A staple of the season, this healthy Summer Berry Spinach Salad is quick to throw together. Toss it with an easy homemade strawberry vinaigrette using avocado oil for a paleo-friendly dressing!
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Oh my word, friends! I feel like it’s been forever since we’ve chatted… I mean, it hasn’t even been a week since I shared my last post with you, but that is like, a 100 years in blog-speak. Especially when I really have been chomping at the bit to get back to this space again. With moving in throughout the weekend, our place is still looking like a tornado went through. Boxes still half unpacked, shit everywhere. Part of the problem is we ended up downsizing a little. It’s going to take me a little bit to figure out where to put everything, and/or buy more storage/shelves/those little organizational cube-things. Ugh, except I just really don’t want to buy those freaking things anymore, ya know?! I want REAL FURNITURE #old buutttt honestly it isn’t worth it for us to invest in real furniture with us just moving in a year to buy a house. Is anyone else in that dilemma? I really have the desire to make our place look all cute and homey (I gasp at all of the turquoise decor in Home Goods, World Market, etc.) but A. don’t want to spend the money right now and B. our new place is going to look odd no matter how hard I try to make it look cute. I’ll spare you the details on how I REALLY feel about our new place… but let’s just say I seriously miss my kitchen and dining room in PA…
Anywhos, how excited are we for ALL OF THE SUMMER PRODUCE?! I, for one, am super excited. I literally cannot wait for those Michigan summer strawberries. So juicy and flavorful. It’s a little early still, but I absolutely could not waste any time in bringing you a classic Michigan summer salad <– if you’re ever in Michigan, you’re bound to find a version of this salad at tons of restaurants, especially up North!
- spinach
- strawberries
- blueberries
- dried Michigan cherries
- pecans
And to jazz it up a little bit I thought I’d share with you an easy, healthy strawberry vinaigrette recipe, just six ingredients, paleo and vegan-friendly!
- strawberries
- maple syrup
- apple cider vinegar
- avocado oil
- salt
- pepper
Avocado oil is a great substitute for extra virgin olive oil if you’re looking for a more subtle flavor. It also has a high smoke point (unlike extra virgin olive oil) so it is great for stir-frying, sauteing and baking.
All you need to make the dressing is a small food processor/blender, add all of the ingredients and blend until smooth! I have a NutriBullet* and it literally took 10 seconds to make, no joke.
The thing about store-bought fruit based vinaigrette’s is that I find they’re often too sweet for me. Making a homemade dressing like this one allows you to adjust the ingredients to your liking. This dressing really couldn’t be any easier, and made mostly with pantry staples! (Okay, maybe not the avocado oil for some, but it is definitely going to be a staple in my pantry now!)
How to Make…
Summer Berry Spinach Salad with Easy Strawberry Vinaigrette [ vegan, paleo ]
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 1x
- Scale:
Ingredients
- 10 oz baby spinach
- 1 cup whole strawberries, quartered
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1/2 cup pecans (I used raw, but feel free to use your favorite)
- 1/2 cup dried cherries
- strawberry vinaigrette:
- 2 cups whole strawberries, quartered
- 3 TBS avocado oil
- 2 TBS raw apple cider vinegar
- 3 TBS grade b maple syrup (or to taste)
- salt & pepper to taste (I did about 1/2 tsp each)
Instructions
- Toss spinach, quartered strawberries, blueberries, pecans, and dried cherries in large bowl with spinach.
- To make the dressing: combine all ingredients in small blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Adjust sweetener, salt & pepper to your liking.
- Toss salad with dressing, or serve separately, enjoy!
Recipes Notes:
Salad makes for easy prep the night before, and a great meal by adding your choice of protein.
Dressing yields about 1 1/2 cups, store in jar in fridge up to 1 week.
Nutrition Information:
- Serving Size: 1/6th
- Calories: 199
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 332mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
This Summer Berry Spinach Salad would make a great side to bring to a backyard party. At least, that is what I will be bringing next round 😀
Let’s Chat
- What summer produce are you MOST excited for?
- Anyone feel me on the furniture dilemma?
Have a great day, friends! I am off to Chicago today to take part in the NOW Foods Influencer Immersion! Super pumped to take a behind-the-scenes look at one of my favorite brands! #NOWGetFit <3
NOTE: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Purchasing products listed through the links comes at no extra charge to you, but I will receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting Fit Mitten Kitchen!
Emily says
It’s amazing how time can pass by so QUICKLY in blog speak. Even if I publish a post a couple days in a row, I feel like it’s been forever, when it’s only been 24 hours. And this sounds SO good. I love the flavor of strawberries, and a vinaigrette with them sounds like the added ‘cherry’ on top. 😉
Ashley says
Thanks Emily, my MIL loved the dressing when we had her over for dinner the other week 🙂
Ellen @ My Uncommon Everyday says
Salads like these are one of the best parts of summer 🙂 This vinaigrette sounds amazing, Ashley!
Ashley says
Thanks Ellen! It is so easy and healthy 🙂
Emilie @ Emilie Eats says
I am SUCH a huge fan of fruity green salads for summer! I love Les’ kale summer salad, and I’m sure I would love this one just as much. I love when my blogging friends make the BEST recipes. 😉
Erin @ Erin's Inside Job says
I should have had you make my vinaigrette at the event. I just dumped a bunch of pepper and oil in it. It was atrocious.
Ashley says
LOL oh my gosh Erin, that is hysterical. I mean not really, but honestly I didn’t care for mine either, I blame the lemon! :-p
Mary rackauskis says
I’m feeling u on furniture. I’m moving from a room to 1 bedroom. Been paying for a storage unit 4 to 5 years waiting for my name to come to top of list “disabled/elderly” I’m a c survivor. Just clutter in storage unit no furniture. I plan to stay a year or so , dump all my clutter so I can travel light. Friend in Hawaii and another in UK. I won’t be getting normal furniture, no sofa no big chairs, no coffee table. Nothing if not free. Because my end plan is travel light. We can sew to make free stuff match, turn old white sheets into slipcovers, and cheap paint makes all wood match or go wild colors. Me, I did black on wood I had. Only paint I had so free. And oh my word, piece went from drab brown to expensive ebony of the islands. Would never of tried, if not on tight budget, and free was key.
Back to salad: rub raw strawberry on teeth to heighten. Also oil can be used to cleanse mouth by doing an oil pulling, u tube it. You only need a tablespoon or so, swish in mouth 20 minutes spit out to trash can. Can clog drain or so u tube says. And blur berries have antioxidants to the moon, frozen or fresh. Also if you buy fresh and don’t use in 4 days, put in freazer chill hard, and zip lock, & date bag. Way cheaper then frozen from store and much fatter berries. Now put them in smoothies & pancakes or waffles.
Dawn Conklin says
Your vinaigrette sounds delicious! There is a salad that I love at Panera (I rarely eat out but I make exceptions for their salads) but the dressing is a bit too much. It’s a bit too sweet. I think this will be much better and I can make it at home 🙂 Definitely trying this when the strawberries here look a little better – they haven’t been great in the stores yet.
Ashley says
I know what you mean! Store-bought and restaurant strawberry vinaigrettes are often sooo sugary! This one is not like that, but still delicious in its own way. Let me know when you try!