Strawberry Crunch Salad (Print Version)
Sweet strawberries meet crisp greens with toasted nuts and tangy feta in this vibrant summer dish.
# What You'll Need:
→ Salad Base
01 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (baby spinach, arugula, romaine)
02 - 1 ½ cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
03 - ½ cup cucumber, thinly sliced
04 - ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
05 - ¼ cup feta cheese, crumbled
→ Crunch Topping
06 - ½ cup pecans or almonds, roughly chopped
07 - ½ cup crispy fried onions or crumbled pretzels
→ Balsamic Dressing
08 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
09 - 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
10 - 1 tablespoon honey
11 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# Directions:
01 - Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped pecans or almonds and toast for 3–4 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
02 - In a small mixing bowl, combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, and Dijon mustard. Whisk vigorously until the mixture emulsifies into a smooth dressing. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
03 - Place the mixed salad greens in a large bowl. Add the sliced strawberries, cucumber, red onion, and crumbled feta cheese. Arrange ingredients evenly without tossing yet.
04 - Drizzle the prepared balsamic dressing over the salad. Using salad servers or large spoons, gently toss the mixture until all components are lightly coated with dressing.
05 - Sprinkle the toasted nuts and crispy fried onions (or pretzels) over the top of the dressed salad. Serve immediately to maintain the crisp texture of the greens and crunch of the toppings.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The contrast between sweet berries and salty feta creates that perfect bite that keeps you reaching for just one more forkful
- It comes together in under 20 minutes but looks like something from a restaurant menu
02 -
- The nuts must cool completely before adding them to the salad or they will wilt the greens underneath
- Never dress this salad more than 10 minutes before serving or the texture becomes sad and droopy
03 -
- Buy strawberries that smell fragrant because that is where all the flavor lives
- Use a vegetable peeler to shave the red onion into paper thin ribbons instead of slicing with a knife