The perfect spring and summer salad: strawberry goat cheese salad. Cool, crisp greens, sweet strawberries, crunchy pecans, and creamy goat cheese, finished with a sprinkle of Parmesan. Toss in a handful of raspberries for an extra burst of berry flavor. Drizzle with homemade strawberry balsamic vinaigrette for the ultimate blend of sweet, tangy, and savory. It's the best of a leafy green salad and a berry salad combined—make it before summer slips away!
We don't eat out often, but occasionally it's good to get out of the house, relax and leave the cooking to someone else. A local steakhouse serves up great food and dinner always starts with their house strawberry goat cheese salad. It's the inspiration for this recipe. I love this salad, so now I make it at home, and you can too.
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Why You'll Like This Salad
- Great summer salad for fresh berries.
- A nicely balanced salad with sweet berries, savory goat cheese, crunchy nuts, and a tangy easy homemade strawberry vinaigrette.
- Simple ingredients.
Recipe ingredients
Strawberry goat cheese salad
- Lettuce: My favorite is red lettuce. The leaves are sturdy enough to handle the creamy vinaigrette, and darker leaves means more nutrition, but a baby lettuce blend or butter lettuce is terrific too.
- Berries: Fresh strawberries and fresh raspberries if you'd like the combination.
- Cheese: Get a fresh goat cheese (chevre), and crumble it yourself, or buy the crumbled. Finish off the salad with a sprinkle of salty Parmesan (optional).
- Nuts: Pecans are what I use but walnuts or even pine nuts are good.
Strawberry vinaigrette
- Oil: Use a good extra virgin olive oil.
- Vinegar: Balsamic vinegar.
- Berries: Fresh whole strawberries.
- Lemon juice: Fresh is best for a lift of flavor.
- Shallot: Adds another level of flavor to vinaigrettes (optional).
Please see the recipe card for measurements, salt and pepper.
Try the candied maple pecans with the strawberry goat cheese salad. They are a terrific addition!
Substitutions and Variations
- For more fruit, add a chopped kiwi.
- Switch up the cheese for a tangy feta.
- Use another vinegar such as a champagne vinegar, red wine vinegar, or white wine vinegar.
- Add fresh basil, mint, or chives for a twist.
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For another green salad with fruit, try my pomegranate and spinach salad with a pomegranate vinaigrette.
Recipe Instructions
- Wash your lettuce greens.
- Wash your berries and quarter strawberries if large.
- Crumble or grate the cheeses.
- Place the vinaigrette ingredients into a small blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Note - this is a creamy vinaigrette because it's blended.
- Divide salad into 4 bowls, sprinkle with the cheese and nuts, then drizzle with the strawberry vinaigrette.
Chef's tool tip: What to whip the vinaigrette up in? The this personal blender. Perfect for whipping up small quantity things like vinaigrettes and sauces.
Serving Suggestions
Strawberry goat cheese salad is a wonderful side salad with just about any main or entree from roast chicken breasts to grilled flank steak. Another option? Baby back ribs, done in the oven. The berries and goat cheese are a terrific flavor combination with the crisp salad greens a crunchy nuts.
Recipe FAQs
My first choice is red leaf lettuce. It's sturdy enough to handle a good vinaigrette, has great color, flavor, and nutrition. Other tasty options include greens like spinach, arugula, mixed greens, butter lettuce, or romaine.
Instead of pecans, try walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts for added crunch.
Great choices include balsamic vinegar, white balsamic, champagne vinegar, or red wine vinegar.
Choose options like blueberries, raspberries, or sliced peaches.
Absolutely! Add grilled or roast chicken, sliced grilled steak or pork tenderloin, or grilled shrimp to add protein and turn it into a main course salad.
More Super Salad Recipes
Be sure to check out the salad recipes index page for more inspiration! And there are lots of vinaigrette recipes too.
Did You Make This Recipe?
If you make this strawberry goat cheese salad, please add your comment. I appreciate your feedback and enjoy hearing from you. If you loved it, please give it a 5-star rating! They really help other readers.
📖 Recipe
Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette
Ingredients
Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette (makes extra)
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons Balsamic vinegar
- 4 whole strawberries quartered
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped shallot
- 2 pinches sea salt
- 2 pinches ground black pepper
- 1-2 teaspoons water if needed to thin vinaigrette
Leafy Green and Berry Salad
- 1 large head red lettuce
- 12-16 fresh strawberries
- 1 small container fresh raspberries
- 1 kiwi optional
- 4 ounces goat cheese crumbled
- 3 ounces whole pecans glazed or raw
- 3-4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
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Instructions
- Start by making the vinaigrette. Place all ingredient in a blender and blend until smooth. Add water if needed to thin to desired consistency. The recipe makes extra dressing.
- Wash salad greens and dry in a salad spinner or on layers of paper towels. Wash strawberries and dry, then quarter. Wash raspberries if you choose. Sometimes I don't as they are so fragile. Peel the kiwi with a vegetable peeler, then chop into small pieces. Crumble goat cheese
- To assemble salad, divide greens, berries, kiwi and goat cheese between four plates. Add pecans. Drizzle each salad with 1-2 tablespoons of vinaigrette and sprinkle with Parmesan.
Porsche Guy says
I love the combination of berries with the goat cheese. Nice flavors I have not done before. Easy dressing too. I'll try it next time with a different vinegar.
Gail says
For the glazed pecans, could you use another spice other than pumpkin pie spice? Planning to serve this salad at our Easter Brunch. Thank you.
Sally Cameron says
Hi Gail, you can omit the spices. They are still tasty! That is the easiest way. Or try just cinnamon, or a little nutmeg. Use warm spices that make sense with your menu.
Carol says
Sounds wonderful and something we would like; will try it very soon! Thanks. We use many of your recipes and thank you for working on healthy foods.
Sally Cameron says
Thanks you Carol! Love to hear that! Eat well!