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This Strawberry Arugula Salad is a delicious combo of textures, flavors, and pure freshness. It’s a light yet satisfying salad that feels like summer with every bite. This arugula salad recipe combines the juicy sweetness of strawberries with the peppery punch of arugula, crunchy pecans, the creamy saltiness of feta cheese, fresh basil, and a tangy strawberry vinaigrette. It’s so good! Plus, you can easily turn it into a light meal with the addition of protein.
Jump to Section
- Why you’ll love this Strawberry Arugula Salad With Feta
- ingredients & substitutions
- how to make A strawberry arugula salad:
- Tips for making the best strawberry arugula salad
- Popular Additions and Substitutions
- What to Serve With A Strawberry Arugula salad
- How to Store Leftover Strawberry Arugula Salad
- Frequently Asked Questions
- For more salads with fruit:
- Strawberry Arugula Salad Recipe
This simple and easy strawberry arugula salad is so light and refreshing. The strawberry vinaigrette is really what makes this salad! Made from fresh strawberries, this dressing is a unlike anything else you’ve had. It’s fresh, slightly sweet, tangy, and so easy to whip up right at home. The best part? It adds such a unique, refreshing flavor to the salad that really pulls all the ingredients together. You won’t find any store-bought dressing that can compete with it. In a nutshell, this strawberry arugula salad is more than just a dish. It’s an experience of flavors and textures that you definitely won’t want to miss out on
Why you’ll love this Strawberry Arugula Salad With Feta
- All the Textures: This salad brings together a fantastic mix of textures. You’ve got the leafy arugula, the juicy strawberries, the creamy feta, and the crunchy pecans. It’s this variety that keeps each bite interesting and has you coming back for more.
- Beautiful Presentation: The fresh greens, bright strawberries, and the blush of the dressing make for a plate that’s as appealing to the eye as it is to the taste buds. It’s just the thing when you want to add a dash of color and class to your meal.
- Fresh and In-Season: This salad is a great way to enjoy the bounty of the season. The sweet strawberries and crisp arugula really showcase the best of what’s fresh and available right now. Plus, it’s a great excuse to take a trip to your local farmer’s market or raid your garden.
- Quick to Assemble: Don’t let the fancy look fool you; this salad is easy and quick to put together. Both the salad and the dressing are straightforward, making it a snap to whip up even on busy weeknights.
- Can be a Side or a Main Dish: This salad is versatile. Enjoy it as a fresh, light side dish, or add a protein like grilled chicken or shrimp to turn it into a hearty main.
ingredients & substitutions
- Strawberries: They should be the freshest possible and you can count on them for the perfect level of sweetness for not only the salad but also the dressing.
- Arugula: The arugula is also a power player in this dish with its spicy kick. Again, the fresher, the better. The leafy texture complements the other ingredients perfectly.
- Pecans: These add a lovely crunch and elegant flavor, but you can use any other nuts instead, like walnuts or cashews. Try making your own candied walnuts for a sweet crunchy addition!
- Basil: This adds an aromatic sweet flavor to complement the strawberries. Feel free to swap it for parsley or dill.
- Dressing: Made with strawberries, olive oil, shallot, vinegar, and Dijon mustard, the dressing has a bright pink color and sweet flavor that adds brightness to the salad.
how to make A strawberry arugula salad:
Quick to assemble, the Strawberry Arugula Salad is unforgettably colorful and flavorful. It is easily going to become one of those salads you make that everyone quickly asks for the recipe!
make the strawberry Vinaigrette dressing
- In a blender, food processor, or small chopper, mix together the strawberries, olive oil, vinegar, shallot, and Dijon mustard.
- Process until the dressing is smooth and creamy with no lumps.
Make the strawberry arugula salad
- Place all the ingredients together in a large bowl.
- Add the dressing right before serving.
- Toss gently to combine.
Tips for making the best strawberry arugula salad
- Wash Your Greens: First things first, you want to start with clean, fresh arugula. Be sure to wash it well to remove any dirt or grit. If you have a salad spinner, use it to remove excess water. If not, gently pat it dry with a kitchen towel. You want the leaves to be dry so the dressing adheres well and the salad doesn’t get watered down.
- Timing the Dressing: Apply your dressing just before you’re ready to serve. Arugula can wilt and lose its appealing crunch if it’s left sitting in the dressing for too long.
- Choose Ripe Strawberries: When it comes to strawberries, the riper, the better. They bring a natural sweetness to the salad that’s hard to beat. Avoid using thawed frozen strawberries, as they can be too soft and mushy for a salad.
- Toss with Care: Remember to toss your salad gently. The ingredients are delicate and can get squashed if handled too roughly. You want to preserve the structure and texture of the strawberries and arugula.
- Serve Fresh: This salad is best served fresh immediately after it’s made. The vibrant flavors and crisp textures are at their peak right then. If you’re making it for guests, you can prepare the components ahead and assemble it just before serving.
- Season Well: Don’t forget to season your salad. A little bit of kosher salt can enhance the flavors and balance the sweetness of the strawberries and dressing.
