Description
A vibrant and fresh Strawberry Romaine Feta Salad featuring crisp romaine and spinach, sweet strawberries, tangy feta, crunchy toasted almonds, and a homemade strawberry vinaigrette dressing. Ready in just 20 minutes, this healthy and colorful salad balances sweet, savory, and nutty flavors perfectly for a quick, refreshing meal or side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dressing
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- 5 tbsp cider vinegar
- 2 1/2 tsp mustard
- 1/2 tsp garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 shallot, thinly sliced
- 1 strawberry, diced
For the Salad
- 4 cups spinach
- 3 cups romaine lettuce
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup almonds, slivered and toasted
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced into half-moons
- 2 cups strawberries, sliced into quarters or halves
Instructions
- Toast Almonds: Heat a dry skillet over medium heat and add the slivered almonds. Toast for about 4 minutes, stirring frequently until golden brown and fragrant. Transfer almonds to a plate to cool.
- Prepare Ingredients: While almonds toast, mince garlic, thinly slice the shallot, dice one strawberry for the dressing, and thinly slice the red onion into half-moons. Slice the remaining strawberries for the salad.
- Make Dressing: In a blender or jar, combine olive oil, cider vinegar, mustard, minced garlic, minced shallot, diced strawberry, honey, and salt. Blend or shake vigorously for 30 seconds until emulsified and smooth. Adjust seasoning to taste and transfer to a serving jar or bottle.
- Prep Greens: Rinse romaine and spinach thoroughly under cool water. Spin or pat them dry completely to ensure they hold dressing well and don’t become soggy. Roughly tear or chop romaine into bite-sized pieces; keep spinach leaves whole or torn as preferred. Place all greens in a large bowl.
- Assemble Salad: Divide greens onto serving plates or bowls. Top each portion with crumbled feta, sliced red onion, sliced strawberries, and toasted almonds.
- Serve: Drizzle salad with the strawberry vinaigrette just before serving, or serve the dressing on the side so individuals can add to their liking, keeping greens crisp.
Notes
- Using a block of feta and crumbling it yourself enhances the texture compared to pre-crumbled versions.
- Dry greens thoroughly to prevent sogginess and ensure dressing adheres nicely.
- Toasting almonds in a dry skillet intensifies their flavor and adds crunch.
- Blending fresh strawberry into the dressing adds natural sweetness and a nuanced fruity flavor.
- Serve dressing on the side if not consuming immediately to maintain freshness of the salad.
