Strawberry Salad

As I mentioned in my strawberry vinegar post, a green salad topped with fresh strawberries is extraordinary, but only in the springtime when it’s strawberry season. Any other time of year it just doesn’t seem right to me.

It was because of strawberry-topped salads that I was inspired to make a strawberry vinegar. I thought the layered effect of the strawberry-infused balsamic vinegar, along with the ripened strawberries would be a nice complement to greens.

For some crunch, you can add toasted walnuts or pecans, like I did, and crumbled bleu cheese or feta for extra deliciousness. Today I chose feta. I also included avocado slices for protein, plus a few radish slices for even more color. But other than that, I kept the salad simple in order for the ingredients to shine.

If you don’t have a strawberry-infused vinegar, but want to make the salad, I’d keep the dressing simple. No strong-flavored dressings, just oil and vinegar. But you have choices there as well. You can use a good olive oil, like I did, or even a nut oil, like hazelnut or walnut. These oils are not only for autumnal salads because their flavors are mild. Even an orange-infused oil would be good in this salad, since it’s also mild. Vinegar-wise, I’d use a light-flavored vinegar, like a red wine or apple cider variety.

After one week of the fresh strawberries infusing white balsamic vinegar, it was time to decant. I tasted the vinegar first to make sure the flavor was right, and indeed it was. And just like the sweet strawberry vodka I made last strawberry season, the color of the strawberries drained into the vinegar, so it’s really a lovely vinegar to use as well.

For the salad, I used a butter lettuce – the kind that you can buy with the roots attached. I have some lettuce growing outside, but just not enough yet, thanks to our extended winter. I added the avocado, sliced strawberries, toasted pecans, and then sprinkled the feta on top.

Then I simply drizzled olive oil and the strawberry vinegar on top.


Plus a sprinkle of coarse salt.

You can always add black pepper as well.

Verdict: Fabulous! I will definitely keep making strawberry-infused vinegar and use it on my spring and summer salads. I can imagine it on grilled vegetables as well!

By Published On: May 21st, 201435 Comments on Strawberry Salad

About the Author: Chef Mimi

As a self-taught home cook, with many years in the culinary profession, I am passionate about all things food-related. Especially eating!

35 Comments

  1. ladyredspecs May 21, 2014 at 8:25 AM - Reply

    Delicious! I love fresh salad year round, I’m in the middle of a walnut oil and red wine vinegar craze on bitter radicchio, grapes and candied walnuts. I’ve never thought to infuse vinegar with anything other than herbs. Great idea.

    • chef mimi May 21, 2014 at 8:30 AM - Reply

      In the past, I would have just pureed a few strawberries in a vinaigrette, but this is really fun. And the taste is so natural, not surprisingly…

  2. Jody and Ken May 21, 2014 at 9:48 AM - Reply

    Looks great! Nice pics! Are those chioggia beets? Ken

    • chef mimi May 21, 2014 at 10:34 AM - Reply

      They’re baby watermelon beets. I couldn’t resist – had to pick them early! thanks!

  3. colormusing May 21, 2014 at 10:30 AM - Reply

    This looks so good– I’ll have to try it with butter lettuce! (I’ve made a strawberry and spinach salad that I love.) love the idea of making strawberry vinegar too.

    • chef mimi May 21, 2014 at 10:35 AM - Reply

      Thank you!!! It was good. I ate it right after I took the pics!

  4. anotherfoodieblogger May 21, 2014 at 12:46 PM - Reply

    Absolutely gorgeous salad! I can only imagine how good that strawberry vinegar was on top of it.

    • chef mimi May 22, 2014 at 8:10 AM - Reply

      Mind, but bursting with good sweet flavor!!!

  5. My French Heaven May 21, 2014 at 3:32 PM - Reply

    This is absolutely gorgeous my darling. I wish I could have tasted this with you!

  6. Conor Bofin May 21, 2014 at 3:33 PM - Reply

    Lovely indeed. Beautiful photos Mimi.

  7. Mary Frances May 21, 2014 at 3:55 PM - Reply

    This is stunning! So bright and colorful, what a gorgeous Spring salad.

  8. kathysteger May 21, 2014 at 8:07 PM - Reply

    Wow, this salad looks beautiful and healthy. I bet its delicious too. Love it.

  9. Donna Holland May 21, 2014 at 9:35 PM - Reply

    Looks amazing Mimi!!

  10. chefjulianna May 22, 2014 at 12:24 AM - Reply

    Wow Mimi, this salad is heavenly! I can’t wait to try making some strawberry balsamic! Thanks for this gorgeous recipe!

    • chef mimi May 22, 2014 at 8:09 AM - Reply

      You are so welcome! It’s pretty fabulous!

  11. Bluejellybeans May 22, 2014 at 4:28 AM - Reply

    That is a beautiful salad and tasty too! I’ll try to make the vinegar first and then give them a go together…. can’t wait! ;)

  12. Our Growing Paynes May 22, 2014 at 6:59 AM - Reply

    How lovely and so pretty.

  13. Shanna Koenigsdorf Ward May 23, 2014 at 1:52 PM - Reply

    A beautiful dish! I could eat this for lunch any and every day. I have recently been enjoying fig-infused vinegar. :-)

    • chef mimi May 24, 2014 at 1:21 PM - Reply

      Love that as well. Especially in the fall, with pears and feta! I’ve only had fig balsamic, though.

      • Shanna Koenigsdorf Ward May 25, 2014 at 11:09 AM

        Figs and pears work so well together. The fig vinegar I have is a product Germany, a light colored, pure fruit vinegar created by Robert Bauer and Josef Reiterer from the Acetoria company. It says on the bottle that it is “ideal (with) smoked fish, salads, carpaccio (and) cheeses.” Very yummy!

      • chef mimi May 25, 2014 at 1:55 PM

        Oh! I bet they use fresh figs to make the vinegar. I was thinking of this dark, sweet figgy balsamic that I love. I assumed it was made from dried figs, which may or may not be the case…

      • Shanna Koenigsdorf Ward May 25, 2014 at 4:41 PM

        I really love a sweet, syrupy aged balsamic. You probably know I am a huge fan of dried figs; the organic, Turkish variety have amazing flavor and texture. What fig balsamic do you enjoy the most?

      • chef mimi May 27, 2014 at 9:05 AM

        I’ve been looking at images to try and jog my memory, but I can’t remember what brand I last owned. I thought I got one from Igourmet, which was fabulous, but it’s not the one they have online now. so sorry.

  14. Mama's Gotta Bake May 27, 2014 at 4:36 PM - Reply

    This salad looks so good. The presentation is lovely, gorgeous combination of colors and ingredients!

  15. thewindykitchen May 31, 2014 at 8:04 PM - Reply

    great looking salad! yum!

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