This goat cheese strawberry salad is the perfect balance of sweet and savory!
Fresh strawberries, creamy goat cheese, avocado, and Arugula come together with a light poppy seed dressing to give you a refreshing and tasty salad.
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It is a great option for a quick lunch, a light dinner, or anything in between. We especially love making it from late spring to summer when fresh, seasonal strawberries begin to appear in markets.
ingredient notes
- Walnuts.
- Arugula, or your favorite salad greens.
- Strawberries.
- Goat cheese.
- Red onion.
- Avocado.
- Pumpkins .seeds
what type of greens to use
I like to use Arugula because of its peppery taste. Its slight bitterness adds a nice contrast to the sweetness of the strawberries and the creaminess of the goat cheese.
Here are other types of salad greens you can use.
- Romaine Lettuce: Crisp and mild, it adds a refreshing crunch to the salad.
- Spinach: Soft and slightly sweet, it pairs beautifully with strawberries.
- Butter Lettuce.
- Mixed Greens: Use mixed greens for a combination of various textures and flavours.
- Baby Kale: Adds a slightly earthy taste and extra nutrients.
the poppy seed salad dressing
We dress the goat cheese salad with a delicious poppy seed salad dressing made from the following ingredients:-
- Extra virgin olive oil.
- Red wine vinegar.
- Poppy seeds.
- Dijon mustard.
- Honey.
- Salt and pepper.
is arugula the same as rocket?
Arugula, rucola and rocket are the same leafy green. "Arugula" is the term commonly used in American English, while "rocket" is the British English term.
The name "rucola" comes from Italian, reflecting its popularity in Mediterranean cuisine.
The English name rocket comes from the Italian term "rucola," which was adapted into the French word "roquette". Later, this became anglicised to "rocket."
how to make strawberry arugula goat cheese salad
- Toast walnuts - Heat a pan or skillet over medium heat and toast the walnuts for 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
- Prepare the poppy seed dressing - Make the salad dressing by shaking olive oil, red wine vinegar, honey, dijon mustard, poppy seeds, salt and pepper in a tightly sealed glass jar to combine.
- Arrange the salad greens - Arrange the arugula on a large plate or bowl.
- Top with the goat cheese - Next, we want to top the arugula with sliced strawberries, crumbled goat cheese, walnuts, avocado slices, and red onion.
- Add chopped nuts - Chop the walnuts and arrange on top of the salad.
- Top with pumpkin seeds - Sprinkle the pumpkin seeds over the top.
- Finally, just before serving, we pour the prepared poppy seed dressing over the salad. Toss gently to combine then serve immediately.
Kate's tips
- Toasting the walnuts enhances their flavor and adds a delicious crunch to the salad. Keep an eye on them to prevent burning.
- To prevent the salad from turning soggy, we add the poppy seed dressing just before serving.
- If you’re not a fan of goat cheese, try using feta or blue cheese for a similar tangy flavor.
- You can prepare the dressing and toast the nuts ahead of time to save time when assembling the salad.
what to serve with it
Serve this strawberry goat cheese salad with a slice of baguette or bread. For some added protein, add a slice of grilled chicken breast. It also goes well with quiches.
wine pairing
Serve with a crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc, gin spritz, or a light rosé.
📖 Recipe
Goat Cheese Strawberry Salad
Ingredients
For the Salad
- ½ cup walnuts
- 3.5 oz Arugula (approx. 100 g) or your favorite salad greens
- 2 cups fresh strawberries
- 3.5 oz goat cheese (approx. 100 g)
- 1 Tbsp pumpkin seeds
- ½ of an avocado
- ¼ of a small red onion (about 2-3 Tbsp)
Poppy Seed Salad Dressing
- 6 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoon red wine vinegar - see notes
- 1-1½ teaspoon honey or maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1½ teaspoon poppy seeds
- salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Heat a pan or skillet over medium heat and toast the walnuts for 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
- Add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, honey, mustard, poppy seeds, salt and pepper to a glass jar. Seal the jar tightly and shake well until the ingredients are fully combined. Set aside.
- Arrange the arugula on a large plate or bowl as the base. Top with sliced strawberries, crumbled goat cheese, avocado slices, and red onion. Sprinkle the chopped walnuts over the top.
- Chop the walnuts and arrange on top of the salad. Sprinkle the pumpkin seeds on top.
- Pour the prepared poppy seed dressing over the salad just before serving. Toss gently to combine then serve immediately.
Notes
-
- Toasting the walnuts enhances their flavor and adds a delicious crunch to the salad. Keep an eye on them to prevent burning.
-
- To prevent the salad from turning soggy, we add the poppy seed dressing just before serving.
-
- If you’re not a fan of goat cheese, try using feta or blue cheese for a similar tangy flavor.
-
- You can prepare the dressing and toast the nuts ahead of time to save time when assembling the salad.
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