Spring is such a wonderful season for garden-fresh salads that are perfect for luncheons, brunches, and teas . . . and most importantly for daily enjoyment. I need my greens, folks! Fresh spring berries add such a wonderful flavor element to a savory salad, whether fresh or in a vinaigrette. Strawberries, in particular, are one of my favorite ways to enhance a spring salad.
There is literally a plethora of recipes in which strawberries play a starring role in side salads of fresh greens. After reading and researching many of those recipes as usual, I just developed my own version of both the ingredients of the salad itself, but most importantly, the vinaigrette. This recipe knocked my socks off! I was so blown away by how delicious this spring fresh salad is, that I will, without a doubt, make this over and over again! Even my ranch dressing husband enjoyed it without a negative comment!
A big WOWZA for this newly developed recipe in my repertoire! Thank you sweet strawberries for your fresh inspiration! And oh yes, thank you balsamico vinegar for the tremendous foundation for the vinaigrette! Simply delicioso!
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Spring Salad with Strawberries and Balsamic Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 1/8 cup sugar (you can also substitute a few Tbsp. of honey if you prefer)
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- pinch of paprika
- 1 tsp. fresh garlic, finely minced
- 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp. sea salt
- 1/4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1/8 tsp. dry mustard
- 3 Tbsp. minced red onion
- 10 oz. fresh mixed ‘mesclun’ or spring lettuce or baby spinach
- 1 quart strawberries – cleaned, hulled and sliced
- 1 – 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
- 1/4 cup slivered almonds
- 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh bacon, fully cooked/browned and then chopped/crumbled
- For some protein, add chunks of cooked chicken or turkey . . . add the amount that you prefer, one or two cups depending on how many you are serving.
Instructions
- Instructions
- With an immersion blender, mix together the sugar, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, paprika, Worcestershire sauce; dry mustard, salt, pepper, and red onion.
- Blend well until smooth.
- In a large bowl, combine the spinach, strawberries, chopped eggs, almonds, crumbled cheese, and bacon.
- Or individually plate each salad to garnish the way that you prefer.
- Pour vinaigrette over salad, and toss. Or pass vinaigrette around to guests for their own dressing preference level.
Magnificent photo I just love how those strawberries jump out at me… just fresh and perfect!
I will have to try your version…I make the exact ingrediants with low calorie poppyseed dressing and we love it, but it would be fun to mix things up a bit!
This looks awesome, I’m always looking for fresh, fun new salads, thanks, Chris
Strawberries and greens… Believe it or not Roz I never ate a salad with both! After seeing this, I’ll fix that real fast. Grocery run scheduled for tomorrow too. Strawberries just made the list.
Your photos are stunning, as always.
Wow Roz – gorgeous. And my antennae just went up – I made something very similar twice this week but love how you spiced it up. When strawberries are in season, my health quotient goes way up!
Those photos are stunning! Great job!
wow amazing salad thanks for posting and thanks for your amazing advice on my expat post means the world to me I admire and look up to you hope to meet you one day hugs Rebecca
So fresh, so good. I love that you added strawberries …
Looks delicious Roz and Bev loves salad with strawberries so I’ll be sure she tries this. With the ingredients in the dressing I believe I’d enjoy it as well.
YUM – all I had to do was to look at the photo and I was sold. What a wonderful lookig salad.
Now if only we ever get some fresh straberries here . . . sigh
Oh I just love strawberries!!! I will definitely try this! Thanks for sharing!
I love the addition of the blue cheese Roz!I hope you’ve had a fantastic weekend!
This is my kind of salad. You used bleu cheese but I imagine that feta would work also. Balsamic dressing is perfect for the strawberries. Awesome.
Absolutely lovely — I might have to make some vegan adjustments — but so worth it as it looks A-MAZING!!
Lovin’ your blog!
Hiya! Newest follower from The Follow Friday Over 40 Hop– please stop by and say hello! Would love if ya followed back!
♥cyn♥
The Purple Goddess
Roz I just stopped by again to tell you that you have some awards waiting for you by my fruit salad http://www.gourmetfashion.net/2011/05/spring-fruit-salad-bowl.html
What a gorgeous salad that is just perfect for Spring! Your photos are beautiful – can’t wait to try this one:)
That photo – those strawberries – just an eye-popping photo. You really got creative with that dressing and it sounds delicious.
Strawberries and balsamic vinegar seem to be a match made in heaven. Love the blue cheese in this and what would we do without our immersion blenders?
Beautiful photos of a beautiful salad Roz. Hope you too are having a wonderful Memorial day weekend.
Sam
I love every single ingredient in this salad! Looking forward to putting this together soon.
Oh my goodness, Roz…that is a gorgeous salad! I love it when a salad can make my mouth water 😉
This salad looks amazing! Your photo is mouth watering. I love strawberries in salads and I love it with balsamic vinaigrette.
This looked so good that I am linking to you on my blog today!
Beautiful salad with the bacon, blue cheese and strawberries. Yum! Thanks so much for sharing it with Souper Sundays. 😉
Looks so good with so many flavors coming together to make one beautiful salad. Wish I had some for lunch right now!
I made my own version of this salad but followed the balsamic vinaigrette dressing recipe to the T and it was DELICIOUS. I took it to a dinner party and everyone commented on how good it was! I will never buy balsamic vinaigrette again!
Hi Anonymous!
I am SO GLAD to hear that you enjoyed my vinaigrette! So far everyone likes it too! What an honor to know that you made it and that it will be a keeper for you!
Roz
I have to admit that I found your recipe on pinterest and fell in love with it – i make this at least once a week at my house – my husband just shakes his head at me 🙂
Thank you so much for a great recipe!!!
Kelly
Hi Kelly,
My husband just shakes his head at me too! I’m making this for my daughter when she visits this weekend and I know that she’ll also enjoy it! Thanks for the compliment and for stopping by!
Roz
I have made this recipe and the balsamic vinaigrette many times but can’t locate the recipe anymore. Can anyone share it? Thanks!
Hi Beth,
I contacted a technician who was able to ‘restore’ the recipe card for the salad and balsamic vinaigrette recipe that you and I love so much. I am so happy to have found the recipe again! And I thank you for letting me know that it was missing! From now on, I am calling this “Beth’s Balsamico Vinaigrette” in my house!
Happy cooking and buon appetito my friend!
Ciao,
Roz