely refreshing. It has a medley of colors, flavors, and textures that can make the taste buds sing.
When are strawberries in season?
Strawberries are usually ready to be harvested in late spring or early summer. Where I’m from in New York, for example, the local farmers start putting out their precious little crates of strawberries in May and finish their harvest in late June or early July. But warmer states like Florida can sometimes see strawberries popping up as early as February or March, depending on the weather. Of course, in this day and age, we are blessed to be able to get strawberries in the grocery store all year round, thanks to global farms. But in my opinion, getting fresh local strawberries when they’re in season is the best option, especially for this beautifully sweet salad.
How do I store leftovers?
Ideally, leftover salad fixings (greens, onions, etc.) should be stored separately from the dressing to avoid sogginess and keep everything crunchy and fresh. However, if your leftover salad is already dressed, you can still place it in an airtight container and refrigerate it for 1-2 days. Keep in mind that after this time, it will become too soft and wet to enjoy, so be sure to enjoy your leftovers sooner rather than later. The fresher, the better!
Serving suggestions
Want to host your own vegetarian BBQ or picnic? Garnish your strawberry salad with fresh basil or mint leaves, and then serve it with Black Bean Burgers, Vegan Gluten-Free Pasta Salad, Cucumber Sandwiches, Grilled Eggplant, and Healthy Potato Salad. All these veggie-based options are equally colorful and provide some more savory flavors to complement this salad’s sweetness.
On the other hand, you might want to try some mouthwatering meat options like Hawaiian BBQ Chicken, Slow-Cooker Ribs, or Lemon-Pepper Chicken Wings. Oh, and don’t forget a tall, cold glass of Lemonade. However you serve it, strawberry salad can go excellently with a wide array of dishes.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup raw walnuts roughly chopped
- 5 ounces spring mix salad greens
- 8 ounces fresh strawberries hulled and sliced
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/4 cup red onion sliced (optional)
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons honey
- Salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
- A few fresh basil leaves optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Toast the walnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet for 5 to 7 minutes until golden and fragrant. Let cool.
- In a large salad bowl, combine the spring mix, sliced strawberries, halved cherry tomatoes, and sliced red onions.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss to ensure an even coating. Next, add the crumbled feta and cooled walnuts, and then toss lightly once more.
- Garnish with a few fresh basil leaves, if desired, and serve immediately.
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
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