If you’ve never enjoyed a green salad with fresh fruit before, you’re missing out. Sweet, juicy fruit pairs so well with the leafy greens and savory, salty ingredients that traditionally go in green salads. In this case, sweet juicy strawberries are so delicious, not to mention gorgeous, against the backdrop of bright green peppery arugula. Sliced green onions add a savory punch, and a slightly sweet balsamic vinaigrette adds tang. Salty crumbly feta cheese and crunchy sliced almonds round everything out to salad perfection! Best of all, this healthy strawberry arugula salad recipe only takes 10 minutes to whip up, and it’s easy to prep everything to make it in advance. And if you’re looking for another fun way to enjoy strawberries with a savory twist, try this strawberry bruschetta. Yum!
Ingredients and Substitutions
Baby arugula – you can use baby spinach, or another baby green, if you prefer. I find mature arugula too strong in flavor for this salad, but those who like that taste may prefer it.Fresh strawberries – try to get them in season for the best flavor. Other fresh fruit may be used with this recipe, such as sliced peaches or another berry.Crumbled feta cheese – or goat cheese, cotija cheese, diced fresh mozzarella… or another cheese that you prefer.Green onions – you can also use sliced red onions if you like.Sliced or slivered almonds – or another nut, like chopped walnuts or pecans. You can also use sunflower or pumpkin seeds for a nut-free version.To make the homemade balsamic vinaigrette, you’ll need maple syrup, dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper. Honey or another sweetener can be used in place of maple syrup. Feel free to use a store-bought balsamic vinaigrette or another dressing with sweet flavor, such as poppyseed. I also like using creamy maple balsamic dressing for this salad.
How to make Strawberry Arugula Salad
How to make it ahead of time
Just mix the dressing separately, by shaking together in a jar or whisking together in a small bowl. Then add everything else to a large bowl. Just before serving, toss the strawberry arugula salad with the dressing (if you dress it too early, it will become soggy). You can prep the dressing up to a week in advance and the strawberry arugula salad ingredients up to 24 hours in advance.
Add protein to make it a meal
Add sliced grilled chicken breasts or grilled shrimp on top of the mixed strawberry arugula salad.Toss the salad with seared tofu or hard boiled eggs, or serve with white bean patties for a vegetarian option.Serve as a side to roast chicken, oven-baked pork chops, or slow cooker turkey breast.Add any shredded cooked chicken, such as from a store-bought rotisserie chicken, slow cooker chicken breasts, poached chicken breasts, or slow cooker whole chicken.Fish would be great with this, on the side of poached salmon or seared salmon, or with oven-fried catfish. You can also flake any leftover fish, cold, and toss it with this salad.
Other savory salads with fresh fruit
Watermelon Salad with Queso Fresco, Lime, and CilantroMango Quinoa SaladWinter Citrus SaladArugula, Cantaloupe, and Prosciutto SaladChicken Salad with GrapesEgyptian Barley Salad with Pomegranate and Feta
Did you know commenting and rating recipes is one of the best ways you can support your favorite food bloggers? If you made this recipe or have a question, please click the stars below to comment and Rate this Recipe and/or share photos on social media using the hashtag #bowlofdelicious or tagging @bowlofdelicious!
