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This balsamic berry spinach salad is bursting with the colourful flavors, that includes juicy berries, toasted pecans, feta, and balsamic French dressing.
Contemporary berries are completely in season proper now and beautiful salad is such a scrumptious method to take pleasure in them. ♡
This balsamic berry salad is fast and straightforward to toss collectively, and completely bursting with recent, vibrant taste. Juicy strawberries, candy blueberries, crisp child spinach, toasted pecans, tangy feta, and many recent basil — all tied along with a wealthy balsamic French dressing. It’s the form of dish that immediately appears like summer season on a plate and couldn’t be extra scrumptious!
We’ve been having fun with serving this salad as a facet dish recently, however you’ll be able to simply add your favourite protein (similar to rooster, steak, salmon) or a scoop of grains to show it right into a heartier principal course. Nevertheless you serve it, it’s unattainable to not love this salad. So seize some recent berries and let’s make a fast batch!
Recipe Ideas
The detailed recipe is included beneath, however listed below are a couple of suggestions to assist make this salad successful:
- Layer the components simply earlier than serving. So as to hold the greens crisp and stop the salad from getting soggy, assemble and toss this salad simply earlier than serving.
- Toast the pecans for additional taste. A fast toast within the oven or in a skillet intensifies the pecans’ taste and makes them additional crisp.
- Rinse the onions in order for you a milder chew. Rinse the onions briefly with chilly water in a high-quality mesh strainer if you happen to’d wish to mellow their sharp taste.
- Use a mixture of ripe, seasonal berries. The most effective berries will make the perfect salad, so select berries which might be as ripe as attainable. Any mixture of berries will work right here — strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, or cherries.
- Double the dressing for later. Balsamic French dressing retains nicely within the fridge, so I all the time like to make a double batch to avoid wasting for later.
Recipe Variations
Listed below are a couple of extra variations that you just’re welcome to strive with this strawberry salad recipe:
- Add a protein. Add grilled rooster, salmon or steak for additional protein.
- Add grains. Add in cooked quinoa, farro, couscous or different favourite grains to make the salad extra hearty.
- Add avocado. Add diced avocado to the combo for additional creaminess.
- Add seeds. Sprinkle in some sunflower seeds, pepitas or chia seeds for additional texture and a lift of diet.
- Swap the cheese or nuts. Use a special cheese (similar to gorgonzola, goat cheese or Parmesan) or totally different nuts (similar to toasted almonds, walnuts or pistachios).
- Swap the French dressing. Swap the balsamic for a poppyseed dressing or my on a regular basis dressing.
Balsamic Berry Spinach Salad
- 5 ounces spring greens combine
- 1 cup sliced recent strawberries
- 1/2 cup recent blueberries
- 1/3 cup chopped pecans, toasted
- 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup (0.25 oz) loosely-packed julienned recent basil
- half of a small purple onion, thinly sliced
Balsamic French dressing
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon high-quality sea salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- Make the French dressing. Whisk all the French dressing components collectively in a mixing cup (or shake in a mason jar) till emulsified.
- Assemble the salad. Mix the greens, strawberries, blueberries, pecans, feta and onion in a big mixing bowl. Drizzle evenly with the French dressing and toss gently to mix.
- Serve. Serve instantly, garnished with additional feta and a twist of freshly-ground black pepper if desired, and revel in!