Strawberry Walnut Salad

This colorful and vibrant strawberry walnut salad combines the sweetness of fresh strawberries, the crunchiness of candied walnuts, and the creaminess of fresh mozzarella balls to create a symphony of flavors. This salad is quick and simple to make and is excellent as a light lunch or a refreshing side dish. It features a basic oil and vinegar dressing that lets the natural flavors shine.

❤️ Here is Why This Recipe Works

A delicious blend of flavors and textures. Crisp lettuce, sweet, juicy strawberries, crunchy candied walnuts and soft, creamy mozzarella. Every bite is a flavor explosion of sweet and savory.

Versatility: This salad is perfect for any occasion, whether a casual meal at home, a picnic in the park, or a dinner party with friends. The vibrant colors brighten up a casual meal and the candied walnuts add a touch of decadence, elevating the dish for special occasions.

Customizable: One of the best aspects of this salad is its adaptability. You can substitute blueberries or raspberries for the strawberries, use pecans or almonds instead of walnuts, or swap the mozzarella balls for goat cheese or feta. The possibilities are endless, allowing you to create your own unique twist.

? The Ingredients

Here is a list of the ingredients for this strawberry walnut salad recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card for all the details. 

• Vinaigrette dressing: I made a simple homemade dressing, but you can use a store-bought dressing if you prefer. 
  
• Mixed salad greens. I used a pre-packaged blend of crisp leafy greens, but fresh spinach or spring greens also taste great. 
  
• Fresh strawberries. Juicy, sweet strawberries are the highlight of this salad. Make sure they are bright red when you purchase them because they don’t ripen after they get picked. 
  
• Candied walnuts. Sweet, crunchy walnuts add a great contrast to the creamy cheese and ripe strawberries. You can make your own candied walnuts or purchase them from the store. Or cut back on the sugar and add a handful of toasted walnuts.
  
• Mozzarella cheese balls. Any cheese will work here but the mild flavor of fresh mozzarella enhances the sweetness of the strawberries and balances out the slight tartness of the vinaigrette.

?‍? How to Make It

Here is a brief overview to get an idea of what to expect with the recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card for all the details.

1. Make the vinaigrette: In a small dish or jar, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. 
2. Place the salad greens in a large bowl. Add the sliced strawberries, candied walnuts, and Mozzarella cheese. 
3. Toss the salad with the vinaigrette and serve with garlic bread or homemade Dutch oven bread.

? Tips for Success

• You can make the vinaigrette ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 7 days. Keep it stored in an airtight container. 
  
• If the vinaigrette separates after sitting for a bit, just whisk it again or give the jar a good shake.
  
• Add maple syrup, honey, or agave nectar to the vinaigrette if you prefer a sweeter dressing. 
  
• To clean the strawberries, dunk them in a diluted vinegar water bath. The vinegar will help the strawberries stay fresh longer. Combine 1 part white vinegar and 3 parts water to make the bath. Dunk them in the water, drain them, and dry them thoroughly.

✅ Substitutions and Variations

There are countless ways to experiment with different ingredients in this strawberry walnut salad recipe. You can add a handful of grated carrots, sliced red onion, or feta cheese. You could add chicken breast cutlets or smoked salmon for a heartier main course salad. Here are some more ideas. 

• Swap the vinaigrette for different salad dressings. Try a balsamic dressing, poppy seed vinaigrette, ranch dressing, or a simple balsamic glaze.
• Make it a strawberry spinach salad by swapping the fresh greens with baby spinach. 
• Add a different cheese. Blue cheese crumbles, goat cheese, Feta, or even Parmesan would all be great options.
• Add diced avocado for more healthy fats.
• Swap the walnuts for candied pecans or cocoa nibs.

?️ Serving Suggestions

Looking for a delicious and healthy main dish to serve with this strawberry walnut salad? Grilled chicken or steamed salmon would make a great addition for heartier meals. Here are some more ideas. 

• lamb kabobs
• broiled pork chops
• seared lamb chops
• sous vide pork tenderloin
• smoked whole chicken
• pineapple and chicken kabobs
• lemongrass chicken satay
• chicken piccata
• baked sea bass 
• grilled swordfish
• miso glazed sablefish

⏲ Storage 

To store the salad. Place the lettuce in a resealable plastic bag with a damp paper towel. Keep the vinaigrette and strawberries separate, then combine them when you are ready to serve the salad. 

? More Salad Recipes 

If you’re looking for more fresh and flavorful salads to elevate your meals, we have a lot of salad recipes on our site to keep some variety in your meals. 

• arugula Burrata Salad
• shrimp Louie
• sugar snap pea salad
• tri tip steak salad
• jicama slaw
• green salad with cantaloupe
• tossed green salad with cranberries
• Greek salad
• Bistro salad
• spinach salad
• arugula apple salad
• kale Caesar salad
• radish cucumber salad
• crispy chicken salad
• kale barley salad
• Panzanella

This strawberry walnut salad is a great choice for a healthy side salad or you can add some protein to transform it into a main meal. The combination of crisp Spring mix greens, juicy strawberries, and the sweet, nutty flavor from candied walnuts makes it the perfect combination of flavors and textures. Play around with the ingredients to make it your own creation.

⭐️ Helpful Tools

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• salad bowl
• strawberry huller 
• salad dressing shaker

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