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There’s something about a strawberry salad that feels instantly like spring! This Strawberry Avocado Spinach Salad with Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette is bright, fresh, and just a little indulgent. It hits that perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and creamy, making it just as fitting for a quick weekday lunch as it is for a table full of guests. Trust me, once you make the strawberry balsamic vinaigrette, you’ll want to put it on everything!
Table of Contents
- Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients for Strawberry Avocado Spinach Salad with Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Tips & FAQs
- Recipe:
- Check out these other great recipes!
When people think of summer, they often think of strawberries. I, for one, think of spring when I see strawberries! Strawberry salads, salsas, desserts, you name it, and I’m gravitating right toward it. But the one thing I adore the most about strawberries is when they’re in a salad. There’s just something about seeing fresh berries in a crisp salad drizzled with a vinaigrette. It’s utterly refreshing with each bite. At this point, strawberries are a household must-have for us. Can you tell I love strawberries?
My daughter LOVES strawberries. It’s on her breakfast plate almost every morning, and it’s the first thing she goes to grab. Not the pancake, not the egg, but the strawberries! When I had tested this salad, I gave her a taste of a strawberry with the dressing on it, and she reached out for my salad like “More, mommy?” I had already eaten the rest of the strawberries, so I had no more. Sorry, baby girl!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This is a type of salad I would bring on a picnic with the family. Honestly, it might be a salad that will be on repeat in my house. It’s creamy, tangy, and sweet,
I can drink the dressing and have no shame about it. It’s THAT good. The combination of the avocado and goat cheese is a match made in heaven. The avocado is mild, and the goat cheese is tangy. Adding strawberries adds that sweetness, and the red onions cut through it all, giving you a reason to eat more. Of course, a salad this delicious can be top-tier by adding some crunch, like chopped pecans, walnuts, or even pistachios.
If you’re a strawberry fan like my daughter and me, then you will absolutely adore this salad. You can take it to lunch for work or eat it for dinner.
Ingredients for Strawberry Avocado Spinach Salad with Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Fresh Strawberries: The main star! The best-looking strawberries are the ones that are bright red from tip to stem. They should be plump, firm, and have a shiny, glossy sheen. That means they’re at peak ripeness, and the ones that are calling to you to be put in this salad. It also makes the best dressing!
- Fresh Spinach: By all means, you can use either spinach and kale mix, spring mix, arugula mix, or even just chopped romaine. I think that spinach is the best choice here.
- Red Onion: When it comes to salad, I always add red onion unless it seems ridiculous. This salad begged for red onion. It can help cut through the creamy avocado, tangy goat cheese, and sweet strawberries. It’s definitely needed in my opinion, but feel free to leave it out if you aren’t a fan.
- Crumbled Goat Cheese: I absolutely love goat cheese. It pairs well with strawberries. If you want to get adventurous, then I highly recommend using gorgonzola instead of goat cheese. Trust me on it and try it!
- Avocados: It’s not a strawberry avocado salad without avocados, right? I always think, how can I make a salad better? Add an avocado! It’s a healthy excuse.
- Roasted Chopped Pecans: Every salad needs something crunchy. It’s all about textures in food. Pecans paired well with this salad.
- Balsamic Vinegar, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Dijon Mustard, Shallots, Dried Basil: Plus strawberries. This dressing is a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and bite.
Tips & FAQs
- Storage: The salad dressing can be stored in the fridge in a mason jar for 4-5 days. Shake before using. If it starts to smell funky, throw it out. The salad is best served the same day, but the spinach, strawberries, and red onion can be stored separately for up to 3-4 days without losing freshness. Avocados are best served the same day to avoid browning.
- What to serve this with: This can be a complete meal by itself, but if you want to serve this as a side, then I would recommend grilled salmon, lemon pepper chicken, or garlic butter shrimp. Steak would even be a great choice! For the veggies, roasted carrots, sweet potatoes, or asparagus are top choices. You can roast some beets and toss them into the salad!
- Is this kid friendly? If my toddler ate the strawberries with the dressing slathered on them, then I would say 100% it’s kid-friendly! Just be sure your kid enjoys spinach; I hope one day my child will like spinach again.
