Looking for a fast, no-fuss summer salad to have with dinner, bring to a potluck or pack for a light lunch? This Spinach & Arugula Berry Salad with Goat Cheese uses simple ingredients, beyond delicious and perfect for using up all that summer produce. This healthy side dish is customizable using any kind of fresh greens, different cheese and you could even add creamy avocado.
You'll love this simple spinach arugula salad because it's:
- Ready in under 10 minutes
- Easy to customize
- Crowd friendly since it has a touch of sweetness
I love this this type of simple salad that uses whatever seasonal fruit you have and accompanying it with a creamy, tangy cheese such as goat cheese, gorgonzola, blue cheese or feta cheese, then adding some crunch with some toasted nut and tossing it all with a sweet vinaigrette such as my Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette.
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach
- 2 cups fresh arugula or baby arugula
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
- ½ cup blueberries (or blackberries/raspberries)
- ½ cup goat cheese, crumbled
- ¼ cup toasted pecans or sliced almonds
- Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette , your favorite homemade salad dressing or a store bought vinaigrette
Instructions
- Make the dressing: Whisk together extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon, salt, and pepper in a small bowl (or shake it up in a jar). If you don't have balsamic vinegar you can use lemon juice for a lemon vinaigrette or red wine vinegar for a milder flavor.
- Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, add spinach, arugula and berries.
- Dress and toss: Drizzle with the salad dressing and gently toss everything together.
- Top it off: Add creamy goat cheese and toasted nuts just before serving.
Add some protein to make it a main course! Grilled chicken, shrimp or salmon would be delicious on this salad. Want to keep it vegetarian? Chickpeas or a white bean would work well too. More delicious additions would be red onion, pine nuts, apple slices or fresh basil. You can also swap the fresh spinach and arugula with any leafy greens.
This salad is best fresh, but leftovers can be stored in the fridge for 1-2 days in an airtight container. If you're prepping ahead, store the dressing separately and toss it just before serving.
Tips & Variations
- Swap goat cheese for feta, fresh mozzarella pearls, Parmesan cheese, blue cheese or gorgonzola
- Add peaches or nectarines for extra summer sweetness
- For nut-free, sub sunflower seeds or skip the nuts entirely
- Want it dairy-free? Leave off the cheese, it's still delicious
Get the Recipe
Spinach Arugula Berry Salad with Goat Cheese
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
When the heat cranks up and the idea of turning on the oven feels unbearable, this Spinach and Arugula Summer Berry Salad comes to the rescue. It's light, fresh, a little fancy, and ridiculously easy to toss together in under 10 minutes.
Ingredients
Salad
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 2 cups arugula
- 1 cup strawberries, sliced
- 1/2 cup blueberries (or blackberries/raspberries)
- 1/2 cup goat cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup toasted pecans or sliced almonds
Dressing
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus black pepper to taste
Instructions
- For the dressing, whisk together olive oil, honey, Dijon, salt, and pepper in a small bowl (or shake it up in a jar).
- In a large bowl, add spinach, arugula and berries.
- Drizzle with vinaigrette and gently toss everything together.
- Add goat cheese and toasted nuts just before serving.
Equipment
Buy Now →Notes
This salad is best fresh, but leftovers can be stored in the fridge for 1-2 days. If you're prepping ahead, store the dressing separately and toss it just before serving.
I only included the nutritional information of the salad ingredients, not the dressing since you may use a store bought version or a different recipe all together. For the dressing nutrition information visit the Honey Balsamic Dressing post here.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: One Bowl
- Cuisine: American
Let's Chat! What's your favorite frresh salad combo? Drop it in the comments! And if you try this recipe, tag me on Instagram @hungrywaitress, I'd love to see your spinach arugula salad recipe.
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