Strawberry, Mint and Goat Cheese Salad

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Lately I’ve been on a huge goat cheese kick. The soft, buttery texture is so versatile (recipe for my favorite beet and goat cheese appetizer coming soon!) and it’s so effortlessly classic and elegant. Since strawberries are in season right now, I thought I’d share one of my absolute favorite salad recipes to advantage of this wonderful produce! This dish is great as a side or makes for a great lunch with some chicken or quinoa thrown in.

P.S. If you’re in the LA area, the best strawberries are from Harry’s Berries! They sell at farmers markets around LA (including my favorite, the Santa Monica farmers market) and every week they sell out because they are THAT good! They’re super sweet, juicy, and low in acid, so they’re perfect fo snacking and baking or cooking. Highly recommend checking them out if you are in the area!

INGREDIENTS

  • 5 cups of spinach

  • 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced

  • ¼ cup sliced almonds

  • 2 tbs freshly chopped mint

  • 3 oz soft goat cheese

  • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar

  • 2 tsp honey

  • 1 tbs chopped garlic

  • ½ tsp salt

  • ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper

  • ¾ cup olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. For the salad: Gently toss spinach, strawberries, almonds, and mint in a large bowl. Crumble goat cheese over salad, and pour over balsamic vinaigrette to taste. Serve within 1-2 hours of preparation.

  2. For the dressing: Whisk all ingredients except for olive oil together in a small bowl until salt is dissolved. Slowly pour olive oil until fully combined.




Amy C