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Strawberry Arugula Summer Salad + Lemon Vinaigrette

Strawberry Arugula Summer Salad - Summer being the key word here. Fresh and sweet strawberries and blueberries, slightly bitter and peppery flavor of arugula, sour lemon and flowery fragrant lavender - not much else that screams Summer salad like this one.

 

Strawberry Arugula Summer Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette and Lavender

 

Summer is upon us, and that often means fresh veggies and a ton of fruit and berries. Adding fruit to a salad seemed a little weird to me at first, but I have grown to absolutely love it. Now I almost crave it in any kind of salad.

 

The sweetness really balances the flavors so well. It also adds interest to a boring salad. Your salads will never be boring again!

 

More strawberry recipes

We all love strawberries and when they're in season, we have more than we can ever put in a salad. So we need more ideas, right? Here are a few:

 

 

How to make the salad

 

Strawberry Arugula Summer Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette and Lavender

 

So the fact that I am willing to sacrifice my strawberries and blueberries to put into a savory salad, should be enough proof that it is absolutely delicious.

 

You also need to roast some pine nuts, this really complements the dish so well. I always love some crunch, let it be nuts or croutons, or even tortilla chips.

 

When I researched what calls for a good salad, I read this blog post. And as it turned out, my Strawberry Arugula Summer Salad did have all the elements, which is probably why this salad is working and is so tasty.

 

The 5 elements of this salad

 

  1. Greens: Arugula
  2. Sweetness: Strawberries, blueberries
  3. Crunchiness: Pine nuts, shallot onions
  4. Creaminess: No cheese, but delicious avocado
  5. Dressing: Lemon vinaigrette

 

You don't always have to follow this, especially if it's just a side dish. For example, I do not have greens in my mint citrus salad (or does the mint count?).

 

Strawberry Arugula Summer Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette and Lavender

 

Lemon Vinaigrette

 

And did you know that our bodies actually want a dressing with the veggies? The oil actually helps our bodies to use more of the nutrients in the greens and fruits.

 

This made my day, as I have always thought that I shouldn't have a dressing on all salads. I have officially changed my mind!

 

Strawberry Arugula Summer Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette and Lavender

 

Jamie Oliver stated that you should have 1 part acid and 3 parts oil in a dressing. I can't say that's what I did. I am such a sucker for the acidic lemon that my dressing was more on the 1:1 or 1:2.

 

So for this dressing when I used 2 tablespoon olive oil, I should have only had 1.5 teaspoon lemon juice, but it was more like 1 tablespoon (which is double).

 

He also stated that you should have the dressing more acidic and saltier than you think you need, as the salad needs it to balance things out. Soo, just add the lemon and don't worry too much about it. Add less if you want to follow the book.

 

This is weird, as I am usually the one that needs to follow everything by the book. I think this is delicious, but you can reduce the lemon to 1.5 teaspoon if you want to.

 

Strawberry Arugula Summer Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette and Lavender

 

Protein or no protein?

 

This Strawberry Arugula Summer Salad is very light, so it might not have enough body for a meal. If you're not that hungry and just want to eat some fresh Summer veggies, then I think this is perfect.

 

But if you want more of a full-worthy dinner, then I suggest adding some chicken, bacon, or some vegan/vegetarian options.

 

Strawberry Arugula Summer Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette and Lavender

 

For dinner, I added a chicken breast and 3 strips of bacon. The chicken is seasoned with rosemary, chili flakes, salt and pepper, and - you guessed it - lemon. I think it complements the lemon vinaigrette. This is enough for 2 or 1 very hungry person.

 

Strawberry Arugula Summer Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette and Lavender

 

Enjoy!

 

Summer is all about being outside and enjoying the sunshine. So we don't really have time for being in the kitchen all day. This is a quick and easy dinner that celebrates the Summer ingredients. It could easily be transferred in a box to a picnic, a hike, or on the beach.

 

Eat more salad, and have a great Summer everyone!

 

Did you like this recipe? Here are more salads you could try:

 

 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, either in the comment section below or tag me @thegingerwithspice on Instagram. And don't forget to Pin it for later!

 

 

In order to keep the blog up and running this post contains affiliate links, it will be at no extra cost to you, please read the disclosure for more information.

 

📖 Recipe

Strawberry Arugula Summer Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette and Lavender

Strawberry Arugula Summer Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette and Lavender

Yield: 2 as a side
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

During Summer we don't really have time for being in the kitchen all day. This is a quick and easy dinner that celebrates the Summer ingredients.

Ingredients

Strawberry Arugula Summer Salad

  • 65 gr arugula
  • 75 gr blueberries, ½ cup
  • 6 strawberries, sliced
  • 1 shallot onion, thinly sliced
  • ½ avocado, diced
  • 3 tablespoon pine nuts, roasted

Optional Chicken and Bacon (to make it main dish)

  • 1 chicken breast
  • 3 strips bacon
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • ½ teaspoon chili flakes
  • ½ lemon, juice
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Lemon Vinaigrette

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon, juice, or 0.5 tablespoon for less acidic
  • 1 teaspoon dried lavender buds, optional
  • ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • ¼ teaspoon chili flakes
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Slice all the greens and fruits as you wish. My preference is in the notes of the ingredients above. Add to a serving bowl.
  2. Make the lemon vinaigrette: place all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk.
  3. Roast the pine nuts in a dry pan until they are fragrant. Add into the bowl of greens.
  4. Coat the vegetables and fruits in the lemon vinaigrette. Just barely coat them, not drench.
  5. OPTIONAL: Add in your protein of choice to make it a full bodied dinner. I fried bacon in a pan, and then a chicken breast in the same pan (seasoned with the above ingredients).
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: ½
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 358Total Fat: 33.2gSaturated Fat: 4.8gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 15mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 6.4gSugar: 7.5gProtein: 4.3g

Nutrition information isn't always accurate, estimate for informational purposes only.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or tag @thegingerwithspice on Instagram, I'd love to see!

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Linda | Brunch-n-Bites

Monday 16th of July 2018

We start strawberry season back in May but I should still manage a pint or two. In that case, I'll be sure to make this strawberry salad while it's still around.

Stine Mari | Ginger with Spice

Monday 16th of July 2018

Strawberry season is so short here in Norway, but I have never tasted better strawberries, so I guess it's okay. I hope you still get to find them, enjoy and thank you so much!

Stephanie Simmons

Monday 16th of July 2018

This sounds delicious! I would definitely add the chicken and make this for an easy summer lunch! :)

Stine Mari | Ginger with Spice

Monday 16th of July 2018

Thanks Stephanie! Chicken in salads is the bomb :)

Fred Nonterah

Sunday 15th of July 2018

What a hearty meal! This a salad my 4 year old might be attracted to because of all the add-ons to it.

Stine Mari | Ginger with Spice

Monday 16th of July 2018

I'm glad this salad could work for children too! Thank you so much, Fred.

Daniela

Sunday 15th of July 2018

This looks so refreshing! Perfect for this hot summer evenings. I'm going to grill some shrimp tomorrow, so I might take your advice and use them to top this delicious salad.

Stine Mari | Ginger with Spice

Monday 16th of July 2018

Thank you so much! Hope you had a great dinner yesterday :-D

Samantha H.

Sunday 15th of July 2018

This salad is so beautiful! I love that it works as a side salad or a main dish. Obviously everything is better with chicken and bacon, but this would be a great, fresh addition along side another meal.

Stine Mari | Ginger with Spice

Monday 16th of July 2018

Thank you so much, Samantha! That's the beauty of salads, always so many choices :-)

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