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Close-up, angled photo showing strawberry goat cheese salad in an oval salad dish.

Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

40aprons.com/strawberry-goat-cheese-salad/
Bright, beautiful, and full of flavor, this spring & summer salad is one of my most-requested dishes.
Prep 15 minutes
Cook 0 minutes
Total 15 minutes
Recipe Makes (Approximate): 4 servings

Equipment

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

Ingredients

For the Balsamic Vinaigrette

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.

Recipe Notes

  • 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 Information (Approximate)

Serving Size: 1servingCalories: 556calProtein: 11gFat: 50gSaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 462mgPotassium: 427mgTotal Carbs: 21gFiber: 5gSugar: 14gNet Carbs: 16gVitamin A: 1081IUVitamin C: 47mgCalcium: 123mgIron: 2mg
Recipe By: Cheryl Malik
https://40aprons.com/strawberry-goat-cheese-salad/