Strawberry Balsamic Salad
Freshly picked strawberries are the perfect pairing for baby spinach, spicy thinly sliced red onions, crunchy candied walnuts and creamy feta cheese.
The first time I heard of strawberries in a salad, I was like “What?” It was during my food photo shoot for a University of Texas Housing and Food Department marketing campaign. It was beautiful salad to photograph, especially with the natural light shining on the fresh greens and fresh berries. But I was hesitant to taste it. When I did, I was hooked and obsessed. It’s been my go-to salad ever since.
One of the few things I wanted to experience while working for the Marketing Dept at the University of Texas was to visit a farm. Nine months later my wish came true. Not only did I visit a farm, I visited two in the same day. Two Happy Children Farm and the Coyote Farm, which will be a story for another day. Seeing that this was my first visit to a farm, I was entirely unprepared. My white shorts and Sperrys would be soon covered with grass stains and mud.
My eagerness to frolic through the crops quickly plummeted, literally. I was stuck in the mud. Going through a field of artichokes wasn’t the most exciting experience either. I was getting eaten alive by bugs. However, the last crop we visited were.. strawberries! I dropped the one artichoke I had proudly harvested and quickly trekked across the farm to the neat green rows spotted with red.
If you get a chance this summer, I highly recommend strawberry picking! The first time you sink your teeth into a juicy strawberry that’s been slowly ripening in the sun is amazing.
Tip: If you do visit a farm to pick strawberries, make sure to keep them out of the sun. The one hour drive back resulted in strawberry preserves.
PrintStrawberry Balsamic Salad
A fresh summer strawberry salad with spinach, feta, and candied walnuts dressed in a balsamic vinaigrette.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1 pint fresh strawberries
- 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup candied walnuts
- Balsamic vinaigrette
Instructions
- Wash baby spinach and use a salad spinner to whisk away the excess water. (Scroll down for win one!)
- Wash and slice strawberries.
- Toss together all the ingredients and dress with balsamic vinaigrette.
- Serve immediately.
- Optional: Add in grilled chicken breasts or bacon.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
