Goat cheese salad with spinach, strawberries, pecans and balsamic dressing is the perfect way to celebrate strawberry season! The fresh strawberries serve two roles - an element in the salad and a surprise guest in the dressing too!
You might also enjoy this strawberry shortcake with fresh and roasted strawberries.
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Why you'll love this recipe
You’ve just bought the six-pack of strawberries at the farmers' market and you only have two or three days to polish them off before they are past their prime. What is a berry lover to do?
Aside from the obvious -- snacking on them whole or sliced -- there are oh so many ways to use them up. Desserts are the obvious direction but how about adding them to a salad?
If you think you don’t like sweet with your savory, this goat cheese salad with strawberries and toasted pecans will change your mind.
Ingredients you'll need
Both the dressing and salad use minimal ingredients. The strawberries are used in both so you get lots of strawberry flavor and it's a great way to use up that bounty!
- Fresh strawberries: Super fun way to use fresh strawberries twice in this recipe!
- Balsamic vinegar: I like the marriage of strawberries and balsamic but if you don't have any, try white wine, red wine or cider vinegar and add a touch of sugar to mimic the sweet and tangy taste of balsamic vinegar.
- Fresh herbs: My first choice of herb is basil but sometimes I don't have any availabe. I've used thyme and even some mint and had terrific results.
- Extra virgin olive oil: For salad dressing, I use the best olive oil I have on hand.
- Fresh spinach: Another green that would work great is arugula. I think butter lettuce would be really nice as well.
- Pecans: I love the flavor of pecans but walnuts, almonds, pistachios, macadamias or pine nuts would also be lovely!
- Goat cheese: Goat cheese is such a good salad addition - creamy and flavorful but not too powerful. However, feta would also be a great choice here and I've used it many times! Or try a vegan goat cheese, if you don't eat dairy!
- Strawberries: If you only had enough strawberries for the dressing, use another fruit - blueberries, peaches, nectarines, or even apples would be a delicious alternative.
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Steps to make this recipe
I love to prep ahead when I can. For this strawberry spinach salad recipe, you can definitely prepare the dressing earlier in the day or even a few day before you make the salad. The nuts can be toasted ahead as well.
Prep the balsamic dressing:
1. Using a blender (pictured in the recipe card) or a food processor (pictured in this step-by-step section), add the sliced strawberries and balsamic and pulse or blend just to start the liquification of the strawberries.
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2. Add the fresh herbs and some salt and pepper and the olive oil. Pulse or blend until the oil is fully incorporated.
3. You'll notice it will change color to a mauvy pink. Taste for seasoning, adjust if needed. Then store in a dressing bottle or any sealed container until ready to use.
Prep the goat cheese salad
4. Place spinach in a bowl or on a large platter. Top with strawberries, toasted pecans, and crumbled goat cheese.
5. Add some salt and pepper and then dress with the strawberry balsamic dressing.
Expert Tips and Recipe FAQs
Tips
- If you are serving this as a main course, add chicken (store-bought rotisserie chicken on a busy weeknight will do just fine). Got leftover pork tenderloin or turkey? That would be great here too! Even some broiled or pan-fried tofu or lentils or quinoa.
- The dressing is enough for more than one salad - get creative and try the dressing with some of the other combinations mentioned in the ingredient section - switch up the greens, the nuts, the cheese, and/or the fruit!
- My pomegranate molasses salad dressing would be another great dressing for this salad!
FAQs
Aside from how much we all love the sweet, squishy goodness of a fresh strawberry, don’t forget it’s also packed with nutrients. For more details about its nutritional qualities, head over to this post about my farm tour in Watsonville and read the section called #8aday. Suffice it to say, the American Diabetes Association considers strawberries to be one of their ten superfoods.
This salad can be prepared ahead to take to a picnic, party, or weekend dinner party. PLACE your pre-washed spinach in a to-go container for transport.
WASH and dry the strawberries. If you are serving the salad fairly quickly, go ahead and slice them up. If it will be a few hours, bring a small paring knife and slice them when you put the salad together. TOAST and chop the pecans – this can be done hours ahead or even the day before. CRUMBLE up the goat cheese and place in a container so you can just toss it on the salad. Prepare the dressing as early as a few days ahead if you’d like – it will be fine stored in the fridge. PACK it all in a cooler. Assemble it right before dinner is served. Remember to bring your serving utensils. The host or hostess will thank you!
I have added chicken to this salad and turned it into a main course for lunch or dinner. Pork tenderloin or turkey would also be an excellent choice. But even without the meat, the cheese and nuts make it a hearty salad. Or consider adding some lentils or quinoa or even tofu!
What to serve with strawberry goat cheese salad?
Almost any chicken, turkey, or pork tenderloin main course will be a lovely pairing. Or as mentioned above, use leftover proteins and turn the salad into the main course.
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Goat Cheese Salad with Spinach, Strawberries, Pecans and Balsamic Dressing
Beth LeeIngredients
Dressing:
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
- ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
- ¾ cup olive oil
- Fresh thyme or basil - to taste
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- ½ teaspoon fresh cracked pepper or to taste
Salad:
- 10 oz pre-washed spinach or wash your own
- ½ cup raw pecans toasted * and rough chopped
- ½ cup plain goat cheese crumbled
- strawberries about 10 or 15 sliced
- kosher salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
To prepare the dressing:
- Put sliced strawberries and balsamic vinegar into a blender; liquefy briefly.
- Add in fresh herbs (thyme or basil) and a big pinch of salt and pepper. Then add the olive oil. Blend until the oil combines well with the other ingredients - it will change color and texture as it does.
- Take cover off and taste - add more salt, pepper, or fresh herbs if needed. This recipe makes enough dressing (about 1 ¾ cup) for at least 2 or 3 salads.
To prepare the salad:
- Place spinach in a bowl or on a large platter. Top with strawberries, toasted pecans, and crumbled goat cheese.
- Add some salt and pepper and then dress with the strawberry balsamic dressing.
Notes
- If you are serving this as a main course, add chicken (store-bought rotisserie chicken on a busy weeknight will do just fine). Got leftover pork tenderloin or turkey? That would be great here too! Even some broiled or pan-fried tofu or lentils or quinoa.
- The dressing is enough for more than one salad - get creative and try the dressing with some of the other combinations mentioned in the ingredient section - switch up the greens, the nuts, the cheese, and/or the fruit!
- My pomegranate molasses salad dressing would be another great dressing for this salad!
Nutrition
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Susan Woolf says
Definitely want to try this one! Looks delish.
Beth Lee says
Yes - I think you would love this recipe!
Judy Rucker says
Beth, made this salad last night and it was fabulous! Love your recipes!
Beth Lee says
Yay! Thanks for letting me know - this makes my day!
Susan Woolf says
OMG - Definitely a keeper!
Susan Woolf says
OMG - the pictures alone are making me salivate.
Susan Woolf says
I haven't yet tried to make this salad, but OMG - the pictures alone are making me salivate.
Sandi says
Strawberries are so sweet during the summer. I bet they are extra special in this salad.
Beth Lee says
The fruits of summer are such a natural wonder aren't they?
Jenni says
Such a classic salad, and your dressing is spectacular!
Laura says
What a refreshing salad! I'm all about goat cheese right now. And strawberries make everything better! YUM!
Ansh says
There is something about strawberry and spinach that just works. The peppery spinach taste works so well with strawberries. what a fantastic way to ring in the berry season!