Whoever said salad is boring hasn’t tried strawberry salad with goat cheese and citrusy balsamic vinaigrette dressing. The simple, refreshing salad is one of my go-to summer sides, perfect for potlucks, BBQs, or any cookout.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Balsamic Citrus Vinaigrette: Dress the salad in homemade citrus balsamic vinaigrette made from fresh orange juice from 1-2 oranges, garlic cloves, aged balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, lemon juice from a lemon, and extra-virgin olive oil.
- Can I use a different salad dressing? Substitute it with sherry shallot vinaigrette, fig balsamic dressing, miso vinaigrette, jalapeno lime vinaigrette, or basil balsamic vinaigrette.
- Salad Greens: Use mixed greens like spring mix and baby greens, or use arugula, spinach leaves, or shredded romaine lettuce as the base for the salad. My personal favorite is Organic Girl’s protein greens because of the sweet pea leaves, which add a nice touch.
- Strawberries: Include fresh strawberries for the best flavor. Strawberries are in season from early spring to summer, so be on the lookout for local strawberries. Better yet, go berry picking!
- Cucumber: I recommend using crispy English or Persian cucumbers.
- Onion: I enjoy the sharpness of red onion in this salad recipe, but shallots are just as tasty.
- Olive Oil: Toast walnuts and sunflower seeds in extra-virgin olive oil.
- Nuts and Seeds: Toast hulled sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds with walnuts. Pecans or shaved almonds also work.
- Honey: Use honey to caramelize the nuts and seeds
- Cayenne Pepper: A little cayenne pepper adds the perfect amount of heat to balance the sweetness of the strawberry goat cheese salad.
- Goat Cheese: Salty and tangy goat cheese (chèvre) is my favorite part of the salad. Look for young goat cheese with a creamy, not crumbly, texture. You can also swap for gorgonzola cheese or feta.
Additions and Substitutions
- I enjoy the sweet addition of fresh strawberries but try blueberries, blackberries, pears, or other summer fruits like watermelon, peaches, or cherries.
- Include avocado, bell peppers, sliced radishes, cherry tomatoes, basil, or mint leaves.
- Save on time and use your favorite store-bought salad dressing.
- How to add protein to this salad: Add crispy bacon, thin-cut chicken breast, halloumi, baked shrimp skewers, fried salmon bites, or baked tofu.
How to Make Strawberry Salad with Goat Cheese
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Combine the orange juice, garlic, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, and lemon juice with an immersion blender, food processor, or blender.
Pour the olive oil into a tall cup or blender in a slow, steady stream while blending the ingredients. Set it aside.
Step 2: Warm the olive oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add the walnuts, sunflower seeds, honey, and cayenne pepper.
Toast for 3-5 minutes until caramelized. Set them aside to cool.
Step 3: Meanwhile slice the strawberries, onions, and cucumbers. Then, arrange the salad greens, vegetables, and goat cheese crumble into a serving bowl.
Step 4: Top the salad with the toasted walnuts and sunflower seeds. Drizzle balsamic citrus vinaigrette over the top and toss to combine.
Expert Tips
- Taste the fresh orange juice before using it. If the oranges are sour or unripe, they can ruin the flavor of the vinaigrette.
- Prioritize fresh strawberries, and save frozen ones for smoothies or popsicles.
- How do you cut goat cheese for salad? The recipe calls for soft goat cheese, which you can easily crumble or pinch off by hand or gently scrape with a fork to sprinkle over the salad.
- Dress the salad right before serving, or keep the dressing on the side. Adding it too early can make the salad soggy.
If you enjoy the salad, pair it with one of these dinner recipes!
Serving Suggestions
This strawberry salad with goat cheese is an easy-to-make side dish, or make it a full meal by adding chicken, steak, salmon, or shrimp.
Serve the summer salad alongside a quiche, air fryer ribeye steak, and baked or grilled chicken—baked Tuscan chicken, chicken salmoriglio, and grilled chicken drumsticks.
The salad pairs well with seafood recipes like pan-fried swordfish, Cajun honey butter salmon, and baked flounder. And don’t forget the freshly baked Dutch oven sourdough bread, focaccia, or pillowy-soft rolls like pao de sal.
What to do with the Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Store the leftovers in an airtight container. With dressing, the strawberry salad with goat cheese will stay fresh for 1 day. However, if you store the dressing separately, the salad will stay fresh for 2-3 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
Make the strawberry salad with goat cheese three days in advance as long as you store the dressing and salad ingredients in separate containers.
Should I peel the cucumber?
Peeling the cucumbers is entirely up to you. The peel is edible, but some people dislike the texture. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the skin if you prefer peeled cucumbers.
What is the best goat cheese substitute?
The best goat cheese substitute is feta cheese because it has a tangy flavor and crumbly texture.
Strawberry Salad with Goat Cheese
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice, 1-2 oranges
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons honey
- lemon juice, 1 lemon
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup walnuts
- ¼ cup hulled sunflower seeds
- ½ teaspoon honey
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1½ cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- ¼ medium red onion thinly sliced
- ½ medium English cucumber, sliced and halved
- 6 cups salad greens
- 3 ounces soft goat cheese, crumbled
- Combine the orange juice, garlic, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, and lemon juice with an immersion blender, food processor, or blender. Pour the olive oil into a tall cup or blender in a slow, steady stream while blending the ingredients. Set it aside.
- Warm the olive oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add the walnuts, sunflower seeds, honey, and cayenne pepper. Toast for 3-5 minutes until caramelized. Set them aside to cool.
- Meanwhile slice the strawberries, onions, and cucumbers. Then, arrange the salad greens, vegetables, and goat cheese crumble into a serving bowl.
- Top the salad with the toasted walnuts and sunflower seeds. Drizzle balsamic citrus vinaigrette over the top and toss to combine.
- Taste the fresh orange juice before using it. If the oranges are sour or unripe, they can ruin the flavor of the vinaigrette.
- Prioritize fresh strawberries, and save frozen ones for smoothies or popsicles.
- How do you cut goat cheese for salad? The recipe calls for soft goat cheese, which you can easily crumble or pinch off by hand or gently scrape with a fork to sprinkle over the salad.
- Dress the salad right before serving, or keep the dressing on the side. Adding it too early can make the salad soggy.
- The nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.