Popular Additions and Substitutions
- Green Alternatives: If you’re not a fan of arugula or just want a change, try substituting it with spinach, kale, or mixed greens. Each leafy green brings its unique flavor profile to the table, giving the salad a different twist every time.
- Cheese Choices: Swap out the feta cheese for some tangy goat cheese or creamy blue cheese. Each type of cheese can add a distinct touch to the overall flavor of the salad.
- Swap out the pecans: If pecans aren’t your favorite, try substituting them with almonds, walnuts, or sunflower seeds. Toasting them slightly will enhance their flavor, contributing to the overall crunchiness of the salad.
- Protein Punch: Make this salad a full meal by adding some grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu. This would not only increase the protein content but also add a satiating element to the salad.
- Fruit Substitutes: Swap out the strawberries for some ripe peaches, juicy blueberries, or tangy raspberries for a whole new flavor profile. Be creative and play with the season’s best offerings.
What to Serve With A Strawberry Arugula salad
- Salmon Cakes
- Oven Fried Chicken Tenders
- Lemon Parsley Baked Cod
- Grilled Lemon Chicken
- Lemon Garlic Shrimp
How to Store Leftover Strawberry Arugula Salad
This strawberry Arugula Salad is best enjoyed fresh. However, if you have leftovers, it’s important to store them properly to maintain their freshness.
- Without Dressing: If you anticipate having leftovers, it’s a good idea to keep the dressing separate.
- With Dressing: If the salad is already dressed, try to consume it within a few hours. The acid in the dressing can make the arugula wilt, and the strawberries become mushy.
- The Dressing: You can store the extra strawberry vinaigrette in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
How long will Strawberry Arugula Salad last in the fridge?
If stored properly, undressed Strawberry Arugula Salad can last for up to 2 days in the fridge. However, for the best texture and flavor, it’s recommended to consume it as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
If the dressing is on the salad too long, the arugula will wilt. If you are storing the salad in the refrigerator, the temperature might be too cold, will also wilt the arugula.
If the dressing is too thin, add a few more strawberries to thicken it up a bit.
You can do that. However, the amount of fruit you use in the dressing will depend on the type of fruit.
Whether you’re looking for a light lunch, a side dish for a barbecue, or a show-stopping salad for a gathering, this strawberry arugula salad recipe is sure to impress. So go ahead and indulge in all the goodness this delicious salad offers!
For more salads with fruit:
- Summer Fruit Salad
- Watermelon Blueberry Salad
- Watermelon Cucumber Salad
- Avocado Blueberry Salad
- Strawberry Caprese Salad
If you’ve tried this healthy-ish feel good Strawberry Arugula Salad recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. We would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so we can repost on Stories!
Strawberry Arugula Salad
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound strawberries tops removed
- 5 ounces fresh arugula
- ¾ cup chopped pecans
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ½ cup fresh basil chopped
For the Dressing
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup white vinegar balsamic, sherry or still
- 1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
- ½ small shallot peeled
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 teaspoons honey
- Kosher salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Thinly slice all strawberries and reserve 3 large berries for the dressing.
- Make the dressing. In the bowl of a food processor or a high speed blender, add reserved strawberries, oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon, shallot, water and honey. Process until smooth and creamy, adding more water if necessary. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- On a large serving platter or in a large serving bowl, mix arugula, berries, pecans, basil, and feta. Drizzle with vinaigrette and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
We loved this. It’s going into my Exceptional folder. Thank you.
Ha, I love this, thanks for sharing.
This salad is phenomenal!! I made it for our Easter dinner today. The dressing was so divine–and such a gorgeous color–I almost wanted to drink it! I did substitute goat cheese for the feta, and used pistachios instead of pecans. Truly delicious–thanks SO much for the recipe!
Oo, I love the idea of using goat cheese and pistachios, thanks for sharing, Jane!
Forgot to add the 5 stars!!!
Btw–I used a good quality white balsamic vinegar for the dressing. Bon appetit!
Made this salad for Father’s Day and is was a huge hit! Everyone wanted the recipe! Thank you, Yumna!
Gorgeous, delicious, easy, & so versatile! I could not ask for anything more! Served w/grilled chicken breast 1st night & I can’t wait to have the remaining salad for lunch tomorrow. And I would put this dressing on practically anything! Thank you so much, Yumna! Phenomenal!!!
This was so delicious! My kids requested for seconds! Will definitely make it again😋
That’s awesome! I love it!!
Loooooved it.. loved the dressing, so delicious. Thank you so much
The dressing really ties it all together! You’re so welcome!!
This was epic for the season, we loved it!
I love that! Thank you!!
Best combination : strawberries, pecans, arugula and best of all basil.
Refreshing and delicious
Omg Yumna! Your arugula salad was the best salad I’ve had in a long time!
I love making salads with fruit and nuts.
I mixed arugula and spinach as the lettuce base and added all ingredients in your recipe. My family ate it all!
Thank you so much for sharing and for your IG video! This salad will definitely be on repeat for the entire summer!
Wow, thank you so much! That makes me so happy to hear! You’re so welcome!