Sweet strawberries, crunchy toasted almonds, and salty ricotta salata make this easy strawberry summer salad a delicious winner for a light lunch or dinner.

Sometimes, I just need a salad like this strawberry summer salad. I hate to admit it, but I do. I mean, they are so dang good for you, and I am currently trying to make sure that my bridesmaid’s dress zips in my best friend’s wedding next month. So you know, as much as I want to, I can’t just mainline cheeseburgers like they are going out of style. Sad. Oh, the struggles of losing the baby weight.

Summer Strawberry Salad with Toasted Almonds

I find plain salads sort of boring. I mean really, there are only so many times you can eat a standard salad with a few leaves of lettuce or spinach and some dressing before you just need something new and different to shake up your taste buds and not make you wish the cheeseburger fairy could come and make cheeseburgers a health food.

Unfortunately, there’s no cheeseburger fairy. Fortunately, there’s this strawberry summer salad with toasted almonds to remedy my salad blues.

Summer Strawberry Salad with Toasted Almonds

Not only is it delicious, but this whole thing comes together in a quick ten minutes. It makes the perfect weekday lunch but it is pretty and elegant enough to serve to company. If you’d like, you could add some grilled chicken to this. Sometimes, if I am looking for something a little more hearty, I add some quinoa. Do whatever your little heart pleases to customize it for you.

I love using in season ingredients like fresh strawberries. Have you ever gone to pick your own strawberries or at least bought them from a farmer’s market? Now those are strawberries! Juicy and sweeter than any strawberry you’ve ever bought from a grocery store, fresh picked strawberries just are the beginning of summer.

Summer Strawberry Salad with Toasted Almonds

These sweet, satisfying, beginning of summer strawberries contrast with crumbly, slightly salty ricotta salata cheese. Spiced toasted almonds add zest and crunch. And the homemade honey mustard vinaigrette is the perfect sweet, smooth finish.

Summer Strawberry Salad with Toasted Almonds

Not only could I eat this salad all day, but my toddler loves picking it apart. If I eat the salad with her on my lap, you can bet there are little fingers stealing all my strawberries and almonds.

And then, before you know it, there are little fingers wiping strawberry juice all over my lap or shirt.

Strawberry Summer Salad with Toasted Almonds

Sweet strawberries, crunchy toasted almonds, and salty ricotta salata make this easy strawberry summer salad a delicious winner for a light lunch or dinner.

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Prep Time: 10

Total Time: 10

Course: salads

Cuisine: American

Keyword: salad with toasted almonds, strawberry salad, strawberry summer salad

Servings:

Author: Seasoned Sprinkles

Ingredients

For the Salad

1 head of romaine lettuce chopped
1 pound of strawberries sliced
1/2 cup of slivered almonds
1 cup of ricotta salata cheese*
1 teaspoon of olive oil
salt and pepper

For the Dressing

1/4 cup olive oil
the juice of half a lemon
3 tablespoons of honey
2 tablespoons of dijon mustard
2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar

Instructions

Heat a teaspoon of olive oil in a small pan over medium heat. Shake the pan gently, to just spread the oil out so it covers the whole pan.
Pour the almonds into the pan and sprinkle with a little salt and pepper.** Heat for about 4 minutes or until the almonds just start to turn golden. Remove from heat and set aside.
Wash, dry, and chop the romaine lettuce. Put it in a big bowl. Top with sliced strawberries, crumbled ricotta salata, and the toasted almonds.
Finish by pouring dressing over the salad.

For the Dressing

Whisk the ingredients together vigorously until the mustard dissolves. Pour liberally over the salad just prior to serving.

Notes

* You can substitute feta for the ricotta salata if you prefer.
** I go pretty heavy on the pepper. I like the nice bite from the pepper in contrast with the sweet strawberries.