The Best Salad + Strawberries & Blueberries Citrus Vinaigrette
Salad recipes are my favorite way to showcase vibrant, in-season produce, which consist of fruits and veggies that are so good on their own that you don’t need to do much to make them into a delicious meal. This is The Best Salad + Strawberries & Blueberries Citrus Vinaigrette. The perfect salad for any time honestly, spring and summer is my fav! When it gets a bit cooler out, I like to simply brighten up our dinner table with a colorful mix of veggies and hearty greens. On long summer days, when it’s warmer out, I’d rather be outside than in the kitchen, so making summer salads are the perfect solution. They are so simple to toss together and incredibly delicious.
Strawberry season is my absolute favorite season. I love bright red, juicy, sweet strawberries, plus I LOOOOOOOVE summer! They are one of my very favorite fruits. During strawberry season, I try to make a lot of strawberry recipes, like my Healthy Protein Packed Strawberry Oatmeal Smoothie.
Citrus Vinaigrette Dressing
Let’s start with the dressing, which one of my favorite parts of the salad! The fresh citrus taste is just so, so good! It literally only takes a few minutes to make! This is dressing is SO much better than any store bought dressing, plus we know exactly what ingredients are in it.
To make the dressing, add the freshly squeezed orange, olive oil, red wine vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard and shake. Set aside.
If you need the salad dressing to be vegan, you can use pure maple syrup instead of honey.
The Best Salad + Strawberries & Blueberries Citrus Vinaigrette
This salad is super simple and can be made for various outings. It is great for any holiday, bridal or baby showers, BBQ’s, potlucks, pool parties, or any holiday, especially July 4th! I like to make this for a quick summer lunch or a simple dinner. You can choose to add grilled chicken, or if you don’t have a lot of time, just grab a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store, protein really makes this a complete meal as the protein invokes satiety and helps to keep you satisfied longer. Every time I post this salad on my Instagram Stories, I get at least a dozen questions about what is on it and how to make it. So I’m finally posting it here on the blog!
Salad Ingredients
Salad Greens– I love using fresh romaine or spring mix, but any greens will work - spinach would be delicious also!
Strawberries– So juicy and yummy!
Blueberries - add more antioxidants and I love the sweetness without all the sugar
Candied Pecans - I love nuts on my salad, these add just enough crunch and sweetness. You can use regular pecans or even almonds, pistachios, or candied walnuts, the choice is really up to you!
Cucumbers - They are low in calories but contain many important vitamins and minerals, as well as a high water content. Eating cucumbers may lead to many potential health benefits, including weight loss, balanced hydration, digestive regularity and lower blood sugar levels.
Blue cheese– goat or feta cheese is another option what would taste delicious. If you need the salad to be vegan, you can leave off the cheese, but I personally love it!
How to Make Strawberry Spinach Salad
Once you have made the Citrus Vinaigrette - it’s time to assemble the salad!
To assemble the salad, place the lettuce of choice, strawberries, blueberries, cucumbers, blue cheese, and candied pecans in a large bowl.
When ready to serve, drizzle with dressing and toss. It’s that simple!
INGREDIENTS:
one head of romaine or any spring mix
1/2 cup strawberries
1/4 cup blueberries
1/2 cucumber
candied pecans
blue cheese
freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
To assemble the salad, place the lettuce of choice, strawberries, blueberries, cucumbers, blue cheese, and candied pecans in a large bowl.
When ready to serve, drizzle with dressing and toss.
A Favorite Post:
