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    Home » Recipes » Salad

    Berry Crunch Salad with Strawberry-Balsamic Dressing

    Mar 25, 2021 by Kaitlin

    A fresh Berry Salad recipe with crunchy maple-vanilla candied nuts! It's topped with a strawberry balsamic dressing that's sweet, tasty, and customizable. (Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free.)

    Berry crunch salad on a plate with strawberry dressing

    This bright Berry Salad recipe is so flavorful and delicious!

    It combines fresh greens, sweet berries, and naturally-sweetened candied nuts for a delightful crunch.

    Then it's topped with a simple but tasty strawberry balsamic dressing.

    It's a great side dish for potlucks, BBQs, or simply at-home enjoyment.

    Fresh greens, strawberries, and blueberries on a white table

    Ingredients for Berry Salad

    For the salad portion you will toss together:

    • Mixed baby greens: Or other salad greens or lettuce of choice such as arugula, baby spinach salad, etc.
    • Fresh strawberries
    • Fresh blueberries
    • Clementine: Or mandarins, oranges, etc.
    • Maple-Vanilla Candied Nuts: This gives the salad nice crunch, texture, and added protein. You can make these ahead of time if desired.

    Ingredients for Strawberry Dressing

    For the dressing you will combine in a small blender:

    • Fresh strawberries: Be sure your berries are ripe and flavorful as that can make all the difference. I purchase organic when possible.
    • Balsamic vinegar
    • Dijon mustard
    • A touch of salt: I use fine-grain salt for this recipe.
    • Water to thin if desired
    • Poppy seeds: These are optional (but recommended!) if you'd like a poppyseed dressing. We will stir or whisk them in after we blend the dressing.
    Strawberry balsamic dressing in a white bowl with salad on the side

    Customizing

    Fruit: Toss in other fresh berries like fresh raspberries, fresh blackberries, or even pineapple. (You could even substitute raspberries in the dressing to make it a raspberry vinaigrette instead.)

    Nuts and seeds: I enjoy this salad with the maple-vanilla candied walnuts, but add any nuts and seeds of your choice such as candied almonds, pecans, sunflower seeds, etc.

    Dairy-free cheese: Top your bowl with a sprinkle of vegan feta cheese or vegan goat cheese crumbles if desired.

    Plate of berry salad with candied nuts and strawberry balsamic dressing

    Storing

    Preparing ahead: If making ahead of time, store salad and dressing separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. We find it keeps for about 2-3 days.

    Berry salad with candied nuts on a white plate

    For more inspiration, also browse all vegan salad recipes or gluten-free recipes.

    Berry crunch salad on a plate with strawberry dressing

    Berry Crunch Salad with Strawberry-Balsamic Dressing

    A fresh berry salad with crunchy maple-vanilla candied nuts! Topped with a strawberry balsamic dressing that's sweet, tasty, and customizable.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Comment
    Prep Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Author: Kaitlin - The Garden Grazer
    Course: Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine: Gluten-Free, Oil-Free, Vegan
    Servings: 4

    Ingredients

    • 5 oz. mixed baby greens
    • 1 cup fresh strawberries
    • 3/4 cup fresh blueberries
    • 2-3 clementines/mandarins (or 1 large orange)
    • 1 cup maple-vanilla candied nuts
    • Optional: other nuts/seeds, berries, green onion, avocado, etc.

    For the strawberry-balsamic dressing:

    • 1 heaping cup fresh strawberries (about 5 oz. de-stemmed)
    • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
    • 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
    • 1/8 tsp. salt
    • 1 Tbsp. water (if needed to thin)
    • 1 Tbsp. poppy seeds (optional)

    Instructions

    • Make the candied nuts.
    • Meanwhile, make the dressing: Combine all dressing ingredients (except poppy seeds) in a small blender or food processor. Blend well to combine. Stir in poppy seeds after blending, if using.
    • Prepare your salad: Add mixed greens to a plate/bowl. Remove stems from strawberries and slice. Peel clementine and break into single segments. Top salad greens with strawberries, blueberries, and clementine.
    • Add candied walnuts, and top with desired amount of dressing.
    • If saving leftovers or preparing for later, store salad and dressing separately in the fridge until ready to enjoy.

    Notes

    Tip: Be sure to find ripe berries + produce. This salad is great for seasonal eating when ingredients are at peak harvest and flavor.
    Variations: Add your own favorite additions such as raspberries, blackberries, green onion, other seeds/nuts, avocado, etc.
    Quicker prep: If making the candied walnuts ahead of time, this salad only takes about 10 minutes (or less) to prepare.

    Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)

    Nutrition Facts
    Berry Crunch Salad with Strawberry-Balsamic Dressing
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    226
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    11
    g
    17
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    6
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Potassium
     
    239
    mg
    7
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    28
    g
    9
    %
    Fiber
     
    4
    g
    17
    %
    Sugar
     
    19
    g
    21
    %
    Protein
     
    4
    g
    8
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    423
    IU
    8
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    50
    mg
    61
    %
    Calcium
     
    78
    mg
    8
    %
    Iron
     
    1
    mg
    6
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you make this recipe?Leave a star rating or comment below!

    If you are enjoying this Berry Crunch Salad with candied nuts and strawberry balsamic dressing, also check out:

    • Vegan Italian Pasta Salad (Oil Free)
    • Lentil Salad with Capers and Balsamic-Dijon Dressing
    • Quinoa Tabbouleh
    • Cucumber Salad

    Follow The Garden Grazer on Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook for more updates and inspiration.

    More Vegan Salad Recipes

    • Roasted Red Pepper Dressing (Oil-Free)
    • Roasted Chickpea Salad with Hummus
    • Asian-Style Kale & Tofu Salad with Peanut Dressing
    • Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Dill Dressing

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating:




    1. Lynn

      September 03, 2022 at 2:41 pm

      5 stars
      We all enjoyed this as a side dish with our dinner... the candied nuts are really yummy!

      Reply
      • Kaitlin

        September 03, 2022 at 7:20 pm

        Wonderful, Lynn! Thanks for sharing.

        Reply
    2. HC

      April 26, 2021 at 5:34 pm

      5 stars
      I made this beautiful salad last weekend. Even the pickiest eaters enjoyed it! Thank you for a much needed inspiration for eating healthier!

      Reply
      • Kaitlin

        May 03, 2021 at 8:38 am

        That's great to hear!

        Reply

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    The Garden Grazer - Kaitlin profile photo

    Hi, I'm Kaitlin!
    I share vegan recipes that are easy & healthy. (Mostly whole food plant-based, oil-free, & gluten-free.) About Me →

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