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Strawberry salad combines summer-ripe strawberries with tender spinach, zesty arugula, caramelized almonds, and creamy goat cheese for a contemporary, scrumptious summer season salad. Prime it with do-it-yourself poppy seed dressing for the proper end!
It’s almost strawberry season round right here and I couldn’t be extra excited. Quickly, the farmer’s market can be stuffed with contemporary strawberries and the u-pick farms can be open.
My step-mom and I’ve beloved taking Elle strawberry selecting previously, and shortly the child can be large enough to go, too. I can’t wait to have our fridge overflowing with contemporary, completely ripe berries for turning into every part from strawberry lemonade to contemporary strawberry pie to this strawberry salad.
That is the sort of salad I might eat day-after-day of the week and never get uninterested in it. It’s acquired so many nice flavors and it’s as simple as will be to make!
Contemporary strawberry salad made with spinach and arugula
I grew up in Ohio and right here within the Midwest within the ‘80s and ‘90s, salads have been just about at all times created from iceberg lettuce.
Nicely, except it was potato salad or a candy “salad” like watergate salad.
However fancy inexperienced salads weren’t a factor I actually skilled till I used to be grown up. Now I’m all about them, although!
This strawberry salad is considered one of my favourite summer season salads. It pairs candy strawberries with child spinach, peppery arugula, crumbled goat cheese and crunchy caramelized almonds.
I high it with my do-it-yourself poppy seed dressing for the proper tangy-sweet end.
Typically I’ll simply dig into this salad for lunch, but it surely’s unimaginable as a aspect dish alongside grilled pork tenderloin or grilled rooster. Add a pitcher of rosé sangria and grilled pound cake for dessert and also you’ve acquired a meal that’s match for any summer season banquet!
Easy methods to make my strawberry salad
This strawberry salad is fast and straightforward to throw collectively, so it’s nice to make for a weeknight dinner or a simple lunch.
Salad elements
This salad is made up of some completely different elements:
- Greens: I like to make use of a mixture of child spinach and arugula. You might additionally use simply spinach or simply arugula.
- Fruit: Contemporary, summer-ripe strawberries add a burst of fruity sweetness to this salad.
- Cheese: I like crumbled goat cheese, however crumbled feta cheese would even be scrumptious.
- Nuts: I wish to caramelize some sliced almonds earlier than including them to the salad. You may as well simply toast the almonds as an alternative of caramelizing them.
- Dressing: My favourite dressing for this salad is my do-it-yourself poppy seed dressing. The tangy sweetness of the dressing is ideal with all the different salad elements!
Making the salad
If you wish to make the caramelized almonds on your strawberry salad, begin by lining a sheet pan with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
Soften the butter in a nonstick skillet over medium warmth. As soon as the butter has melted, add the almonds and stir to coat within the butter. Add the brown sugar and stir to mix.
Whereas stirring consistently, let the almonds toast till the sugar has melted and the nuts are golden – this often takes 2-3 minutes.
As quickly because the almonds are simply the way you need them, instantly pour them onto the lined baking sheet. Don’t wait to take them out of the pan as a result of they will go from excellent to burnt actually shortly!
Only a spatula to unfold the almonds into a good layer and allow them to cool earlier than utilizing them.
If you’re able to make the salad, prepare the greens, cheese strawberries, and as most of the almonds as you want in a serving bowl. Wait so as to add the salad dressing till simply earlier than serving, or let friends add it themselves table-side should you like.
Ingredient substitutions
Like so lots of my savory recipes, contemplate this recipe to be a basic guideline. There are a number of ingredient swaps you can also make should you don’t like one thing!
- Change the combination of spinach and arugula for all spinach or all arugula. In case you battle with the peppery taste of arugula, strive in search of child arugula – it is a little more delicate.
- Swap the goat cheese for crumbled feta and even crumbled cotija cheese.
- Use toasted or candied pecans as an alternative of the caramelized almonds.
- Despite the fact that it is a strawberry salad, that doesn’t imply you possibly can’t use a special berry! Contemporary blueberries would even be scrumptious.
Different dressing recommendations
Like I discussed above, my favourite dressing for this salad is a tangy poppy seed dressing, however that doesn’t imply it’s the one salad dressing choice!
After all, you possibly can at all times go together with your favourite ranch dressing, however I believe we are able to do even higher than that.
Attempt honey French dressing, strawberry balsamic French dressing, and even greek yogurt inexperienced goddess dressing!
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Put together the almonds:
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Place a sheet of parchment paper or a silicone baking mat on a rimmed baking sheet.
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In a nonstick skillet, soften the butter over medium warmth. As soon as melted, add the almonds and stir to mix. Add the brown sugar and stir to coat.
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Prepare dinner, stirring consistently, till the sugar has melted and the almonds are golden brown, 2-3 minutes.
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Instantly pour the almonds onto the lined baking sheet, utilizing your spatula to unfold them into a good layer. Enable to chill fully earlier than including to the salad.
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Make the salad:
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In a serving bowl, prepare the greens, goat cheese, sliced strawberries, and as most of the caramelized almonds as desired. Simply earlier than serving, gown with the poppy seed dressing or serve the dressing tableside for friends so as to add as they like.
Caramelized almonds will be saved in an hermetic container at room temperature for 4-5 days, so be at liberty to make them forward of time.
Makes 6 small or 4 bigger servings. Recipe diet details based mostly on 6 servings with out dressing.
Energy: 115kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 5g, Fats: 8g, Saturated Fats: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g, Monounsaturated Fats: 3g, Trans Fats: 0.04g, Ldl cholesterol: 9mg, Sodium: 73mg, Potassium: 227mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 1568IU, Vitamin C: 26mg, Calcium: 79mg, Iron: 1mg
Diet data is mechanically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.
