Strawberry Goat Cheese Arugula and Spinach Salad

This strawberry goat cheese salad always brings me back to those warm Texas afternoons when all I want is something fresh, bright, and a little bit fun.

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• Ingredient Swaps
• Arugula is too bitter?
• Protein Pairing Ideas
• Kaleena's Tips
• Storing and meal prep
• Recipe

This Strawberry Goat Cheese Arugula and Spinach Salad is sweet, a little tangy, a little creamy, and totally dressed to impress in the most chill, no fuss kind of way. I toss it in a balsamic poppyseed dressing that honestly might be one of my favorite homemade dressings ever. I could legit drink it straight out of the jar. Not that I have... but not that I haven't.

It takes, what, maybe 10 minutes to pull together? And you don't need a whole farmer's market haul either. Just some greens, a handful of berries, something creamy, something crunchy, and bam, you've got yourself a salad that feels way more put together than it actually is.

I love serving this with teriyaki salmon (especially if I've got the air fryer running), but it's also perfect for lunch or to show off at a brunch where you "totally didn't just throw this together." You did. But they don't need to know that!

If you're looking for another great way to use some strawberries that you have hanging out in your fridge, this Strawberry and Cucumber Salad is a fantastic side dish worth checking out.

Arugula is too bitter?

I feel you. Arugula can come in hot with that peppery vibe, sometimes a little too hot. If you're not loving it solo, you can mix it up with spinach or a spring mix. That helps soften the flavor. You can also toss in something sweet like strawberries or a drizzle of honey in the dressing. Creamy textures like goat cheese? Absolute game changers for balancing it out. And if you've got time, give the greens a little "salad massage" with lemon juice or olive oil. Sounds weird. Totally works.

Protein Pairing Ideas

This salad's great on its own, but if you wanna beef it up (or chickpea it up), here's how I like to do it:

• Animal based options: Grilled chicken, salmon, steak, or crispy shrimp (especially air fried, I mean, come on, it's quick, it's easy, it's me).
  
• Plant based picks: Chickpeas, lentils, quinoa, or even a scoop of herby white beans if you've got 'em.
  

Game day hack? Add buffalo chicken. You didn't hear it from me, but it might just be the best thing to ever happen to this salad.

Storing and meal prep

Okay, so this salad isn't the kind of thing you wanna mix and stash for days. If you dress it and let it sit, it turns sad and soggy. No one wants that.

But, it's perfect for prepping if you build it in parts:

• Wash and dry your greens really well (a salad spinner is your BFF here).
  
• Store the strawberries and cheese separately in small containers.
  
• Toast and cool your nuts, then stash them in something airtight.
  
• Mix up the dressing and keep it in a jar in the fridge for the week.
  

Going portable? Mason jars are the move. Here's the layering magic:

1. Dressing on the bottom
   
2. Strawberries and cheese
   
3. Toasted nuts
   
4. Greens on top
   

When you're ready to eat, just shake it up and dig in. Instant lunch that doesn't suck.

Recipe