Fresh Summer Berry Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette
This easy summer berry salad comes together with just a few ingredients and is the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and nutty. Make it for simple summer dinners or 4th of July parties to wow your guests!
In the summer months when it’s too hot to spend a long time in the kitchen, a fresh berry salad is my top go-to. Not only does this tasty salad highlight some of the best seasonal produce of the summer, but it’s healthy and delicious.
This is one of my very favorite salad recipes. With sweet berries, tangy goat cheese and onions, and smooth, nutty almonds, this is the best salad for summer.
Why You’ll Love Summer Berry Salad
- It has the perfect balance of flavors! Between the sweet summer berries, the tangy goat cheese, and the nutty toasted almonds, this is the perfect summer salad.
- With just a few simple steps, this great recipe is SO easy. Once your dressing is made, all you have to do is toss everything together in a bowl. It’s the perfect side dish!
- This simple summer salad is a showstopper! I love whipping this up when we are having dinner guests or heading to a party. The beautiful colors enrich the meal. With red, white, and blue colors, it’s perfect for the 4th of July, too!
What’s in It
- Salad greens of choice: I used a combination of green lettuce and spring mix, but you can use pretty much any salad greens you have on hand.
- Fresh berries: A combination of strawberries and blueberries gives this salad a sweetness to balance the other ingredients while adding color, flavor, and texture. You can use any berries you like!
- Red onion: Thinly sliced onion is a great flavor-adder to this fresh summer salad.
- Creamy goat cheese: The soft goat cheese really makes this delicious recipe! Something about the creaminess and tanginess just makes this salad so good.
- Toasted almonds: You can make your own toasted almonds or buy them already toasted.
- Homemade strawberry vinaigrette: This simple salad dressing is super easy and tastes way better than dressing from a bottle.
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Variations
Really, don’t knock this salad ‘till you try it. I am not the biggest fan of goat cheese, but on this salad, I wouldn’t use anything else. The ingredients in this recipe are the perfect combination of tangy, tart, savory, and sweet.
That said, it is a forgiving salad and will taste great with a variety of substitutions. Here are a few that would be tasty:
Different nuts: This would be great with toasted pecans or walnuts as well. Candied walnuts would be a tasty touch, but they would make for a sweeter salad.
Different cheese: The goat cheese really makes this recipe, but if you need to use a different cheese, there are some other great options. Try it with a sprinkle of feta cheese or some blue cheese instead.
Different berries: There are lots of berries that would taste great in this salad. You can use any of your favorite berries or whatever you have on hand! Raspberries, blackberries, mulberries, or anything else you want to add.
Different leafy greens: I prefer this salad with spring mix, but I will use whatever I have in the fridge when I make it! This simple salad is delicious with baby spinach or green leaf lettuce in particular.
Different dressing: If you don’t want to make a strawberry vinaigrette, this salad would also taste great with a raspberry vinaigrette, lemon vinaigrette, or balsamic vinaigrette.
Add protein: To make this salad a main dish, feel free to add more nuts, grilled chicken breast, or quinoa for some more protein.
How to Toast Sliced Almonds for Summer Berry Salad
- Use sliced almonds (hand-crushed will work too if you can’t find sliced). Add them to a skillet without any oil and heat over medium-low heat.
- Stir the almonds regularly to prevent burning. Watch them carefully and once the almonds are golden brown, remove them from the heat.
- Allow the almonds to cool completely before using them on a salad.
More Tasty Summer Recipes You’ll Love
Summer Berry Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 6 cups salad greens, washed and chopped
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- ½ cup sliced red onions
- ½ cup toasted almonds
- ½ cup goat cheese, crumbled
For the Strawberry Vinaigrette
- ¼ cup avocado oil or olive oil
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- ½ cup strawberries, washed and hulled
- 1 tablespoon minced red onion
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Fill a large bowl with lettuce and layer the salad toppings on the surface of the lettuce.
- Blend salad dressing ingredients in a blender until smooth and creamy, then store in a mason jar.
- Toss salad in strawberry dressing right before serving. I start with a little less than ¼ cup of dressing and add more as needed.
Notes
If you are making the salad ahead of time, leave off the almonds until the last minute and don’t dress the salad until you’re ready to serve.
