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 Strawberry Walnut Salad 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 tossed salad with strawberries and walnuts. 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 Texas toast garlic bread or homemade Dutch oven bread.

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. 

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. 

Tossed Salad with Strawberries and Nuts

This strawberry walnut salad is a great 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.

If you like the sweet crunch in this salad, you’ll also want my Cranberry Gorgonzola Salad. It’s got toasted walnuts, dried cranberries, and creamy Gorgonzola with a sharp Champagne vinaigrette.