This colorful Arugula Salad is speckled with fresh summer berries, crisp cucumbers and salty feta cheese all tossed in a homemade Strawberry Vinaigrette and ready in 15 minutes.
Wash and dry the arugula and berries. In a large salad bowl, add arugula, berries, chopped cucumber, crumbled feta cheese and walnuts.
Prepare Strawberry Vinaigrette
In a small blender, add strawberries, extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, agave, salt and pepper. Blend for 15-20 seconds, until smooth.
Dress the Salad
Just before serving, drizzle the strawberry vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently, till everything gets coated with the dressing. Serve cold.
Notes
Use the freshest ingredients you can find. The quality of the ingredients makes all the difference. Purchase fresh, bright, plump berries. If possible, look for them at your local Farmer's Market when in season.
Use agave, maple syrup or honey. I used agave, but any liquid sweetener will work. If the strawberries smell sweet, they will most likely taste sweet, too. Adjust to taste based on the sweetness of your strawberries.
Prep the salad and vinaigrette in advance. The salad and dressing will hold up well in the fridge, as long as they are stored separately. Plus, storing them in the fridge keeps the ingredients cold. Toss the salad with the dressing just before serving.
The strawberry vinaigrette will keep for up to a week. Use the amount of dressing you need to dress the salad. Store the remainder in a mason jar in the fridge.
Make it Dairy-Free and Vegan! Substitute the cheese for diced avocado and make sure to use agave or maple syrup in the dressing.
Note: The nutrition facts below are my estimates. If you are following any diet plan, I recommend cross-checking with your preferred nutrition calculator.