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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.
Recent berries are completely in season proper now and lovely salad is such a scrumptious technique to take pleasure in them. ♡
This balsamic berry salad is fast and simple 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 type of dish that immediately looks like summer season on a plate and couldn’t be extra scrumptious!
We’ve been having fun with serving this salad as a aspect dish currently, however you possibly can simply add your favourite protein (reminiscent of rooster, steak, salmon) or a scoop of grains to show it right into a heartier primary course. Nonetheless you serve it, it’s not possible to not love this salad. So seize some recent berries and let’s make a fast batch!
Recipe Suggestions
The detailed recipe is included under, however listed here are a couple of ideas to assist make this salad a hit:
- Layer the elements simply earlier than serving. With a purpose to preserve the greens crisp and forestall the salad from getting soggy, assemble and toss this salad simply earlier than serving.
- Toast the pecans for further taste. A fast toast within the oven or in a skillet intensifies the pecans’ taste and makes them further crisp.
- Rinse the onions in order for you a milder chunk. Rinse the onions briefly with chilly water in a nice mesh strainer when you’d prefer to mellow their sharp taste.
- Use a mixture of ripe, seasonal berries. The perfect berries will make the most effective 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 effectively 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 simply’re welcome to attempt with this strawberry salad recipe:
- Add a protein. Add grilled rooster, salmon or steak for further 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 further creaminess.
- Add seeds. Sprinkle in some sunflower seeds, pepitas or chia seeds for further texture and a lift of vitamin.
- Swap the cheese or nuts. Use a distinct cheese (reminiscent of gorgonzola, goat cheese or Parmesan) or completely different nuts (reminiscent of toasted almonds, walnuts or pistachios).
- Swap the French dressing. Swap the balsamic for a poppyseed dressing or my on a regular basis dressing.
Print
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 nice sea salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- Make the French dressing. Whisk all the French dressing elements 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 further feta and a twist of freshly-ground black pepper if desired, and luxuriate in!