Strawberry Crunch Salad with Honey Lemon Champagne Vinaigrette Recipe
A vibrant and refreshing Strawberry Crunch Salad featuring peppery arugula, sweet strawberries, creamy avocado, tangy goat cheese, and a delightful crunch from caramelized almonds and roasted pistachios, all tossed in a zesty champagne vinaigrette. Perfect as a light lunch or side dish, this salad delivers layers of flavor and texture in just 30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Crunchy Toppings
- ⅔ cup sliced or slivered almonds
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- ⅓ cup roasted salted pistachios, chopped
Salad
- 10 ounces arugula greens
- 8 ounces strawberries, hulled and quartered or chopped
- 1 avocado, chopped
- 2 ounces crumbled goat cheese
Champagne Vinaigrette Dressing
- 3 tablespoons champagne vinegar
- ½ lemon, juiced
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove, freshly grated
- Pinch kosher salt and pepper
- ½ cup olive oil
Instructions
- Caramelize the Almonds: Place the almonds in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add sugar and cook, stirring frequently, until the sugar melts and coats the almonds in a caramel glaze, about 6 to 8 minutes. Watch carefully to prevent burning. Transfer almonds to parchment paper and let cool, then break apart any clumps.
- Prepare the Salad: In a large bowl, toss the arugula with a pinch of salt and pepper. Add the strawberries, chopped avocado, crumbled goat cheese, roasted pistachios, and the caramelized almonds.
- Make the Champagne Vinaigrette: In a bowl, whisk together the champagne vinegar, honey, lemon juice, dijon mustard, grated garlic, salt, and pepper. While whisking continuously, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the dressing emulsifies and thickens.
- Toss and Serve: Drizzle the prepared vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to combine all ingredients evenly. Serve immediately to enjoy the freshness and crunch.
Notes
- Watch the almonds closely while caramelizing; sugar can burn quickly.
- The dressing can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week in an airtight container.
- Use fresh, ripe strawberries and avocado for best flavor.
- You can substitute goat cheese with feta if preferred.
- For a nut-free version, omit almonds and pistachios and add toasted seeds like pumpkin or sunflower.
