Blueberry Salad with Honey Lemon Dressing
Fresh blueberries, goat cheese, & pecans, with a lightly sweet honey lemon dressing, top delicate lettuce for a tasty and easy Blueberry Salad.
Recently I realized something almost game-changing. I was making my husband a birthday dinner, when it clicked–it’s almost as easy to make a special salad as a plain lettuce salad.
That is, if you use a few, well-chosen, natural ingredients. Yes, sweet blueberries, creamy fresh goat cheese and crunchy pecans, can turn a simple Blueberry Salad into, well… a birthday salad.
Of course, making a homemade vinaigrette does add just a few minutes. Or you can use a favorite commercial or pre-made dressing if you prefer.
And in the end I had some extra validation. He complimented it more than the shrimp!
On the Fresh Ingredients
Now if you’re cooking with pecans, many people will tell you you need to toast them first. And while I admit toasted pecans are lovely, I don’t feel it’s required as long as they are fresh and crisp. After all, this is supposed to be an easy recipe.
If your pecans are past their prime however, toasting until fragrant (in the oven or a frying pan) will help bring them back. And while I use a Honey Vinaigrette, you could instead substitute a Blueberry Balsamic Vinaigrette.
I like to use a fairly delicate lettuce for this such as spring mix or butter lettuce. The toppings are light, so I think a heartier green like arugula can start to overwhelm them.
Can I use frozen blueberries? Generally frozen fruit is best used in cooked or baked dishes. Blueberries are a little more resilient than some fruits and I have added high quality frozen blueberries to a macerated fruit salad, but since they’re so prominent here, you really should use fresh.
Tips & FAQs
I keep logs of fresh chevre in the freezer, so I have it available any time I get a craving. There are 3-4 ounce small logs and larger 8+ ounce logs, so I thaw (they thaw quickly!) what I think I’ll use in the next week.
The small logs or crottins are just the right size for this Blueberry Salad!
Blueberries are usually included on the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen List of most contaminated fruits and vegetables. So, I try to buy organic if I can.
And if you’re looking for more tasty Farmer’s Market Recipes, check out these below:
- Cherry Compote by Magical Ingredients
- Chocolate Pudding Zucchini Bread Muffins by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
- Corn and Cantaloupe Salad by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Grilled Cabbage by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Homemade Strawberry Shortcake by Blogghetti
- Jalapeño Creamed Corn by Cheese Curd In Paradise
- Radish Salad with Orange Vinaigrette by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
- Spicy Avocado and Egg Toast by A Little Fish in the Kitchen
- Spicy Watermelon and Feta Salad by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
Blueberry Salad
Ingredients
Honey Lemon Vinaigrette (see note)
- 1 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 Tablespoons honey softened as needed
- ¼ teaspoon ginger powder
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Salad
- 6 + cups spring mix or other tender greens like butter lettuce
- ½ cup pecans whole or chopped
- 3-4 ounces fresh chevre (goat cheese)
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine dressing ingredients and whisk until emulsified.
- Place spring mix in a serving bowl or individual bowls, then top with pecans, goat cheese and blueberries. Drizzle dressing over the salad.
I’ve got everything to make this for lunch tomorrow! That dressing sounds delicious with the blueberries.
There’s so much in this salad with such few ingredients. There’s the sweet berries and crunchy pecans. Then the goat cheese with it’s creamy tanginess. And the earthy greens. A perfect summer salad.
The flavor profile is amazing! I would love to have this inviting bowl any day.
Thanks!
Now I’m craving this salad!! What a beautiful combination flavors, I think I will make this for us tonight, I just need to buy the cheese. We have everything else on hand. Thank you!! xo
If you have room in your freezer buy a second cheese and save it for later!
This salad is making me wish I lived in Maine again… at least during the summer! I miss the Maine wild blueberries!
Wild blueberries are the best!
Slowly dialing in my blueberry bushes, still not enough for pies but definitely enough to make this gorgeous salad!
How perfect!
You are so right about making a salad special! This one has some of my favorites and how easy is it to add a few blueberries, pecans, and feta!
One of those “could have had a v-8” moments!
So colorful and fresh looking. Summer salads are the best and the vinaigrette sounds divine.
So easy to whip up a quick vinaigrette too!
What a lovely little salad…and a reminder that we should always add blueberries to our salads! YUM!!! And pecans too, of course!!!
Of course!