Berry Goat Cheese Salad
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This colorful and refreshing berry goat cheese salad is one of my favorite summer salads! The honey citrus dressing is super easy to make, and the whole thing comes together in just 10 minutes. Best of all, this salad is sublime! It hits all the taste buds with a little sweet, tangy, earthy, salty, and tart, and is absolutely satisfying with any meal!
Looking for more colorful salads? Try my caprese pasta salad and Italian orange fennel salad.
Quick Look: Berry Goat Cheese Salad
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Servings: 8 people
- Dietary Info: Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Dairy Free (made with goat cheese, not cow dairy)
- Method: No cooking required! Simply shake the dressing and combine all the ingredients on a platter.
- Technique: Emulsify the dressing by shaking it vigorously in a jar. Arrange the salad ingredients on a platter, pour dressing on top, and serve.
- Flavor & Texture: This goat cheese salad with berries is so refreshing, colorful, and flavorful with contrasting textures and a burst of freshness.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
To me, a salad is a way to eat greens with a few accompaniments that add a little extra flavor. That’s why I love this berry goat cheese salad: it’s simple, colorful, and refreshing, and it’s something I feel good about eating all year around.
Pair it with this citrus vinaigrette, and this salad will be a crowd pleaser with any meal. This homemade dressing tastes great on other salads as well. It comes together in minutes with a few fresh ingredients and a few shakes in a jar with a lid.
If your family loves salads and healthy sides like mine does, don’t miss these recipes for Arugula, Apple, and Pistachio Salad in Parmigiano Cups, Pear Gorgonzola Salad, and Italian Pasta Salad with Arugula.
Made With Amore,
“This salad is so good that we have already made it twice in one week!”
– Kirie
Table of Contents
Simple Ingredients
This goat cheese salad with berries is so refreshing and colorful that you’ll want to enjoy it all summer long! This simple recipe takes just a handful of basic ingredients.
- Fresh Mint: Mint is one of my favorite herbs, and this salad is a wonderful way to enjoy it! It pairs beautifully with the cucumber and berries.
- Fresh Berries: I use a combination of fresh raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries, which not only bring a lot of color, but also add texture, freshness, and a sweet, tangy flavor.
- Goat Cheese: Buy either a block and crumble it yourself, or use already-crumbled cheese. Use a goat cheese flavored with berries if you want to amp up the fruit flavor!
- Candied Pecans or Slivered Almonds: These are optional, but can add a wonderful crunch. Personally, I like the salad without nuts and keep them on the side.
- Homemade Dressing: This is a simple combination of olive oil, freshly squeezed orange juice and zest, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper. I love the tang it brings to the salad; it complements the berries perfectly.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations & Substitutions
- Greens: Use spinach, arugula, or even watercress for a fun variation.
- Berries: Add strawberries, fresh figs, peaches, or other seasonal berries/fruit you love.
- Cheese: Use other creamy cheeses, like feta or mozzarella balls.
- Dressing: This salad also pairs well with the lemon garlic dressing for my lemon arugula salad, my authentic Italian balsamic dressing, or this lemon basil vinaigrette in my Italian spring salad. If you’re looking for a tangy kick, try our orange vinaigrette salad dressing!
How to Make Berry Goat Cheese Salad
This berry goat cheese salad comes together in just 10 minutes, and is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full method and tips.
- Toss the mixed greens with the fresh mint and cucumber on a large platter.
- Arrange the fresh berries, goat cheese, and candied pecans (if using) on top of the lettuce.
- Shake the dressing ingredients together in a jar until well combined, then let it stand for 10 minutes. When you’re ready to serve the salad, drizzle it on top.
- There’s no need to toss the salad when serving it on a platter; the toppings won’t fall to the bottom. Enjoy this colorful salad as a side dish with any meal!
Berry Goat Cheese Salad FAQs
Goat cheese pairs well with a dressing that has a touch of sweetness and brightness to balance its creamy, tangy flavor. For this salad, my honey citrus dressing is the perfect match! It’s made with fresh orange juice, olive oil, honey, and a touch of garlic bring all the berries and goat cheese together beautifully. A light balsamic vinaigrette or lemon dressing also works wonderfully if you want to change it up a little.
If you’re serving the salad on a wide, shallow platter, there’s no need to toss it before serving. Simply drizzle the dressing on top about 10 minutes before serving and let everyone serve themselves. This way, there’s no need to dig for the fun mix-ins at the bottom of a deep salad bowl!
Yes! You can prepare the dressing and wash the berries up to 2 days ahead. Store everything separately in the refrigerator, then assemble the salad just before serving so the greens stay fresh and crisp.
