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    Home » Recipes

    Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad

    Published: Aug 14, 2017 · Modified: Jul 6, 2022 by Sally Cameron · This post may contain affiliate links · 5 Comments

    292 shares
    ↓ Jump to Recipe

    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!

    Strawberry goat cheese salad with raspberries,, pecan, and strawberry vinaigrette.

    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.

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Like This Salad
    • Recipe ingredients
    • Substitutions and Variations
    • Recipe Instructions
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More Super Salad Recipes
    • Did You Make This Recipe?
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    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

    Ripe red strawberries on the counter.
    Ripe red strawberries on the counter.

    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!

    Love strawberries? Try this strawberry panna cotta dessert recipe.

    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.

    For another green salad with fruit, try my pomegranate and spinach salad with a pomegranate vinaigrette.

    Recipe Instructions

    Ingredients for a strawberry vinaigrette in a blender container before blending.
    • 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.
    A container of the blended strawberry dressing.

    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.

    Summer berry salad on the table.

    Recipe FAQs

    What kind of greens work best for a strawberry goat cheese salad?

    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.

    What nuts can I use if I don’t have pecans?

    Instead of pecans, try walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts for added crunch.

    Can I use a different fruit besides strawberries?

    Great choices include balsamic vinegar, white balsamic, champagne vinegar, or red wine vinegar.

    Can I use a different fruit besides strawberries?

    Choose options like blueberries, raspberries, or sliced peaches.

    Can I add protein to make it a main dish?

    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.

    Strawberry goat cheese salad with strawberry vinaigrette pouring over the top.

    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.

    • Fennel orange salad with avocado, pomegranate seeds, and orange slices on a plate.
      Fennel Orange Salad with Orange Vinaigrette
    • Chicken blueberry salad
      Grilled Chicken Salad with Blueberry Vinaigrette
    • grilled shrimp and avocado bowls
      Grilled Shrimp Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette
    • Color Hawaiian salad with tomatoes, avocado, pineapple, beets. macadamia nuts and more in a bowl with utensils.
      Hawaiian Salad With Goat Cheese

    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

    Summer berry salad | AFoodCentriclLife.com

    Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette

    Sally Cameron
    A heavenly summer salad of cool crisp greens, sweet berries, crunchy pecans, and  a little goat cheese and Parmesan drizzled with a strawberry Balsamic vinaigrette. Inspired by the house salad at a local restaurant we enjoy! 
    4 from 2 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
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    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Salad
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 454 kcal

    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. 

    Notes

    To save time: purchase a container of already cleaned salad greens such as mesclun mix or spring mix. The vinaigrette makes extra dressing. It will keep in the refrigerator for 5 days. 
    Nutrition note - the entire batch of dressing is in the calculation but you don't use it all. It makes extra, so the calorie count and numbers are not accurate. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 454kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 9gFat: 35gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 371mgPotassium: 479mgFiber: 10gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 414IUVitamin C: 144mgCalcium: 136mgIron: 2mg
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    « Easy Chicken and Avocado Salad
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    292 shares

    Comments

    1. Porsche Guy says

      January 09, 2025 at 6:16 pm

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
    2. Gail says

      March 26, 2022 at 2:19 am

      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.

      Reply
      • Sally Cameron says

        March 26, 2022 at 1:08 pm

        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.

        Reply
    3. Carol says

      August 16, 2017 at 10:06 am

      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.

      Reply
      • Sally Cameron says

        August 16, 2017 at 11:24 am

        Thanks you Carol! Love to hear that! Eat well!

        Reply
    4 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Chef Sally Cameron of aFoodcentricLife.com in her kitchen.

    Welcome! I'm Sally, a professionally trained chef, former personal chef and caterer, lover of fresh healthy food, and sharing it with others.

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