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Home » Salads

Goat Cheese Salad with Spinach, Strawberries, Pecans, and Balsamic Dressing

by Beth Lee · Published: May 28, 2019 · Modified: Jul 13, 2023

437 shares
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strawberry spinach salad in red bowl with serving utensils and white towel

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.

For ease of browsing, find all my salad recipes in one place.

Strawberry goat cheese salad on a pink plate with a fork on the left side of the plate.

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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!

Ingredient shot for strawberry salad dressing for goat cheese salad.
  • 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.
Strawberry goat cheese salad ingredient shot.
  • 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.
Strawberry spinach salad in a red bowl with wood servers on the side.

Tool to Use!

  • Large Salad Bowl
  • Colander
  • Cutting Boards

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.

Strawberries in a mini food processor.
Balsamic vinegar and strawberries in a mini food processor.

2. Add the fresh herbs and some salt and pepper and the olive oil. Pulse or blend until the oil is fully incorporated.

Strawberries, balsamic, herbs and salt and pepper in a mini food processor.
Dressing in mini food processor after being mixed.
Strawberry balsamic dressing in a strawberry-shaped bowl.

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.

Strawberries and spinach  on a pink plate.
Pecans, strawberries and spinach on a pink plate.
Goat cheese, pecans, strawberries and spinach on a pink plate.

5. Add some salt and pepper and then dress with the strawberry balsamic dressing.

Salt and pepper added to strawberry goat cheese salad.
Strawberry goat cheese salad on a pink plate with strawberry balsamic dressing.

Expert Tips and Recipe FAQs

Tips

  1. 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.
  2. 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!
  3. My pomegranate molasses salad dressing would be another great dressing for this salad!

FAQs

Is strawberry spinach salad healthy?

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.

Can I prepare this salad ahead and take it to a gathering?

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!

Can I serve this salad as a main course?

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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strawberry spinach salad in red bowl with wooden serving spoons

Goat Cheese Salad with Spinach, Strawberries, Pecans and Balsamic Dressing

Beth Lee
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!
4.80 from 20 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prevent your screen from going dark
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 370 kcal

Ingredients
  

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
Get Recipe Ingredients

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.
    strawberry balsamic dressing in strawberry bowl with white towel

To prepare the salad:

  • Place spinach in a bowl or on a large platter. Top with strawberries, toasted pecans, and crumbled goat cheese.
    Goat cheese, pecans, strawberries and spinach on a pink plate.
  • Add some salt and pepper and then dress with the strawberry balsamic dressing.
    Strawberry goat cheese salad on a pink plate with strawberry balsamic dressing.

Notes

*Toast nuts by placing on a baking sheet in a toaster oven or in a regular oven at 350 degrees for about 5 minutes. Keep an eye on them – they go from deliciously toasty to burnt rather quickly.
  • 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

Serving: 6gCalories: 370kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 6gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 111mgPotassium: 313mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 4625IUVitamin C: 14.4mgCalcium: 83mgIron: 2.1mg
Keyword balsamic dressing, spinach, strawberry
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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Reader Interactions

Comments

    4.80 from 20 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




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  1. Susan Woolf

    June 10, 2024 at 2:35 pm

    Definitely want to try this one! Looks delish.

    Reply
    • Beth Lee

      June 11, 2024 at 8:08 am

      Yes - I think you would love this recipe!

      Reply
  2. Judy Rucker

    September 27, 2020 at 9:16 am

    5 stars
    Beth, made this salad last night and it was fabulous! Love your recipes!

    Reply
    • Beth Lee

      September 27, 2020 at 9:46 am

      Yay! Thanks for letting me know - this makes my day!

      Reply
  3. Susan Woolf

    July 22, 2019 at 8:15 am

    5 stars
    OMG - Definitely a keeper!

    Reply
  4. Susan Woolf

    July 22, 2019 at 8:15 am

    OMG - the pictures alone are making me salivate.

    Reply
  5. Susan Woolf

    July 22, 2019 at 8:15 am

    5 stars
    I haven't yet tried to make this salad, but OMG - the pictures alone are making me salivate.

    Reply
  6. Sandi

    June 27, 2019 at 9:27 am

    5 stars
    Strawberries are so sweet during the summer. I bet they are extra special in this salad.

    Reply
    • Beth Lee

      July 08, 2019 at 12:09 pm

      The fruits of summer are such a natural wonder aren't they?

      Reply
  7. Jenni

    June 07, 2019 at 1:09 pm

    5 stars
    Such a classic salad, and your dressing is spectacular!

    Reply
  8. Laura

    June 05, 2019 at 1:48 pm

    5 stars
    What a refreshing salad! I'm all about goat cheese right now. And strawberries make everything better! YUM!

    Reply
  9. Ansh

    May 31, 2019 at 12:37 pm

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
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