Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

My all-time favorite salad recipe, this strawberry goat cheese salad layers crisp lettuce, sweet strawberries, tangy goat cheese crumbles, crunchy praline pecans, fresh basil, and is topped off with the most delicious balsamic vinaigrette. I make this for many holidays or gatherings every year, and it’s requested often. Simple, elegant, fresh, and full of flavor.

What Makes This Recipe So Good

• Strawberry goat cheese salad is full of amazing flavors and textures. Sweet, juicy strawberries; crisp lettuce; crunchy praline pecans; soft and tangy goat cheese crumbles; the most amazingly sweet and salty balsamic vinaigrette you’ve ever tasted. Every bite is bright and delicious.
• The flavors in this salad are topped by only one thing – how visually STUNNING the whole dish is! Pops of vibrant red strawberries on a bed of bright green lettuce with dots of white goat cheese crumbles. It’s a gorgeous addition to any dinner table.
• You can easily make a total meal out of this salad. For a boost of protein, try adding slices of grilled chicken – either marinated in the balsamic vinaigrette before grilling or just seasoned well with salt and fresh black pepper.

Chef’s Tips

• Start out using only 2 tablespoons of maple syrup in the balsamic vinaigrette, to avoid it overpowering the other flavors and making the dressing too sweet. Prepare the vinaigrette as written, then dip a piece of lettuce in and taste it. Add more maple syrup and/or salt as needed, up to 3 tablespoons maple syrup total.
• You’ll notice the vinaigrette starts to separate after it sits a while. No worries! Just whisk it vigorously or give the sealed jar a good shake or two to combine the ingredients again. The vinaigrette can be made ahead of time and refrigerated in an airtight container, like a mason jar with a tight lid. If stored properly, it will keep up to two weeks.

Refreshing Recipes for Spring & Summer

• Watermelon Feta Salad with Mint
• POG Juice Mimosas
• Mexican Chicken Salad (Ensalada de Pollo)
• Cherry Smoothie Bowl (Vegan, Paleo)
• Nicoise Salad
• Caprese Sandwich (with Toasted Option)
• Virgin Margarita Recipe (Non-Alcoholic Margarita)
• Cucumber Water
• Homemade Disney POG Juice Recipe
• Blackened Fish Taco Bowls with Mango Salsa and Cilantro-Lime Rice
• Chicken Satay with an Easy Peanut Sauce
• Best Gluten-Free Lemon Cake EVER

Recipe By: Cheryl Malik

Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Prep 15 minutes minutes

Cook 0 minutes minutes

Total 15 minutes minutes

Bright, beautiful, and full of flavor, this spring & summer salad is one of my most-requested dishes.

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4 servings

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Equipment

• Medium bowl
• whisk
• jar with airtight lid
• Large salad bowl

Ingredients

For the Balsamic Vinaigrette

• ▢ ¼ tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• ▢ 2-3 tablespoons maple syrup see Notes
• ▢ ½ cup olive oil
• ▢ ½ teaspoon salt

For the Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad

• ▢ 6 cups lettuce blend of choice i.e. arugula, spinach, romaine, spring greens, etc.
• ▢ 2 cups strawberries stems cut away, berries sliced
• ▢ ¾ cup goat cheese crumbles
• ▢ ¾ cup praline pecans or toasted pecans, roughly chopped
• ▢ ¼ cup shallots thinly sliced
• ▢ ¼ cup fresh basil chiffonaded, optional

Instructions

For the Balsamic Vinaigrette

• Add balsamic vinegar, salt, and 2 tablespoons maple syrup to medium bowl and whisk until well blended.
• Slowly drizzle olive oil into vinegar mixture, whisking vigorously until mixture becomes smooth and dark, with no separated oily spots.
• Use immediately, or transfer balsamic vinaigrette to jar with airtight lid and refrigerate until ready to use. Note: dressing will separate over time. Whisk vigorously to reincorporate, or seal jar tightly with lid and shake well.

For the Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad

• Layer lettuce blend in large salad bowl or serving dish. Top with sliced strawberries, goat cheese crumbles, chopped pecans, sliced shallots, and fresh basil if using.
• Immediately before serving, drizzle balsamic vinaigrette over top of salad and toss well to thoroughly distribute ingredients. Serve with additional balsamic vinaigrette if desired.

• Maple Syrup: Start with just 2 tablespoons maple syrup, and dip a piece of lettuce in the prepared vinaigrette to taste it. Add ½-1 tablespoon more maple syrup as desired, tasting between each addition. 
• To Chiffonade the Basil: Stack fresh basil leaves on top of each other, then roll tightly lengthwise. Use a small, sharp knife to slice the roll into thin ribbons. Slice perpendicular to roll.
• For a boost of protein, add grilled chicken to your salad.

 

Yields approximately 4 large salads or 6 small salads.

Nutrition Info

Approximate Information for One Serving

Serving Size: 1servingCalories: 556calProtein: 11gFat: 50gSaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 462mgPotassium: 427mgTotal Carbs: 21gFiber: 5gSugar: 14gNet Carbs: 16gVitamin A: 1081IUVitamin C: 47mgCalcium: 123mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition Disclaimers

Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.

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