Instead of just a berry salad, make it a leafy green and berry salad. Cool crisp greens, sweet berries, crunchy pecans, plus a little goat cheese and Parmesan. Dress it with spoonfuls of homemade strawberry Balsamic vinaigrette. The best of a leafy green salad and a berry salad, combined. Make one before summer slips away.
Leafy Green and Berry Salad
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 salad. It's the inspiration for this recipe. I love this salad, so now I make it at home.
Beautiful Berries
What's not to love about fresh summer berries at their peak? Sweet, low in natural sugar, healthy, and packed with nutrition. Make this salad while berries are at their best and at the best prices. Another fruity add in is kiwi. Just a little sweet-tart taste to add some interest.
Wash and Go Greens
Red leaf lettuce works great for this salad. The leaves are sturdy enough to handle the creamy vinaigrette, and darker leaves means more nutrition. Buy whole heads and wash them when you get home, ready for the week ahead. Pre-washed salads greens like spring mix or mesclun mix work if you're in a hurry but be sure to check the package for wilted or slimy leaves.
On Cheese And Nuts
The tang of goat cheese and the saltiness of grated Parmesan add a lot to the salad. If you are dairy-free, skip it but try adding a little dairy-free cheese sprinkle to make up for the cheese. Find the recipe at this link here.
For the pecans, use either raw whole or glazed. Homemade glazed are easy to make and keep in the pantry for adding to salads or crumbling over veggies. Find my recipe for maple glazed pecans here.
Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette
Oh yeah and oh yum. This dressing is so good, creamy, tasty, and lasts days in the fridge. You will have extra for more salads!
Tribest Personal Glass Blender
What to whip the vinaigrette up in? The TribestLife Glass Personal Blender. My sweet friend, famous raw vegan chef, Jenny Ross, gifted me with one of these cool little blenders. Perfect for whipping up small quantity things like vinaigrettes.
Looking for another terrific salad? Try my Pomegranate Spinach Salad.
Leafy Green and Berry 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
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.
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.
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!