Welcome back to my kitchen! Today, I am thrilled to share this refreshing Strawberry and Cucumber Salad. You know I love to offer easy everyday recipes that use minimal ingredients, especially focusing on simplicity and seasonal produce. Today’s recipe perfectly embodies that, making it a must-try for strawberry season.
Why This Recipe Works
This fresh strawberry salad is the perfect blend of sweet strawberries, crunchy cucumbers, and leafy greens. It’s perfect for those looking to enjoy a light yet flavorful dish. Here’s why I love it:
- Seasonal Freshness: This salad is all about fresh ingredients, utilizing the best strawberries during strawberry season.
- Simplicity: With simple ingredients like spinach, arugula, and creamy feta cheese, this salad is approachable and easy to prepare.
- Versatility: Whether you’re serving it as a side salad or a main course, it’s a crowd-pleaser for any occasion.
Strawberry and Cucumber Salad Ingredients
For this fresh summer salad, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- Fresh Strawberries: Juicy strawberries add a burst of sweetness.
- Cucumber: Provides a refreshing crunch.
- Baby Spinach & Arugula: A mix of leafy greens for a balanced flavour.
- Red Onion (optional): Adds a sharp contrast to the sweet berries.
- Feta Cheese: Creamy and tangy, the salty feta cheese complements the sweetness of the strawberries.
- Sunflower Seeds (optional): Adds a delightful crunch.
- Herbed Salad Dressing: This vinaigrette is a perfect blend of fresh herbs, white wine vinegar, dijon mustard, olive oil, and a touch of honey.
How to Make Strawberry Cucumber Salad
1. Prep Your Ingredients:
- Start by washing all your fresh ingredients. Hull and slice the ripe strawberries, and thinly slice the cucumber and red onion.
- Place the red onion slices in a bowl of cold water to mellow their sharpness.
2. Assemble the Salad:
- In a large bowl, combine baby spinach, arugula, and the prepared cucumber and red onion. Add the strawberries and sunflower seeds.
- Drizzle the herbed salad dressing over the top and toss gently to combine all the flavours. Sprinkle with creamy feta cheese.
3. Serve and Enjoy:
- Serve immediately on salad plates for the best results. This salad is a great addition to any meal, offering a refreshing and nutritious option.
Tips for the Best Strawberry Salad
- Quality Ingredients: For the best flavour, use the freshest ingredients possible. Visit a local farm for your strawberries if you can.
- Make Ahead: Prepare the salad ingredients and dressing in separate containers and combine just before serving to keep the salad fresh.
- Add Protein: For a more substantial meal, add grilled chicken breasts or creamy avocado slices.
Can I Make This Salad in Advance?
This strawberry and cucumber salad is best enjoyed fresh, but you can store leftovers for up to two days in the refrigerator. To maintain the salad’s quality, keep the dressing and the salad components in separate containers until ready to serve. Once dressed, the salad can become soggy, so it’s best to dress only what you plan to eat immediately.
How to Store This Salad
For optimal freshness, store the undressed salad in an airtight container and refrigerate the dressing in a sealed jar. Enjoy your salad within a couple of days for the best flavor and texture.
Nutritional Benefits
This strawberry salad recipe not only tastes great but also provides excellent daily values of essential nutrients. The combination of fresh fruit and leafy greens ensures you get a good mix of vitamins and minerals. Plus, using olive oil in the dressing adds healthy fats to your diet.
Other Delicious Strawberry Recipes
- Strawberry Salsa
- Strawberry Coulis (dessert sauce)
- Strawberry Torte
- Strawberry Scones
- Strawberry Crumble
Recipe Recap
This easy spinach strawberry salad is one of my favourite salad recipes for the summer. It’s a good salad that’s light, refreshing, and full of flavour, making it the perfect side dish or main course. Whether you’re looking for a go-to salad for your summer picnics or a fresh salad to enjoy at home, this recipe is always huge hit. Try it out and let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Feel free to share this recipe with your friends and family, and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram when you recreate this dish. For more easy recipes and food tips, connect with me over on Facebook!
Simple Summer Strawberry Salad with Spinach and Feta
The perfect summer salad featuring strawberries. Perfect side salad, but can also be a delicious main. Add a protein of your choice to make it extra filling.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of strawberries
- 1 cucumber
- 2 cups of fresh spinach
- 2 cups of arugula
- 1/2 red onion
- 3/4 cup feta cheese
- my herbed salad dressing
Instructions
- Start by washing all your fresh ingredients. Hull and slice the ripe strawberries, and thinly slice the cucumber and red onion.
- Place the red onion slices in a bowl of cold water to mellow their sharpness.
- In a large bowl, combine baby spinach, arugula, and the prepared cucumber and red onion. Add the strawberries and sunflower seeds.
- Drizzle the herbed salad dressing over the top and toss gently to combine all the flavours. Sprinkle with creamy feta cheese.
Notes
erve immediately on salad plates for the best results. This salad is a great addition to any meal, offering a refreshing and nutritious option.
Christopher is a food and lifestyle expert, recipe developer and the content creator behind May Eighty Five. With over 6 years of creating recipes for your favourite food brands, he also shares tips, tricks and how to’s that he has learnt over the years. Every week, he shares quick, simple and mostly healthy recipes along with some home and entertaining tips. You will find flavorful cocktails, delicious appetizers, tasty mains and some indulgent desserts.
