Simple Strawberry Romaine Feta Salad Recipe
A refreshing and vibrant Simple Strawberry Romaine Feta Salad featuring fresh strawberries, crisp romaine and spinach, tangy feta cheese, toasted almonds, and a delightful homemade strawberry vinaigrette. This salad combines sweet, savory, and crunchy textures, making it a perfect light meal or side dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 minutes
- Total Time: 19 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dressing
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- 5 tbsp cider vinegar
- 2 1/2 tsp mustard
- 1/2 tsp garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 shallot, thinly sliced and minced
- 1 strawberry, diced
For the Salad
- 4 cups spinach
- 3 cups romaine lettuce
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup almonds, slivered and toasted
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced into half-moons
- 2 cups strawberries, sliced into halves or quarters
Instructions
- Toast Almonds: Heat a dry skillet over medium heat and add the slivered almonds. Toast them for about 4 minutes while stirring frequently until golden brown and fragrant, then transfer to a plate to cool.
- Prepare Ingredients: While toasting almonds, mince garlic, thinly slice and mince the shallot, dice one strawberry for the dressing, and thinly slice the red onion into half-moons. Slice the remaining 2 cups of strawberries into halves or quarters depending on size.
- Make the Dressing: In a blender or jar, combine olive oil, cider vinegar, mustard, minced garlic, minced shallot, diced strawberry, honey, and salt. Blend or shake vigorously for 30 seconds until the dressing is emulsified and the strawberry is broken down, creating a subtle fruity sweetness. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Prepare Greens: Rinse romaine and spinach thoroughly under cool water, then dry completely using a salad spinner or paper towels to prevent sogginess. Roughly tear or cut the romaine into bite-sized pieces, and keep the spinach leaves whole or torn according to size. Place all greens in a large bowl.
- Assemble Salad: Divide the greens between serving plates or bowls. Top each with crumbled feta, sliced red onion, sliced strawberries, and toasted almonds.
- Serve: Drizzle with the strawberry vinaigrette just before serving or pass the dressing on the side to allow control over how much dressing is added. Serving dressing on the side helps keep the salad fresh if not eaten immediately.
Notes
- Toasting almonds enhances their crunch and flavor.
- Drying greens thoroughly ensures the dressing adheres better and prevents sogginess.
- Blending fresh strawberry into dressing adds a natural fruity sweetness and depth of flavor beyond simple whisking.
- Serving dressing on the side preserves salad texture if not serving immediately.
- Use fresh, ripe strawberries for best flavor in both salad and dressing.
Keywords: strawberry salad, romaine salad, feta cheese salad, toasted almonds, healthy salad, fresh strawberry vinaigrette, summer salad, easy salad recipe
