Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad
For a delightfully fresh and sweet salad to serve on its own or to accompany a brunch spread, try this strawberry goat cheese salad. Fresh strawberries, goat cheese, and candied walnuts are tossed with peppery arugula and a balsamic vinaigrette. Light, sharp and sweet, this salad will invigorate you with its bright flavors and colors.
Ingredients
- 12 oz fresh strawberries
- 4 oz goat cheese
- 2/3 cup candied walnuts
- 4 cups arugula
- 1 tbsp + a pinch cane sugar
- A pinch of salt more to taste
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 cup olive oil
Instructions
- Wash and dry 12 ounces of fresh strawberries.
- Take off the tops of the strawberries and quarter them.
- Place the strawberries in a small bowl and toss them with 1 tablespoon of cane sugar. Set aside for 5-10 minutes.
- Place 4 oz goat cheese in a bowl and crumble it with a fork. Set aside.
- Place ½ cup of olive oil, ¼ cup of balsamic vinegar, a pinch of sugar, and a pinch of salt in a jar with a tight-fitting lid.
- Shake vigorously until the two liquids emulsify, or come together into one opaque liquid. Set aside.
- Wash and dry the arugula and place it in a salad bowl.
- Add the strawberries, ⅔ cup candied walnuts, goat cheese, salt, pepper, and salad dressing.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Toss until well coated in the dressing.
- Enjoy!
Notes
I recommend making your own salad dressing. You will need a jar with a tight-fitting lid or a bowl and whisk to do this. You’ll need these items to emulsify the dressing by very rapidly agitating the oil and vinegar to get them to come together.
I like to serve this dish in a big bowl but you can also style individual plates. If you style individual plates, you’ll still want to toss the salad before you plate it. Reserve roughly 1/3 of the salad toppings before tossing the salad. Then, use the reserved toppings to finish each plate.
If you can’t find candied walnuts, you can use regular walnuts as well. I recommend toasting them lightly in a skillet or in the oven to get the most flavor from them.
Avoid creamy dressings that will overpower the ingredients or are overly sweet. For example, I would recommend a lemon-olive oil dressing over a raspberry vinaigrette if you are making choices at the grocery store. You can add a squeezed half of a lemon into the jar or bowl before you emulsify it to incorporate the flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 311kcalCarbohydrates: 11.54gProtein: 9.49gFat: 26.17gSaturated Fat: 7.753gFiber: 2.3gSugar: 7.9g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!