Balsamic Berry Salad – Gimme Some Oven

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This balsamic berry spinach salad is bursting with the vibrant flavors, featuring juicy berries, toasted pecans, feta, and balsamic vinaigrette.

Fresh berries are perfectly in season right now and gorgeous salad is such a delicious way to enjoy them. ♡

This balsamic berry salad is quick and easy to toss together, and absolutely bursting with fresh, vibrant flavor. Juicy strawberries, sweet blueberries, crisp baby spinach, toasted pecans, tangy feta, and lots of fresh basil — all tied together with a rich balsamic vinaigrette. It’s the kind of dish that instantly feels like summer on a plate and couldn’t be more delicious!

We’ve been enjoying serving this salad as a side dish lately, but you can easily add your favorite protein (such as chicken, steak, salmon) or a scoop of grains to turn it into a heartier main course. However you serve it, it’s impossible not to love this salad. So grab some fresh berries and let’s make a quick batch!

Recipe Tips

The detailed recipe is included below, but here are a few tips to help make this salad a success:

1. Layer the ingredients just before serving. In order to keep the greens crisp and prevent the salad from getting soggy, assemble and toss this salad just before serving.
2. Toast the pecans for extra flavor. A quick toast in the oven or in a skillet intensifies the pecans’ flavor and makes them extra crisp.
3. Rinse the onions if you want a milder bite. Rinse the onions briefly with cold water in a fine mesh strainer if you’d like to mellow their sharp flavor.
4. Use a mix of ripe, seasonal berries. The best berries will make the best salad, so choose berries that are as ripe as possible. Any mix of berries will work here — strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, or cherries.
5. Double the dressing for later. Balsamic vinaigrette keeps well in the fridge, so I always love to make a double batch to save some for later.

Recipe Variations

Here are a few more variations that you’re welcome to try with this strawberry salad recipe:

• Add a protein. Add grilled chicken, salmon or steak for extra protein.
• Add grains. Add in cooked quinoa, farro, couscous or other favorite grains to make the salad more hearty.
• Add avocado. Add diced avocado to the mix for extra creaminess.
• Add seeds. Sprinkle in some sunflower seeds, pepitas or chia seeds for extra texture and a boost of nutrition.
• Swap the cheese or nuts. Use a different cheese (such as gorgonzola, goat cheese or Parmesan) or different nuts (such as toasted almonds, walnuts or pistachios).
• Swap the vinaigrette. Swap the balsamic for a poppyseed dressing or my everyday dressing.

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