Berry Love Salad Recipe

This salad is great for the warm weather months of spring and summer when you’re craving a light and fresh recipe. Fresh strawberries are the star of this chopped salad that is topped with a homemade sesame seed dressing and Candied Pecans.

• 180g baby spinach
• 1 red onion (small), halved and finely sliced
• 375g ripe strawberries, sliced
• 2 avocados, quartered and
• 120g / 4oz feta, crumbled

Candied Pecans:

• 1 tbsp (15g) butter, unsalted
• 3 tbsp white sugar3 tbsp white sugar
• 1 cup pecans, roughly chopped1 cup pecans, roughly chopped

Sesame seed Dressing:

• 1 tbsp eschalots (French onion), very finely chopped1 tbsp eschalots (French onion), very finely chopped
• 2.5 tbsp white wine vinegar2.5 tbsp white wine vinegar
• 5 tbsp olive oil5 tbsp olive oil
• 1.5 tbsp mayonnaise1.5 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp white sugar1 tbsp white sugar
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds 
• 3/4 tsp salt3/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper1/4 tsp black pepper

If you’d like to add protein, you could easily toss on some shredded chicken or pulled pork for a more filling meal. To add an extra burst of berry flavor I recommend drizzling raspberry vinaigrette on top. It’s a match made in heaven with this salad. Champagne vinaigrette and lemon vinaigrette would also be wonderful salad dressing options. 

Step 1

Place Dressing ingredients in a jar and shake well. Set aside for 10 minutes

Step 2

Candied Pecans: Place butter and sugar in a nonstick skillet over medium high. When butter is melted, add nuts. Stir 5 minutes - sugar will go sandy, then eventually melt into a caramel.

Step 3

Once sugar melts, cook for 2 minutes then spread pecans out on tray. Cool then break to separate.

Step 4

Assemble Salad: Place spinach and onion in a bowl, drizzle with about 3 tbsp dressing, toss.

Step 5

Transfer 1/3 spinach in a bowl. Scatter over 1/3 of each strawberry, avocado, feta, pecans. Drizzle with a bit of dressing.

Step 6

Top with another 1/3 spinach, strawberries, avocado, feta, pecans, then a bit more Dressing. Repeat once more.