- Variations:
- Swap the spinach for any other type of lettuce you wish. Kale, arugula, spring mix, or even romaine will work. A mix of spinach and arugula will take this to the next level!
- Add blueberries or blackberries to the salad.
- Swap the goat cheese for gorgonzola, feta, parmesan, or mozzarella.
- Use candied walnuts, toasted almonds, or even crispy prosciutto or bacon as alternatives to pecans.
- Add a protein such as salmon, chicken, or even white beans.
- Wine Pairings:
- A crisp, dry rosé would pair best with this salad. Look for Provence rose, dry California rose, or a Spanish rosado.
- Sauvignon Blanc is another great pairing. The high acidity cuts through the avocado and the dressing, while the citrus/herbal notes lift the strawberries and spinach.
- Avoid oaky Chardonnays, heavy tannic reds (Cabernet, Malbec), and very sweet wines (Moscato, Sweet Rieslings).
Recipe:
Strawberry Avocado Spinach Salad with Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette
There’s something about a strawberry salad that feels instantly like spring! This Strawberry Avocado Spinach Salad with Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette is bright, fresh, and just a little indulgent. It hits that perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and creamy, making it just as fitting for a quick weekday lunch as it is for a table full of guests. Trust me, once you make the strawberry balsamic vinaigrette, you’ll want to put it on everything!
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, cored and sliced (5-6 large, 6-8 medium)
- 6 oz fresh baby spinach
- 2 large avocados, chopped
- 1/3 cup roasted unsalted chopped pecans
- 5 oz goat cheese, crumbled
- 1 small red onion, halved and sliced into 1/4-inch slices
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, cored and quartered (5-6 large, 6-8 medium)
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/3 cup evoo
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp finely minced shallot
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
Instructions
- In a food processor or blender, blend quartered strawberries, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, shallots, salt, pepper, and basil until combined and completely emulsified, about 30 seconds. Turn off and taste; add salt and pepper if needed.
- In a large salad bowl, toss together the sliced strawberries, spinach, avocados, goat cheese, and red onion. Toss with as much dressing as desired or drizzle on top of served portions. Top with pecans. Serve.
Notes
Storage: The salad dressing can be stored in the fridge in a mason jar for 4-5 days. Shake before using. If it starts to smell funky, throw it out. The salad is best served the same day, but the spinach, strawberries, and red onion can be stored separately for up to 3-4 days without losing freshness. Avocados are best served the same day to avoid browning.
What to serve this with: This can be a complete meal by itself, but if you want to serve this as a side, then I would recommend grilled salmon, lemon pepper chicken, or garlic butter shrimp. Steak would even be a great choice! Roasted carrots, sweet potatoes, or asparagus are top choices. You can roast some beets and toss them into the salad!
Is this kid friendly? If my toddler ate the strawberries with the dressing slathered on them, then I would say 100% it’s kid-friendly! Just be sure your kid enjoys spinach, which I hope one day, my child will like spinach again.
Variations:
- Swap the spinach for any other type of lettuce you wish. Kale, arugula, spring mix, or even romaine will work. A mix of spinach and arugula will take this to the next level!
- Add blueberries or blackberries to the salad.
- Swap the goat cheese for gorgonzola, feta, parmesan, or mozzarella.
- Use candied walnuts, toasted almonds, or even crispy prosciutto or bacon as an alternative to the pecans.
- Add a protein such as salmon, chicken, or even white beans.
Wine Pairings:
- A crisp, dry rosé would pair best with this salad. Look for Provence rose, dry California rose, or a Spanish rosado.
- Sauvignon Blanc is another great pairing. The high acidity cuts through the avocado and the dressing, while the citrus/herbal notes lift the strawberries and spinach.
- Avoid oaky Chardonnays, Heavy tannic reds (Cabernet, Malbec), and very sweet wines (Moscato, Sweet Rieslings)
Nutrition Facts
Calories
478Fat (grams)
42 gSat. Fat (grams)
8 gCarbs (grams)
25 gFiber (grams)
9 gSugar (grams)
9 gProtein (grams)
11 gSodium (milligrams)
442 mgCholesterol (grams)
25 mgThis is calculated for 4 servings. The nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and the brands of ingredients used.
Miss Raven's Kitchen 
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