Strawberry Goat Cheese Walnut Salad

See recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full list of ingredients and exact amounts.

Baby spinach. Baby spinach has tender stems, but you don't need to remove them unless you really want to.

Fresh strawberries. Look for ripe strawberries that are firm and bright red with the green caps in place. Strawberries don't ripen after they're picked, so try to stay away from ones with white around the stem -- they weren't ripe when they were picked.

Candied walnuts. Walnuts candied in brown sugar, cinnamon, add sweetness and texture to the strawberry and goat cheese salad. Use my brown sugar candied walnuts recipe or pick some up at the grocery store. You can also use toasted walnuts.

Goat cheese. I like to use goat cheese that comes in a log -- it's creamier. You can also use pre-crumbled goat cheese.

Honey Lime Dressing Ingredients

Fresh lime juice. You'll need 2-3 limes to get 3 tablespoons of fresh lime juice. If possible, avoid using bottled lime juice -- it just doesn't have that same bright, fresh flavor.

Honey. A little bit of honey balances out the tart of the lime.

Dijon mustard. Dijon mustard not only adds tang, but is an emulsifier.

Recipe Variations

Any kind of leafy greens will work in this strawberry goat cheese salad recipe, like romaine, peppery arugula, or spring mix.
Try blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, or fresh peaches instead of strawberries!
Crunchy pecans, almonds, cashews, pine nuts, or sunflower seeds would all be delicious on a spinach strawberry salad.
Feta cheese, blue cheese crumbles, or any kind of crumbly, tangy cheese are great substitutes in this goat cheese strawberry salad.
This salad is also delicious with maple syrup balsamic dressing, poppy seed dressing, or Mandarin Orange Ginger Dressing. Or use any of your favorite salad dressings.

How to Make Strawberry Goat Cheese Walnut Salad

hand holding mason jar with honey lime dressing.

Step 1: Place lime juice, honey, Dijon mustard, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl or mason jar with a lid. Whisk or shake in the covered jar until completely combined.

Step 2: Arrange spinach, strawberries, and red onion on a platter or in a large salad bowl. Toss to combine.

Step 3: Add enough honey lime dressing to lightly coat the salad. Or serve dressing on the side. Sprinkle with candied walnuts and goat cheese crumbles.

white plate with strawberry goat cheese salad with platter of salad in background.

I like to add the goat cheese after tossing with the dressing because the goat cheese can dissolve into the dressing.

Serve with Seared Ahi Tuna with Sesame Crust or Crispy Baked Thin Chicken Breasts.

Brown Sugar Candied Walnuts

Brown sugar candied walnuts add an extra special flair to the salad. They're really easy to make in about 5 minutes and are way less expensive than buying them at the store.

Get my recipe here -->> brown sugar candied walnuts recipe.

Expert Tips

This salad dressing is on the tangy side, with a low ratio of oil to acid. If you prefer less tang, add more oil.
If tossing the salad with dressing, add the goat cheese crumbles afterward. Otherwise, the goat cheese melts into the vinaigrette.
Dress the salad immediately before serving.
Store undressed leftover salad and dressing in separate containers.
Look for strawberries that are firm and bright red. Try to avoid ones with white at the stems -- they weren't ripe when picked and won't ripen any more after they're picked.

FAQs

How long will leftover strawberry salad with goat cheese last in the refrigerator?

Store undressed leftover strawberry goat cheese walnut salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Store leftover dressing in a covered jar for 3-4 days.

How do you cut goat cheese for salad?

For clean slices of goat cheese, cut it with a piece of dental floss. Hold one end of the floss with each hand and slice it right through the soft cheese.

To make your own goat cheese crumbles, break a piece of the goat cheese off of the log and tear it into small pieces.

Can you eat spinach raw in salad?

Yes, baby spinach is delicious eaten raw in salads. And because the stems are so soft and tender, there is no need to remove them.

Can you make strawberry spinach salad with goat cheese and walnuts ahead of time?

Yes. To make this spinach goat cheese salad ahead of time, prepare the candied walnuts and honey lime dressing a day or two in advance.

Cut the strawberries and onions and crumble the goat cheese a day ahead of time and store them in separate containers.

The fully assembled and dressed salad is best enjoyed immediately after preparation.

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Strawberry Goat Cheese Walnut Salad

Why You're Going to Love This Recipe

Ingredients