This strawberry salad is a colorful addition to any table!
Mixed with dried cranberries, crunchy pistachios, feta, fresh strawberries, and a tangy vinaigrette, this salad bowl is a delightful blend of flavors and textures.
It’s the perfect way to enjoy produce from the farmers market and it makes a beautiful side dish or a lovely lunch.
Summer Strawberry Salad
This recipe came from my mother-in-law Ruby and when she served it, I knew I had to recreate it at home!
- This strawberry salad recipe is as pretty as it is delicous.
- Flavor packed, it’s a make-it-and-take-it party or picnic salad, as each bite is packed with flavorful fruits and nuts!
- This salad recipe is customizable and fresh with an easy homemade dressing.
- Enjoy the versatility of serving it as a side dish or transform it into a satisfying salad entree with grilled chicken, salmon, or shrimp for a revitalizing lunch option.
Ingredients in Strawberry Salad
Almost anything can go in a strawberry salad!
Lettuce – Choose tender lettuce such as red leaf lettuce, arugula or mixed greens. Finely chopped kale or romaine can be added for more texture and nutrients.
Berries – In addition to strawberries, try blueberries, raspberries, pomegranate arils or even mandarin oranges! Dried cranberries add a little sweet tang.
Nuts – Pistachios or almonds add a nutty crunch! Other nuts to try are walnuts, pecans, macadamia nuts, or seeds like hemp hearts, poppyseeds, sunflower, or pumpkin seeds.
Feta – Feta adds a creamy salty flavor. Goat cheese pairs perfectly with this recipe too.
PRO TIP: Lightly toast nuts in a sauté pan and cool them completely before using them in recipes. This makes them extra crunchy and intensifies their flavor! Crunchy mini pretzels are the perfect switch for those with nut allergies as well.
Dressing Options
This is a simple dressing that really pulls everything together! Balsamic vinegar can be used in place of apple cider vinegar, and honey can replace maple syrup if needed. If preferred, other dressings that pair well with this salad are:
- Poppy Seed Dressing
- Strawberry Salad Dressing
- Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Easy Dijon Vinaigrette
How to Make Strawberry Salad
- Combine dressing ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake well & refrigerate until ready to use.
- Add all ingredients to a large bowl, drizzle with dressing, & toss to coat.
- Garnish with extra cranberries or some crumbled feta cheese, if desired.
Make Ahead?
Prep strawberry pistachio salad and dressing up to a day in advance and keep them separate until you’re ready to toss and serve.
Keep leftover strawberry pistachio salad in a covered container for up to 3 days and toss before serving.
Our Favorite Summer Salads
Did you enjoy this Pistachio Strawberry Salad? Leave us a rating and a comment below!
Summer Strawberry Salad
Equipment
- Mason Jars with lid
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh strawberries
- 6 cups mixed greens or red leaf, arugula
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- 3 green onions or red onions, sliced
- ⅓ cup pistachios roasted
- ⅓ cup crumbled feta cheese
Dressing
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon chopped fresh basil or ¼ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine oil, vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, basil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Shake well and refrigerate.
- Wash and dry the strawberries and greens. Slice the strawberries into ½-inch slices.
- In a large bowl, combine lettuce, strawberries, dried cranberries, onions, pistachios, and feta cheese.
- Give the dressing a quick shake and pour it overtop over the salad (you may not need all of it). Toss well to combine.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Salad, Side Dish
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Excellent salad. Very refreshing and easy.!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Home run of a salad!! Perfect with mojitos !!
So glad you enjoyed it, Kim!
This recipe is absolutely delicious!! I used olive oil and decrease to 1/3 cup and omitted the cranberries (to have the taste buds focus on the other ingredients), and used roasted pumpkin seeds. I cannot wait to make it again. Thank you!
I am so happy to hear you loved this salad Bonnie!
Can you use thawed frozen strawberries?
I haven’t tried this with thawed strawberries, the texture will be a bit different as they’re softer. Let us know how it goes!
With Blue cheese not feta.
Sounds delicious!
I eat pistachios like they are going out style! ….and strawberries! Yum
Definitely am going to try this recipe. I have a feeling I am going to be making it more than once!
I hope you love it as much as we do Joanne!
When you say cider vinegar, do you mean apple cider vinegar or is Tania a different vinegar? This looks delicious!
We are referring to apple cider vinegar in this recipe!
I really liked the combination of flavors in the salad, although I didn’t add quinoa or cranberries. But I hated the dressing. I used a lemon vinaigrette.
Sorry to hear that Carol, but a lemon vinaigrette sounds like a delicious substitution!
I made this salad last night! Amazing! Everyone Loved it! A perfect choice for Summer! The only thing I didn’t do was add green onions or quinoa. I also topped it with garlic cheese croutons. Next time I may serve it with grilled chicken for a complete meal! Thanks Holly !
Those additions sound delicious Christine! Garlic cheese croutons especially!