Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad

Looking for a not-so-ordinary salad recipe for your next dinner party? Well, this easy strawberry goat cheese salad will be sure to impress your guests. The secret? It’s easier than it looks and tastes just as delicious as it looks.

This strawberry goat cheese salad is tossed with sweet and refreshing strawberries, tangy goat cheese, walnuts, a bold balsamic and olive oil dressing, and a hint of honey to top it off. 

Reasons you’ll love this recipe

• QUICK AND EASY: This strawberry goat cheese salad will come together in under 10 minutes with just a few ingredients and steps! 
• HEALTHY: This salad is super nutritious from the rich, dark greens and the juicy strawberries. You’ll also get nutrients from the walnuts as well as protein, which will help keep you full!
• SALAD SEASON: Salad season is upon us, so we're on top of all your favorites. If you like this strawberry walnut salad, you should check out our most popular salad recipes, including our zesty Italian pasta salad, caprese pasta salad, red skin potato salad, the best Greek salad recipe, and our refreshing watermelon basil salad.

Ingredients you’ll need

• GREENS: This recipe uses mixed greens, specifically a mix of arugula and baby spinach, but any mixed greens package will do!
• WALNUTS: The chopped walnuts add a crunchy texture to the salad and are a great source of protein which helps make this salad filling. 
• STRAWBERRIES: The strawberries sweeten this salad up and make it super refreshing, especially during the summertime. 
• GOAT CHEESE: The goat cheese adds a creamy texture and a tangy flavor that pairs amazingly with the strawberries and helps balance their sweetness. 
• OLIVE OIL AND BALSAMIC VINEGAR: The olive oil and balsamic dressing makes this salad pop with a bold flavor and the balsamic especially compliments the strawberries and goat cheese. 
• SALT: Some salt is added to enhance the flavors of the ingredients. 
• HONEY: A little bit of honey gets drizzled over the salad to top it off. It tastes delicious with the combination of strawberries, goat cheese, and walnuts. 

See the recipe card below for the ingredient measurements. 

Kitchen tools to help you

• KNIFE: For slicing the strawberries and copping the walnuts (if you buy whole walnuts). 
• CUTTING BOARD: For safely chopping the ingredients. 
• SERVING BOWL: For serving the salad.
• MEASURING SPOONS AND CUPS: For measuring the ingredients. 

How to make this recipe

1. Layer the salad: Add the mixed greens to the serving bowl and top it with strawberries and walnuts. Sprinkle ¾ of the crumbled goat cheese over the top of the salad and refrigerate it until you’re ready to serve.
2. Serve the salad: Once ready to serve the salad, add the olive oil,  balsamic vinegar, and salt.  Mix the salad until it's fully coated, and then garnish it with the honey and the remaining goat cheese.

Recipe expert tips

• Wait to add the dressing until you serve it, as the salad will become soggy if it's mixed in the dressing too early. 
• Reserve some goat cheese for garnishing the salad because once you mix the salad, the goat cheese will start to lose its crumbly texture and dissolve. The salad will still taste amazing, but if you top it with some reserved goat cheese, it will look prettier and make your bite more exciting! 
• Toast the walnuts if you’re looking for some extra flavor. You can toast the walnuts by using your oven or toaster oven. 

How to store the salad

If you’d like to prepare the salad ahead of time, you can store it in the fridge in the serving bowl covered in plastic wrap.  You should wait to add the dressing and honey until you serve it, as it will become soggy if these ingredients are incorporated too early. You may also store the leftovers; however, it will be soggy after all the ingredients are mixed in.

Substitutes and additions

• Blueberries: Consider adding some blueberries to this strawberry salad with goat cheese. They will bring a pop of color and a delicious sweet and tangy flavor that will complement the other ingredients.
• Pecans: Substitute the walnuts for pecans to maintain a nutty flavor and crunchy texture with another delicious nut. You can chop them up or add them whole, and even toast them if you’re looking for some extra flavor.
• Cucumbers: Try adding some cucumbers to the mix for a refreshing flavor and a crunchy component that pairs nicely with the strawberries. 

Please note that alternative ingredients are just suggestions and have not been tested. 

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