This strawberry spinach salad is the perfect light and healthy dish to satisfy your craving for fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s packed with fresh strawberries, baby spinach, aged goat cheese, candied pecans, and a simple homemade balsamic vinaigrette.
The aged goat cheese adds a savory, tangy, umami flavor that compliments the sweet juicy strawberries. It makes a great side salad for dinner or a light lunch. If you want something heartier, check out our spinach salad.
A similar salad you should try is our tossed green salad with gorgonzola and cranberries. Instead of pecans, this recipe calls for walnuts, and it comes with a homemade champagne vinaigrette. And our Lebanese tabbouleh salad is light, lemony, and refreshing.
Why This Recipe Works
- This recipe couldn’t be more straightforward. Simply toss together a few seasonal ingredients and add a wedge of rich, flavorful, aged goat cheese.
- From the sweetness of the strawberries to the nuttiness of the aged goat cheese, each flavor component in this strawberry spinach salad works together harmoniously.
- The homemade balsamic dressing adds a rich, slightly sweetened flavor that takes this salad to the next level.
The Ingredients
Here is a list of the ingredients you will need for this recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card for all the details.
For the balsamic dressing:
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Balsamic vinegar
- Fresh garlic cloves
- Honey
- Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper
For the salad:
- Baby spinach. Buy the prewashed kind to cut down on your prep time.
- Fresh strawberries. Hull and quarter each strawberry.
- Red onion. Slice it as thin as possible so it won’t overwhelm the entire salad.
- Candied pecans. These add a bit of crunch. You could also opt for candied almonds.
- Aged goat cheese. This cheese has a firmer texture than fresh goat cheese and provides a nutty, earthy flavor.
If you love the combination of cheese and fruit, try our roasted apples with aged goat cheese or tomato and goat cheese salad.
How to Make Strawberry Spinach Salad
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.
- Combine all the dressing ingredients in a container and whisk well.
- Add the spinach, strawberries, onions, and pecans into a large salad bowl.
- Drizzle a quarter cup of the dressing to coat the spinach and toss everything lightly.
- Portion the salad onto chilled plates and serve with a small wedge of goat cheese.
✅ Substitutions and Variations
- Swap the pecans for candied walnuts or toasted almonds.
- To substitute the aged goat cheese for something less pungent, try using crumbled soft goat cheese or shaved parmesan.
- Add crumbled bacon or pancetta extra protein and a salty contrast in flavor.
- Add sliced red onions and diced avocado for an extra zing.
Tips for success
- You can prepare and store the individual ingredients for this salad in advance.
- Dress the salad just before serving to keep it as fresh as possible.
- Use soft, fresh goat cheese if you prefer a milder texture and flavor.
- Toss your strawberry spinach salad in your largest salad bowl.
- If you chill the salad plates, the fresh spinach will stay crisp longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use flat-leaf spinach for this salad. However, baby spinach is ideal if you prefer tender leaves.
If you are short on time, a store-bought balsamic vinaigrette dressing will suffice. However, we recommend our homemade version, giving you total control over the ingredients. You are welcome to adjust the seasonings to your liking. If you want to put a spin on the flavor, try adding a couple of tablespoons of Spiceology Blackberry Balsamic Blend, it is so good.
Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love:
This is a springtime Sugar Snap Pea Salad is full of sweet sugar snap peas, tender Little Gem lettuce, fresh spicy mint leaves, and crunchy croutons. It is an easy salad that represents the flavors of spring with a creamy buttermilk ranch dressing.
You may also enjoy our shrimp Louie salad. This recipe is easy to make yet hearty enough to turn into a meal, and it is a flavorful, protein-rich salad with a creamy dressing.
The Caesar salad takes on a new taste in this Salmon Caesar Salad! This is a full-meal salad for a warm sunny day’s lunch or dinner! Large chunks of chilled baked salmon are combined with crisp Romaine lettuce and the classic Caesar dressing.
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Strawberry Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese
Ingredients
For the Balsamic Dressing:
- ½ cup Extra Virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 garlic clove grated or minced
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
For the Salad:
- 10 oz. baby spinach
- 12 ounces fresh strawberries hulled and quartered
- ½ medium red onion thinly sliced
- ½ cup candied pecans
- 4 oz. aged goat cheese sliced into 1 oz. wedges
Instructions
For the Dressing:
- Combine the ingredients for the dressing in a dish and whisk together. Alternatively, add to a canning jar and shake well to combine.
For the Salad:
- Place the baby spinach in a large salad bowl, and add the strawberries, onions, and pecans. Toss the salad with 1/4 cup of the dressing to lightly coat the spinach leaves.
- Portion the salad into chilled salad plates and add a wedge of goat cheese to each serving. Serve immediately.
angiesrecipes
Monday 4th of July 2022
That looks like one of the best salads for the season!
Pat Nyswonger
Monday 4th of July 2022
Thanks, Angie