Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad

Enjoy this strawberry goat cheese salad for a light and summery side! It starts with a bed of fresh spring mix layered with chewy dates, crunchy walnuts, juicy strawberries, and creamy vegan goat cheese. Top it off with a sweet-yet-tangy balsamic vinaigrette for an incredibly refreshing dish to take to potlucks, barbecues, and more.

Easy strawberry goat cheese salad

I’m a big fan of salads because they add a healthy component to any main dish. Plus, they are easy to bulk up with proteins like tofu and tempeh, turning them into a hearty dinner.

This strawberry goat cheese salad has recently become a staple in my household, and it’s for good reason! It’s packed with textures, from smooth vegan goat cheese to chewy dates and juicy strawberries.

It takes all of 10 minutes to prepare, and you can customize the entire bowl based on the ingredients you have on hand! Serve it as a light lunch or dinner, or pair it alongside your favorite soups and sandwiches.

Is it vegan?

This simple strawberry and goat cheese salad is 100% vegan since I use homemade dairy-free goat cheese in place of regular goat cheese.

Many salads contain a cheesy, umami component from dairy-based options like feta, goat cheese, and Parmesan, but adding this plant-based cheese allows everyone to enjoy the same great flavors.

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Spring mix: I love spring mix for a light and refreshing base. You can also use spinach, arugula, green lettuce, kale, or any other leafy salad green you prefer. 
• Red onion: Adds a savory and zesty punch. For a milder flavor, try sliced shallots instead. If you’re not a fan of onions, omit them altogether.
• Strawberries: I suggest using farmer’s market strawberries for the juiciest and sweetest flavors. Sometimes, it’s difficult to find ripe strawberries at the grocery store. If they don’t look the best, you can always use another fruit like raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries.
• Dates: Provide a sweet and chewy element to balance the savory ingredients. I recommend pitted Medjool dates for this salad, but raisins or dried cranberries make great substitutes.
• Walnuts: For a rich flavor and added crunch in each bite. No walnuts on hand? Replace them with pecans, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, or hemp hearts.
• Vegan goat cheese: Both store-bought and homemade vegan goat cheese add creamy, tangy, and rich flavors. You can also use vegan feta cheese for a similar effect.
• Balsamic glaze: Provides an intensely sweet and tangy flavor that pairs well with the strawberries. A little goes a long way with balsamic glaze! To make your own, try my homemade balsamic glaze with maple recipe.
• Olive oil: For a rich and velvety dressing. Make sure it’s extra-virgin olive oil! If you don’t have olive oil available, use avocado oil or walnut oil instead.
• Crushed peppercorn: Add some freshly cracked black pepper as a finishing touch with a kick! If you are really sensitive to heat, leave the peppercorns off the salad.

How to make strawberry goat cheese salad

• Step 1: If you’ve made your own vegan goat cheese, place it in the freezer to firm up for about 30 minutes before starting the salad. This will make it easier to crumble with a fork.

• Step 2: Place the spring mix (or other leafy greens) in a large mixing bowl. Add the sliced onions, strawberries, dates, crumbled goat cheese, and walnuts on top.

• Step 3: Drizzle the olive oil and balsamic glaze over the salad, then toss everything together until well-coated. Taste and adjust the dressing if it needs it.

• Step 4: Garnish your strawberry and goat cheese salad with crushed black peppercorn before serving.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this strawberry goat cheese salad as a light meal on its own, or pair it alongside main dishes like these:

• Chickpea soup
• Gourmet vegan pizza
• Vegan baked pasta
• Linguini pasta with garlic herb sauce

Storage

It’s best to serve this salad immediately after dressing it for the ideal taste and texture. However, if you end up with leftovers, follow these steps:

• Fridge: Store the salad in an airtight container‌ in the fridge for 1-2 days. It’s best to keep everything separate, or at least have the dressing on the side to avoid a soggy texture. But, just do your best!
• Prep ahead: You can chop and prepare all the ingredients you need for the salad and keep them in the fridge up to a few days ahead of time. When you’re ready to assemble, simply add everything to a bowl and enjoy.

Variations

• Protein: Bulk the salad up with grilled tofu, crispy tempeh, or roasted chickpeas.
• Flavored oil: Instead of regular olive oil, try infused olive oil like garlic, basil, or lemon.
• Vegetables: Add your favorite vegetables to this salad to make it healthier. Some of my favorites include bell peppers, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, and snap peas.
• Dressing: Swap out the dressing for sweet onion sauce or maple Dijon vinaigrette.

Top tips

• Serve immediately: This fresh strawberry goat cheese salad is best served immediately after building it. Don’t assemble it until you are ready to serve.
• Ripe strawberries: Remember to choose fresh, ripe strawberries for the most vibrant and sweet flavors in your salad.
• Keep it simple: It can be tempting to add loads of other ingredients to this recipe, but keeping it simple usually yields the most delicious result.

FAQ

Similar Recipes

If you enjoyed this strawberry goat cheese salad recipe, be sure to check out some more of my favorite salads like these:

• Chickpea Apple Kale Salad: Filled with protein, healthy fats, and lots of fiber.
• Harvest Salad: A simple salad recipe with fresh, seasonal ingredients.
• Pickled Beet Salad: Pickled beets paired with tangy oranges.
• Kani Salad: A plant-based twist on a classic served with hearts of palm instead of crab.