This Strawberry Fields Salad is loaded with fresh greens, strawberries, pecans and feta cheese all tossed in a light strawberry vinaigrette dressing. It's the perfect side dish for the summer.
The days of eating at fast food chains are long gone but I remember my favorite salad and go to 'healthy meal' was the Summer Strawberry Field Chicken Salad from Wendy's. Their seasonal salads are only available for a limited time of year so I decided to recreate my own plant-based version of their strawberry fields salad recipe.
This recipe swaps out a few ingredients from the original Wendy's salad recipe, which included Italian cheese, applewood smoked bacon and chicken and adds in a few alternatives like feta cheese and pecans. The ingredients also include fresh strawberries, crisp greens, and a homemade strawberry vinaigrette that adds a burst of refreshing sweetness. This salad just screams summer in every bite!
Whether you're planning for a picnic or a quick lunch, this is quick and easy to prepare and a great salad that's perfect during the warmer weather months.
Is It a Thyroid Friendly Recipe?
This recipe uses a homemade dressing made with avocado oil that's is known for its abundance in oleic acid, a fatty acid that provides numerous health benefits. The dressing also uses apple cider vinegar, which may help to restore the body's acid-alkaline balance and hormone regulation.
They're are many myths on the internet around consuming greens and thyroid function however greens such as spinach, kale, and other leafy salad greens, when eaten in moderation and separate from thyroid medication can add nutritional value to your daily meals and are good sources for thyroid-friendly B vitamins, Vitamin C, and iron.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make - all of the ingredients are easy to find at your local grocery store and in less than 5 minutes all of the ingredients are easy to assemble.
- Customizable - This strawberry field salad is customizable with whatever greens, nuts, cheese or protein that you have on hand.
- Healthy and Nutritious - this fresh salad is packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals
- No Preservatives - the homemade vegan strawberry salad dressing in this salad offers a burst of natural sweetness and it's refreshing without any preservatives that you might find in a store bought salad dressing.
- Refreshing - from the crisp spring mix to the juicy strawberries bursting with flavors, it makes the perfect summer salad
Equipment You'll Need
Here are some helpful kitchen tools to make this salad:
- Large Mixing Bowl to toss the ingredients in
- Salad Tongs to serve the salad
- Small Jar to store the strawberry salad dressing
Ingredients You'll Need
The Strawberry pecan feta salad ingredients are simple and easy to find in your local grocery store. Here's what you'll need:
- Spring mix - any spring greens, baby green salads mix or baby spinach would go perfectly in this salad. You can also make this a strawberry spinach salad if you like.
- Red onion - adds a nice bite of flavor. Make sure to thinly slice the onion. If you prefer a milder onion flavor, rinse the slices of the raw onions under cold water and patty dry before adding it to the salad.
- Pecans - use halved pecans. These add a nice crunch and texture to the salad. Candied glazed pecans would also go great. You can also substitute with walnuts, sliced almonds or leave them out if needed.
- Feta - I made the strawberry salad with feta cheese however a goat cheese would also go great as well. If you wish to make this salad dairy-free opt for a Vegan Feta Cheese salad.
- Strawberries - you can't have a strawberry field salad without… of course strawberries! Make sure to buy juicy, ripe strawberries. I like to quarter the strawberries or you can slice strawberries as well.
- Strawberry Vinaigrette Ingredients - my homemade dressing is made from chopped strawberries, apple cider vinegar, honey, lime juice, salt, ground black pepper and avocado oil (or olive oil if you prefer). A raspberry vinaigrette or balsamic vinaigrette also pairs well with this salad.
How to Make the Summer Berry Salad
- Make Dressing: Add all the ingredients for the Strawberry Vinaigrette to a blender. Blend on high until combined. Place the dressing in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Make the Salad: Add the spring mix to a large bowl. Layer the spring mix with all the salad toppings (red onion, pecans, feta and strawberries).
- Add the Dressing and Toss: Drizzle the dressing over the top of salad, toss lettuce and serve.
How to Serve the Salad for a Crowd
This salad can be served a few different ways: on a platter, or as a single serving on a plate. Here are some ways to serve it for a large family or gathering:
- Double the ingredients if you're serving for a large crowd.
- Serve in a large salad bowl for easy sharing.
- Serve individually plated. Make individual plates and drizzle the dressing on each one.
Recipe FAQ
This salad serves 4 people with 309 calories per serving.
Eating fruits and veggies everyday is a great habit to have and a great way to have a well balanced diet.
You can use Tofu as a cheese alternative and make a great vegan substitute for feta cheese. Many brands also offer vegan feta cheese that you can buy from your local grocery store.
You can make the vinaigrette ahead of time but I recommend making the salad the same day that you plan on eating it.
You'll want to add the dressing to the salad just before serving so the spring mix doesn't get soggy. The dressing will keep well in the fridge for about 2 weeks.
More Recipes You May Like:
Watermelon Cucumber Feta Salad
Strawberry Fields Salad
Ingredients
Strawberry Fields Salad
- 6-8 cups spring mix or baby greens
- 1/2 small red onion thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup pecan halves
- 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 2 cups strawberries quartered or sliced
Strawberry Vinaigrette Ingredients
- 2/3 cup chopped strawberries
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup avocado oil
Instructions
- Make Dressing: Add all the ingredients for the Strawberry Vinaigrette to a blender. Blend on high until combined. Place the dressing in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Make the Salad: Add the spring mix to a medium size bowl or plate. Layer the spring mix with all the salad toppings (red onion, pecans, feta and strawberries).
- Add the Dressing and Toss: Drizzle the salad dressing over the top of the salad, toss and serve.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Although HalfPastHungry.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on which products you use, the brand that was purchased, or in other unforeseeable ways. HalfPastHungry.com will not be held liable for any reliance on given nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your physician first.
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