Description
This strawberry salad recipe transforms fresh ingredients into a vibrant, delicious meal with crisp texture and bright flavors. It’s perfect for busy weeknights, family gatherings, or a quick, refreshing lunch, making it a tested family favorite.
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
- 3 ounces baby spinach or butter lettuce, thoroughly washed and dried (mixed greens or spring mix also work beautifully)
- 0.5 cup unsalted pistachios, shelled, roughly chopped (toasted pecans or walnuts also provide healthy fats and a satisfying crunch)
- 0.25 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon ground sumac
- 0.5 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 0.25 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon agave nectar or maple syrup
Instructions
- Prepare Vinaigrette Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the 0.25 cup extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, 1 teaspoon ground sumac, 0.5 teaspoon fine sea salt, 0.25 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and 1 teaspoon agave nectar or maple syrup. Whisk until the mixture is well emulsified and creamy (about 1-2 minutes).
- Prepare Produce: Gently wash, hull, and quarter the 1 pound fresh strawberries. Thoroughly wash and dry the 3 ounces baby spinach or butter lettuce, ideally using a salad spinner to ensure no excess moisture remains.
- Combine Salad Components: In a large mixing bowl, gently combine the sliced strawberries and the dried baby spinach or butter lettuce, allowing colors to mingle without bruising delicate greens.
- Dress and Garnish: Drizzle approximately half of the prepared vinaigrette over the salad components. Gently toss the mixture to evenly coat. Arrange the dressed salad on individual plates, mounding slightly. Drizzle a small amount of the remaining vinaigrette over the top, and generously scatter the roughly chopped pistachios over the salad.
Notes
Customize this salad with dairy-free feta, candied nuts, or gluten-free croutons for extra crunch. Elevate the meal by adding grilled chicken or shrimp for a complete, high-protein option. Enhance flavors with fresh mint or basil, poppy seeds, sliced red onion, or avocado cubes. Always ensure greens are thoroughly dry, keep all ingredients cold until serving, and dress just before serving to prevent sogginess.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Assembling
- Cuisine: General
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 250 calories
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 290 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg