Summer Berry Salad with Creamy Berry Vinaigrette
It’s not Summer without a gorgeous farmers market Summer Berry Salad with Creamy Berry Vinaigrette. Strawberries and blueberries are mixed with Spring mix and topped with walnuts, Point Reyes blue cheese, and the dreamiest, creamiest Berry Vinaigrette. I like adding some grilled chicken to mine, but this is optional. This salad is delicious without the chicken, too.
Inspiration
This mouthwatering Summer Berry Salad is truly the epitome of Summer salads. It’s one of the easiest salads to prepare and a feast for the eyes. It’s perfect for weekly lunches and a beauty for entertaining. Berries are plentiful in California and the rest of the country during the Summer when they are at their peak. Sweet berries with spring mix, walnuts, and the creamy and sharp bite of blue cheese are perfect for this salad. I use my favorite Point Reyes Original blue cheese made here in California. And for the best Creamy Berry Vinaigrette ever, look no further, my friends! This delightfully creamy, slightly sweet dressing is the perfect accompaniment for this salad and is super easy to make!
Tips for buying berries
Our favorite summertime fruits are best at their peak ripeness. Look for firm and fragrant berries that are not wrinkled or soft. Strawberries should be darker red. When strawberries are light-colored, they may not be fully ripe. This is okay, but it will take a day or so to ripen. For blueberries, look for firm berries, not soft or wilted fruit.
How to make this delicious Creamy Berry Vinaigrette
Most of my vinaigrette dressings have two common ingredients: shallots and vinegar. I use my White Balsamic Honey Mustard Vinaigrette as a template for this delicious Berry Vinaigrette. A few simple ingredients and some Bonne Maman Four Fruits Preserves make it the perfect dressing for this Summer Berry Salad. If you can’t find the Bonne Maman brand, use another brand of good quality preserves.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of finely chopped shallots
- 2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar or white balsamic vinegar
- 6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil or neutral oil
- 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons of Bonne Maman Four Fruits Preserves or strawberry preserves. (do not use jelly)
- 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
Using a small blender or food processor, add all of the ingredients to the bowl. Pulse for about 30 seconds until completely emulsified. Taste for salt and adjust as needed. Place the Berry Vinaigrette in a container with a tightly fitting lid, like a jar. This dressing is just enough for the salad, with no leftovers. Feel free to double up if you want to enjoy this delicious Creamy Berry Dressing on another salad or love extra dressing.
Ingredients for the Summer Berry Salad
Only six ingredients are needed for this delicious Summer Berry Salad and five for the Berry Vinaigrette. I use prewashed spring mix, and you can add store-bought rotisserie chicken if you prefer not to grill it, which is perfect for the sweltering days. The rest of the salad is straightforward to assemble.
- 5-ounce bag of Spring salad mix
- 6 ounces of cooled, grilled chicken or rotisserie chicken (optional-see note below)
- 1/2 cup of blueberries, washed and dried thoroughly
- 1 1/2 cups of fresh strawberries, washed and dried thoroughly. Stems removed, and sliced.
- 1/4 cup of walnuts, chopped
- 1/3 cup of blue cheese, crumbled
- 1/2 cup of Creamy Berry Vinaigrette
NOTE: If you use grilled, rotisserie, or roasted chicken, cool it before adding it to the salad. If you add hot chicken, the ingredients will wilt.
How to assemble this salad
The vinaigrette is made, and now it’s time to assemble the salad. Using a large platter, arrange the spring salad mix onto the platter. Add cooled, grilled chicken (if using), sprinkle blueberries evenly throughout, and then the sliced strawberries. Sprinkle walnuts and blue cheese crumbles evenly on the salad. Drizzle with the Creamy Berry Vinaigrette when you are ready to serve.
Frequently asked questions
I suggest making this right before serving. You can prep all the ingredients so it’s easy to assemble before serving.
I recommend green or red leaf lettuce and baby spinach. Baby kale works great for this salad also.
Goat cheese and sharp white cheddar cubes are excellent in this salad. Goat cheese is very mild in flavor and is a great option for picky palates. Fresh mozzarella balls can also be used.
If you are serving this salad to a crowd, leftovers can be stored assuming that the salad isn’t wilted. If the greens are wilted, I recommend discarding.
Yes! Slivered almonds work well in this salad; if you have nut allergies, a good granola is an excellent substitute.
More delicious berry recipes!
I love berries, and here are some of my favorites! My Blueberry Bourbon Chili Pepper BBQ Sauce is so darn good! My Roasted Strawberry Compound Butter is incredible on biscuits or cornbread. For an easy treat, my Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars are a perfect Summer treat! Last but not least, try my Limoncello Strawberries, which are an easy, perfect no-cook dessert!
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All content and photographs ©Claudia’s Table and claudiastable.com
Summer Berry Salad with Creamy Berry Vinaigrette
July 18, 2024Equipment
- 1 small blender or food processor
- 1 container with tight-fitting lid for vinaigrette
- 1 large platter
Ingredients
Creamy Berry Vinaigrette
- 1 tablespoon of finely chopped shallots
- 2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar or white balsamic vinegar
- 6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil or neutral oil
- 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons of Bonne Maman Four Fruits Preserves or strawberry preserves. (do not use jelly)
- 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
Summer Berry Salad
- 1/2 cup of Creamy Berry Vinaigrette
- 5- ounce bag of Spring salad mix
- 1/2 cup of blueberries washed and dried thoroughly
- 1 1/2 cups of fresh strawberries washed and dried thoroughly. Stems removed, and sliced.
- 1/4 cup of walnuts chopped
- 1/3 cup of blue cheese crumbled
- 6 ounces of grilled chicken or rotisserie chicken optional
Instructions
Creamy Berry Vinaigrette
- Using a small blender or food processor, add all of the ingredients into the bowl.
- Pulse for about 30 seconds until completely emulsified.
- Taste for salt and adjust as needed.
- Place the Berry Vinaigrette in a container with a tightly fitting lid, such as a jar.
- It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. (see note below for yield)
Summer Berry Salad
- Using a large platter, arrange the spring salad mix onto the platter.
- Add cooled, grilled chicken (if using)
- Arrange blueberries evenly throughout, and then the sliced strawberries.
- Sprinkle walnuts and blue cheese crumbles evenly on the salad.
- When you are ready to serve, drizzle with the creamy berry vinaigrette.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated online and should be used as a guide.
All content and photographs ©Claudia’s Table and claudiastable.com
This dressing is so good with this salad—another great recipe.
I agree, the dressing is the BEST!