Is the Wendy’s summer strawberry salad a guilty pleasure of yours? It’s ok to treat yourself sometimes, but did you know you can make something just as delicious at home without the extra cost and crazy ingredients? I love this salad because of the great mix of textures and colors, not to mention the flavor! The best part about making your strawberry salad at home is customizing your ingredients and not worrying about your order being wrong. Doesn’t it just look like summer in a bowl?
Here’s what you’ll need
There’s a lot of fresh produce here! Salads are the perfect way to add new-to-you ingredients because there is always something you are sure to like that can help you taste new flavors.
Homemade Dressing: There’s no need to use a bottle here. It is so easy to make an oil and vinegar-based dressing! Honey, balsamic, and lemon juice all enhance the natural strawberry flavor. Baby Spinach: This baby green is one of the mildest there is, making it a good choice for hesitant salad eaters (plus, spinach is a nutritious powerhouse). Arugula: This green has been described as “tasting like black pepper smells” and helps mix things up. New to arugula? Check out our arugula guide! Strawberries: A strawberry salad wouldn’t be complete without these sweet berries, which are included in both the dressing and the salad. Crunchy Produce: English cucumbers and red onion add a nice crunch to the salad. Red onion adds a nice bite. For a more mild onion flavor, feel free to replace these with green onions or shallots. Feta: I love the refreshing zing of creamy feta cheese in this salad. Feta not your thing? Feel free to use goat cheese or parmesan. Parsley: Fresh parsley is a wonderful herb, and it’s easy to add some to your windowsill garden. Go for the Italian parsley, which has more flavor than curly parsley. Almonds: Finally, almonds add the last bit of crunch and chew, as well as a healthy fat hit.
How to make Strawberry Salad
Besides quite a bit of chopping, this comes together fast. The dressing takes but a minute in the blender, and then you just toss it all together. Step 1: Make the DressingAdd all dressing ingredients to the blender jar. If yours has measurements on the side, it makes it easy to measure the oil and vinegar without dirtying anything extra! Add just a pinch of salt and pepper before blending. Blend until nice and creamy with no chunks of strawberry. Step 2: Start the SaladAdd all your chopped salad ingredients to the biggest bowl you have. No, really—this is a lot of delicious salad, and you want to be able to coat every piece evenly in dressing. Step 3: Assemble the SaladNow it’s time to drizzle on that creamy strawberry dressing. Don’t pour it all on at once, just in case it’s too much. People can always add more to their individual serving.
Plays well with
Salads are light and refreshing and can help tone down some heavy meals. When you aren’t eating it on its own as a meal, try these ideas.
Loaded Avocado Sandwich: This will feel like your own “you pick two” from Panera! Seitan Burgers: Grilling also screams summer, making it the perfect pairing for dinner on the deck. Vegetable Baked Ziti: Enjoy your salad while this finishes off in the oven.
