Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad
Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad is tasty, impressive and easier to make than you think. Life’s too short for boring salads!
On busy days, I’m always tempted to take short cuts. Use a bottled salad dressing, skip the salad toppings.
But it truly reduces the flavor experience. And isn’t life too short to eat boring salads?
So what if minimal toppings and a simple dressing could give you both ease of preparation and a special salad experience?
Today’s Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad does just that. By using only a scant 3-4 toppings and just over a half dozen dressing ingredients. Yes, you can have a nice salad and time to eat it too!
Why You’ll Love This!
Flavorful. Start with fresh lettuce and bright fruit. Add a little sweet, a little savory with some creamy richness. So good!
Easy. 3-4 toppings and a quick homemade dressing, make this as easy as it is tasty!
Pretty in Pink! I love the monochromatic (ish) palate of this salad. Wouldn’t it be a perfect Mother’s Day or Easter salad too!
Step by Step Overview
Whisk together dressing ingredients or shake in a shaker.
Divide lettuce into four salad bowls, then top with toppings. Alternatively assemble in a single large serving bowl.
Drizzle with Honey Balsamic Dressing.
Variations
I typically make this as individual salads since it’s usually just my husband and me. But for a recent brunch I made it up in a single big salad bowl and let guests serve themselves.
Serving to a group that includes someone allergic to strawberries? Not a problem, just use blueberries instead.
And if you happen to be needing a 4th of July Salad (or Memorial Day or Veterans Day salad), use both strawberries and blueberries. How’s this for a stunning red, white and blue salad!
Tips & FAQs
I have found that Balsamic vinegar can vary a lot, from thin and flavorful to syrupy and intense. I love the syrupy version in some foods, but for salad dressings it can tend to dominate. In that case, no need to buy something new, simply use up to half less.
With the recent rounds of food borne illnesses, I am only using local lettuce right now. But this doesn’t need to be much harder than pre-washed and bagged.
When I return from the farmer’s market, I cut off the stem section, freeing all the lettuce leaves. Then I run a handful at a time under water, pop into a salad spinner, and spin when full. After that, it’s ready to grab whenever I need it!
And for More Tasty Farmer’s Market Foods…
- Sweet Corn Risotto with Shrimp by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Fresh Blueberry Not-Too-Sweet Drop Biscuits by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
- Roasted Heirloom Tomato Soup by Rave About Food
- Thetcha by Magical Ingredients
- Spicy Salsa by That Recipe
- Taco Sloppy Joes by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Zucchini Coffee Cake Muffins by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad
Ingredients
Honey Balsamic Dressing:
- 3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar reduce by up to half if your vinegar is very syrupy
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 1 Tablespoon lime juice may sub wine or cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon ginger
- 3 sprigs of thyme leaves only (or a pinch of dried thyme)
- Salt pepper
Salad:
- 8 cups leaf lettuce torn
- 12 strawberries medium to large cut into quarters
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
- 2 ounces goat cheese
- Optional few slices of thinly sliced red onion
Instructions
- Whisk together dressing ingredients or shake in a shaker.
- Divide lettuce into four salad bowls, then top with toppings. Alternatively assemble in a single large serving bowl.
- Drizzle with Honey Balsamic Dressing.
Beautiful and great flavors. Will need to wait for strawberry season here again…
It doesn’t get much prettier than this gorgeous salad. The perfect light meal for when strawberries are super-fresh and in season!
A perfect summer salad and the vinaigrette sounds divine.