Serving Suggestions
This berry goat cheese salad is perfect for any spring and summer meal! Serve it along with any of these 30 BEST Italian Inspired Summer Recipes, or with some of my family favorites like Garlic Honey Lemon Grilled Chicken, Eggplant and Tomato Pasta Sauce, or Trottole Pasta with Shrimp.
Don’t forget to round out the meal with a slice of easy Italian bread and a crowd-pleasing dessert like these creamy frozen lemon bars or a slice of Italian tiramisu!
My Pro Tips
Expert Tips
- Use ripe, fresh berries. The flavor of this salad depends on sweet, juicy berries. If they are slightly tart, the honey-orange dressing balances them perfectly.
- Taste the dressing first. If your oranges are very sweet, add a tiny splash of vinegar or extra salt to balance the flavor.
- Make the dressing up to 2 days ahead of time. Store the dressing in the fridge and let it come to room temperature before serving (take it out of the fridge an hour in advance). Shake the jar and presto! You are ready to dress your salad.
- Serve the salad in a flat and wide serving platter as pictured. This means there will be no more digging for all the yummy toppings at the bottom of the bowl! Simply distribute the dressing evenly over the top and the it will seep down to coat all the toppings and salad underneath. Voila!
- Dress the salad 10 minutes before serving and DO NOT TOSS. When you serve the salad in a shallow, wide serving platter you don’t need to toss the salad.
Other Salad Recipes You’ll Love
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Berry Goat Cheese Salad
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 16 ounces mixed greens, spring mix or baby greens
- 3 tablespoons fresh mint, finely chopped
- 1 cucumber, thinly sliced or diced
- 1 pint fresh raspberries, washed
- 1 pint fresh blueberries, washed
- 1 pint fresh blackberries, washed
- 1 pint fresh strawberries, washed and sliced
- 8 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
- ½ cup candied pecans, or sliced almonds (optional for crunch)
For the Citrus Vinaigrette
- ¾ cup good-quality extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup fresh orange juice
- zest of 1 orange
- 1-2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon sea salt, more to taste
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, quartered
Instructions
Make the Dressing
- Add the olive oil, fresh orange juice, orange zest, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and garlic cloves to a mason jar. Secure the lid and shake vigorously until well combined and slightly emulsified. Let the dressing sit for about 10 minutes so the garlic infuses the flavor. Remove the garlic pieces before serving if you prefer a milder taste.
Prepare the Salad
- Add the mixed greens to a large serving bowl or platter. Sprinkle the chopped fresh mint evenly over the greens for a light, refreshing flavor. Add the sliced cucumber and gently toss with the greens to distribute evenly.
- Scatter the raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries evenly across the greens. Try to distribute them gently so the delicate berries stay whole.
- Break the goat cheese into small chunks and place them throughout the salad. Larger pieces create creamy bites that pair beautifully with the berries. If using, sprinkle the slivered almonds over the salad just before serving. (You can also serve them on the side so guests can add their own.)
Dress & Serve
- Drizzle the citrus honey dressing evenly over the salad about 15 minutes before serving. Do not toss; let the salad sit briefly so the greens absorb some of the dressing.
- Serve immediately and enjoy. As you begin serving, gently toss portions on each plate to mix the ingredients slightly while keeping the beautiful layered presentation intact. Mangia! (Eat!)
Notes
- Use ripe, fresh berries. The flavor of this salad depends on sweet, juicy berries. If they are slightly tart, the honey-orange dressing balances them perfectly.
- Taste the dressing first. If your oranges are very sweet, add a tiny splash of vinegar or extra salt to balance the flavor.
- Make the dressing up to 2 days ahead of time. Store the dressing in the fridge and let it come to room temperature before serving (take it out of the fridge an hour in advance). Shake the jar and presto! You are ready to dress your salad.
- Serve the salad in a flat and wide serving platter as pictured. This means there will be no more digging for all the yummy toppings at the bottom of the bowl! Simply distribute the dressing evenly over the top and the it will seep down to coat all the toppings and salad underneath. Voila!
- Dress the salad 10 minutes before serving and DO NOT TOSS. When you serve the salad in a shallow, wide serving platter you don’t need to toss the salad.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Phenomenal. This has become our new favourite!!
Yay! So happy you love this recipe 🙂
Would you think that grilled prawns would go well with this? If so what fruit would you use?
Sure! You can add that. I have a pear salad and an apple salad that would work as well. Enjoy!
Made this salad yesterday and EVERYONE loved it made it for 6 it was a huge success Thank you 🙏
Yay! Happy it was a huge hit.
This salad is so good that we have already made it twice in one week!
Happy you love it! Can’t beat fresh berries this time of year.
We loved this! Thank you! We used the fruit we had- strawberries and mangoes. The goat cheese was fun to try!
Cami,
So happy you loved it. Lots of other great salads to try. Maybe the arugula, apple and pistachio next!