It doesn't feel like an exaggeration to call this the best Strawberry Salad recipe - at least according to my family! Mixed greens, feta cheese and fresh basil, and a light vinaigrette bring it all together. 176 calories and 4 Weight Watchers SP
While this strawberry salad recipe is everything that a salad should be – fresh, tasty, healthy and wholly satisfying – there is one thing it is not. Rocket science.
In fact, this salad was made from a good, old-fashioned rummage through our fridge and pantry. As much as I’d like to take credit for the pairing of sweet salt, tender and crunchy, I have to set aside my cooking ego and admit that the ingredients practically fell on the plate themselves.
The key to a really good salad recipe, particularly when the ingredient list is short, is top-notch ingredients. Sorry to say, but those soft, bruised strawberries at the bottom of the container are not destined for this salad…but they’d be right at home in a smoothie, such as my Easy Berry Banana Smoothie (freeze those soft strawberries first).
And the greens? Ditch the iceberg lettuce and buy the good stuff. Not only will you be rewarded with more flavor, but the vitamin quotient goes up exponentially when you upgrade to dark leafy greens.
What dressing is best for strawberry salad?
There are plenty of dressings that would work well in a strawberry salad, starting with the lemon vinaigrette in this recipe. A simple mixture of fresh lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, honey or agave nectar.
I’ve also made this salad with just a squeeze of lemon juice, rather than a vinaigrette.
Other good options are a homemade balsamic vinaigrette, poppyseed dressing or green goddess dressing.
What’s in a strawberry salad?
Many strawberry salads call for spinach as the base, though other type of greens, such as mixed green (baby spring mix), arugula or chopped romaine work well, too. Try my Kale Strawberry Salad recipe.
While cheese isn’t mandatory, the combination of sweet strawberries and a tangy, creamy cheese like feta or chevre (goat cheese) is heavenly! For a vegan option, swap out the cheese and add chopped avocado.
I love the crunch and flavor of toasted nuts in any salad. In this recipe, I used pistachios, but often turn to toasted slivered almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, pepitas or sunflower seeds.
Fresh herbs are a great way to add another layer of flavor without adding calories. Basil, parsley or tarragon are some of my favorites.
Other summer salad recipes:
Salmon Panzanella Salad Recipe {Cookin' Canuck}
Heirloom Tomato Salad with Blue Cheese {Cookin' Canuck}
Roasted Garbanzo & Vegetable Salad with Garlic, Feta, Olives & Basil {Kalyn's Kitchen}
Greek Salad Recipe {Let the Baking Begin}
Strawberry Salad Recipe with Feta Cheese & Basil
Ingredients
- 6 cups mixed greens
- 2 cups strawberry slices (about 8 large)
- 1 ½ ounces crumbled feta cheese (about 6 tablespoons)
- ¼ cup shelled pistachios roughly chopped
- 4 large basil leaves thinly sliced
The dressing:
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon honey or agave nectar
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Divide the mixed greens between 4 side plates.
- Divide the strawberries, feta cheese, pistachios and basil evenly between the 4 plates.
- Toss with the dressing. Serve.
The dressing:
- In a small small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, honey and salt.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted on May 10, 2013 and was updated on May 18, 2020.
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Julia
Basil is one of my favorite things to add to a salad. In combination with all those other ingredients, I could eat one of these everyday!!!
Tori @ The Shiksa in the Kitchen
I love everything about this salad Dara! Pinned. 🙂
Nutmeg Nanny
This salad is gorgeous 🙂 I love adding strawberries to my salads!
addie | culicurious
Great looking salad! I find the simple ones are best as well 🙂
MyKitchenStove
This salad looks yum! Strawberry is my favorite in this salad.
Crystal @ Simply Playful Fare
This salad looks awesome! A ton of my favorite foods, that I've never thought to pair together before. It's getting to be summer salad season too! It was about 85 degrees in my neck of the woods today. And I always love your pictures. 🙂
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen
Such a pretty salad for spring and summer, Dara! Just HAD to drop by and tell you so. I love everything in it! Cannot wait to make!
Cathy Pollak ~ Noble Pig
What a great low-cal salad..who needs all that dressing when you have beautiful ingredients!
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love.
This is such a pretty salad! These are some of my favorite toppings!
Ashley - Baker by Nature
If only every salad was this pretty!!!
Happy Mother's Day, Dara 🙂
kirsten@FarmFreshFeasts
Dara,
I really like your photos in this post. The colors of the salad, and of the individual ingredients, just pop out at me. Well done. The flavor combination seems like it was meant to be.
Thanks!
Sommer @ ASpicyPerspective
This is one delicious-looking salad!