Want to know how to make a fantastic strawberry salad? The tartness of a balsamic vinaigrette works wonderfully with the sweetness of strawberries. In fact, this is our take on a classic Italian dessert pairing: strawberries and balsamic vinegar. To complement the vivid red sweetness of the berries, we utilized our go-to vinaigrette recipe to create a creamy balsamic dressing for this salad. The fresh berries were complemented perfectly by the red onions and roasted almonds.
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How to make your own salad dressing at home.
It’s simple and inexpensive to make your own salad dressing at home. It’s also better for you than store-bought salad dressings, which may contain artificial ingredients. When Alex and I first started creating meals at home, we were motivated to ditch our store-bought salad dressings in favor of our own homemade versions. Salad dressing made from whole foods and without additives can be whisked up with just a few components.
Some advice for making your own dressing!
If you want to make your own salad dressing, consider these suggestions:
The right acid-to-oil ratio must be used. In order to achieve a smooth emulsion, a sufficient amount of oil is required. Reduce the amount of dressing you use if you like less oil. Our dietary philosophy incorporates the use of healthy fats like olive oil.
Put the oil in a medium bowl and whisk it in slowly. A creamy emulsion is formed when oil is whisked in gradually, preventing the dressing from running off the salad leaves.
How to make the perfect strawberry salad?
Our greatest strawberry salad keeps loyal to the traditional style of this meal. The following is the ingredient list for our go-to strawberry salad:
The secret to a great strawberry salad is, of course, ripe strawberries. If you can’t find ripe, locally-grown strawberries, look for them in the summer, when they’re in season.
Creamy balsamic dressing: the acidity of balsamic vinegar really brings out the flavor of strawberries. For guidance on making your own salad dressing, review the information provided above. You won’t want to go back after trying this.
Crumbled cheese: Crumbled cheese is optional but greatly enhances a strawberry salad. To make this dish vegan-friendly, just leave out the cheese crumbs.
Add some crunch to this salad with chopped nuts of your choice. Pecans, walnuts, or toasted almond slices are great options.
To finish off this salad with a savory touch, we’ve added some red onion for color and taste. Here’s a trick to prevent unpleasant breath after eating onions: soak the slices in cold water for 15 to 20 minutes. The flavor is toned down and the possibility of having onion breath is reduced.
Gluten-free, vegan, naturally sweet, and without added sugar. If you want to make this vegan-friendly, just leave off the cheese.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
QUICK GLANCES
Ingredients
2 cups ripe strawberries
8 cups mixed salad greens
1/2 red onion
⅓ cup sliced almonds or pecan pieces
⅓ cup feta cheese crumbles
Fresh ground black pepper
For the balsamic vinaigrette
2 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons maple syrup (or honey)
¼ teaspoon KOSHER SALT
6 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
Prepare strawberry slices by cleaning and slicing strawberries. The salad greens must be washed and dried.
Red onion, thinly sliced To reduce the intensity of the onion’s flavor, soak the slices in cold water for 20 minutes before serving.
Optionally, toast the nuts in a small saucepan over medium heat until golden brown, stirring regularly and keeping a close eye on them so they don’t burn.
To make the balsamic vinaigrette, combine the balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, and kosher salt in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Then, one tablespoon at a time, stir in the olive oil until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
The salad is ready to be served when the greens have been spread out on a platter and topped with strawberries, red onion, almonds, feta cheese crumbles, vinaigrette, and a few twists of black pepper.
