This simple Strawberry Spinach Salad made with goat cheese and my easy homemade balsamic vinaigrette is a delicious single-serve salad that you’ll want to make all summer long! When the weather is warm and I’m looking for something quick and healthy but also delicious, I love to throw together salads like this that taste elevated but only require a few ingredients. Here, fresh strawberries, spinach, and goat cheese go together to create the perfect summer bite.
Just Because it’s Simple Doesn’t Mean it’s Bland!
Salads, and clean food in general, are often seen as bland and boring – but this Strawberry Spinach Salad is far from either of those things! I believe that when you put a dish together that has just a handful of ingredients, you just need to be selective and strategic with the flavors that you are pairing together.
In this particular salad, the sweetness of the strawberries are balanced by the savory and creamy goat cheese, while the balsamic vinaigrette ties the spinach into the other two ingredients. This merriment creates a delicious salad that tastes like it’s way more difficult to make than it actually is!
Making Salads Simple to Stay on Track
One of the biggest blockers that keeps me from eating healthy is the level of difficulty of certain healthy recipes. Some weeks, I don’t have a full Sunday afternoon to meal prep so when I go grocery shopping I have to be strategic about buying ingredients that are versatile and easy to prepare. This usually means I’m buying fresh produce and ingredients that require minimal effort to prepare before they hit the plate (or in this case, the bowl!).
The hardest part about this recipe is washing and cutting the strawberries, which I usually do in bulk so that I can use some for my salad and leave the rest in the fridge to eat throughout the week. Being able to throw fresh ingredients together into a salad like this one makes my weeks ten times easier, and healthier, when it comes to eating!
Making a Single-Serving of This Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette
My absolute favorite dressing to whip together is my creamy balsamic vinaigrette! I always have the ingredients it calls for on hand (olive oil, balsamic, salt, honey, and dijon mustard), and then all that’s left is mixing everything together and pouring it over the salad! When making a single-serving of this vinaigrette, I usually eye the ingredients and go off of the ratios of each component that I prefer – but for the sake of this recipe, I’ve included measurements below. You can adjust things like the salt and honey to make the vinaigrette saltier or sweeter depending on your own personal flavor preferences!
If you’re looking to scale this Creamy Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe up, check it out here (and peep the Beetroot Salad recipe, too – also delicious!
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Strawberry Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese and Simple Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Total Time: 10
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
Ingredients
For the Salad:
2 cups Spinach
1/2 cup Strawberries (quartered)
1/4 cup Goat Cheese (chunks)
For the Balsamic Vinaigrette:
3 tbsp Olive Oil
1 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
1/4 tsp Salt
1–2 tsp Honey
1 tsp Dijon Mustard
Instructions
1. Combine Your Salad Ingredients: Add you spinach, quartered strawberries, and goat cheese chunks to a salad bowl.
2. Make Your Dressing: Add your olive oil, balsamic, honey, dijon mustard, and salt to a bowl. Whisk until combined.
3. Dress Your Salad: Pour your dressing over the top of your salad, toss, and enjoy!
- Prep Time: 10
- Category: Salads
