Summer Berry Arugula Salad
Summer Berry Arugula Salad is sweet, savory, and tossed in a fresh raspberry balsamic vinaigrette. It’s a salad you’ll be excited to eat! {GF, Vegetarian}
**This post was originally published on May 20, 2014. I’ve taken new photos, modified the recipe, but have left most of the wording of this post the same.
Long ago, my family dubbed me as the “salad queen”. Whenever there was a family gathering, I was the designated salad person because I always had a new one that I’d conjured up or found somewhere. It’s probably because way back when (we’re talking pre-marriage here), I didn’t cook very well. At all.
Salads were my comfort zone, because let’s face the facts, they’re hard to mess up unless you completely over-dress them. I’ve learned a thing or two over the years and I can cook a lot better now, but my love for salads hasn’t changed.
I eat salads daily, and believe that they can liven up any meal.
Especially when they look like this right?
Years ago I had a Mother’s Day gathering at my house, and for some reason the salad was an after thought for me. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, and at the last minute I started throwing this Summer Berry Arugula Salad together.
It was a hit, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I made it again, and again, so I knew I was going to have to share it with you here. 🙂
What makes this salad so special (besides the fact that it’s easy on the eyes)? It’s the sweet and savory flavors..that’s where it’s at for me!
The sweet juicy berries are the perfect contrast to the peppery arugula and creamy, tangy goat cheese. The toasted pecan pieces give this salad a nice crunch factor, which is something every salad needs in my opinion!
If all of that isn’t enough, we haven’t even gotten to the dressing. 🙂
This salad is the reason why I developed a recipe for Fresh Raspberry Balsamic Vinaigrette. Sure, you can buy store bought raspberry dressing and save some time, but they’re often loaded with sugar and preservatives.
Homemade salad dressings come together so quickly, and always take your salad to the next level.
This Summer Berry Arugula Salad is the perfect side for any of your summer barbecues, or make it a main dish with some grilled chicken. This is a salad adults and kids alike will be excited to eat.
Take it from the salad queen. 🙂
See all of my Salad Recipes for more inspiration!
Summer Berry Arugula Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups arugula
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 1/2 cup blackberries halved
- 1/2 cup strawberries sliced
- ½ cup about 3 ounces goat cheese, crumbled (may substitute with feta cheese)
- ½ cup pecan pieces toasted*
- Raspberry Balsamic Dressing or your favorite store bought
Instructions
- Place the arugula, berries, goat cheese, and toasted pecans in a large bowl. Add the desired amount of dressing and toss gently to coat.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- *You can use pre-toasted pecans, or toast them on a rimmed baking sheet in the oven for 8-10 minutes or until fragrant.
- The nutrition information for this recipe does not include the dressing. If you use my Fresh Raspberry Balsamic Vinaigrette recipe the nutrition information is listed there.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
38 Comments on “Summer Berry Arugula Salad”
Now this is a salad I couldn’t resist Marcie! So pretty with all those berries! And that raspberry vinaigrette – yum!
Thank you, Trish! It’s my new favorite for sure. 🙂
Fruit, nuts and cheese = the best combo ever for salad! I know I would loveeeee this. And that dressing … such a great summer salad!
I’ve been getting tired of the same old salads, so this definitely got me out of my rut! 🙂
What a lovely salad perfect for spring!!
Thank you, Jocelyn! It’s definitely perfect for those warm weather days and barbecues! 🙂
I love arugula, this looks like a great way to use it! Raspberry dressing is one of my favorites too.
Arugula is my favorite green, and it tastes so good with sweet ingredients like the berries! 🙂
It really does make the salad! That raspberry vinegar is heavenly. 🙂 Thanks for the pin, Alyssa!
I don’t normally add blackberries to salad either, Carol, and it was such a nice change! The dressing really was the crowning glory. 🙂
Such a pretty salad Marcie! I love arugula and salads with lots of fruit are my favorite! The raspberry vinaigrette sounds fantastic – so light and refreshing and perfect for the warmer days ahead – pinned 🙂
Thank you, Kelly! It’s definitely a great warm weather salad, and I think I will be making it all summer long! 🙂
This certainly does look like a special salad! You’ve added so many great parts to make a totally crave-worthy salad. I’ll have to find some nice raspberry vinegar to make that raspberry vinaigrette!
I hope you’re able to find the vinegar and you enjoy the salad, Kristine! Have a great weekend. 🙂
Sounds like you had a lovely Mother’s Day Marcie!! I love this fresh pretty salad! It is perfect for summer!! 🙂
It is perfect for summer! Thank you, Renee, and have a great weekend! 🙂
Vinaigrettes are my favorite too — they’re so easy and so good. I hope you find that arugula, Mary Frances, and have a great weekend! 🙂
What a wonderful salad Marcie! I find it hard to believe there was ever a time you didn’t cook well 🙂
The pepperiness of arugula makes it one of my favorite greens!
Thank you for the compliment, Christin, but there really was a time that I didn’t cook well (pretty horribly, really). haha Hope you’re having a wonderful time this weekend! 🙂
I can see why you are the Salad Queen Marcie, that salad is gorgeous! Salads are always an afterthought for me, unless I am making one as the main course 😉 Have a wonderful weekend!!
Thanks, Lisa! Hope you’re having a great Memorial Day weekend! 🙂
Marcie, I love this salad – so perfect for summer! The flavor combo is exactly what I like! Pinning and thanks for sharing with us at MM tonight!!!
Thanks, Deb, and I hope you get to try the salad! I’m thinking about making it tonight since I still have that vinaigrette in the fridge. 🙂 Thanks for hosting and have a great holiday! p.s. love the photos of your granddaughter on instagram!
I adore berry salads like this! So light and refreshing! Yum! 🙂
Thank you, Jocelyn! 🙂
I am definitely the salad queen too, I could eat one for just about every meal! And I love arugula! I can eat it plain because of the peppery taste, it’s just too good. But this berry salad with your vinaigrette sounds wonderful, Marcie! Wishing I had this for lunch today!
Arugula is one of my favorites and I love eating it plain too! Thanks so much Gayle!
Yuuuuum! I could eat a salad like this daily! Love fresh berries and homemade vinaigrette! Your photos are gorgeous! I can see why this is a recipe you’d enjoy re-visiting time and again!
Thanks so much Julia! 🙂
LOVE berries (and goat cheese!) in my salad! I could go for a huge bowl of this right now; I’m a salad all day kind of girl. But I sort of can’t believe you were ever NOT a fabulous cook!
Ahh you are so sweet but it’s totally true! 🙂
You know how much I loooooove a good salad, and guuuurl, you know how to rock some stellar salads! Even though I KNOW you can cook, I’m still going to dub you the salad queen… mmmmkay? 😉 This salad looks BERRY delicious, Marcie! I’m loving everything about it, from the goat cheese and berries to the arugula and raspberry balsamic vinaigrette! ALL SOOOO YUM! Can’t wait to try this! Cheers, dear!
Thank you so much Cheyanne…this means a lot coming from you! You’re a true salad queen! 🙂
Beautiful salad. It looks like a mountain of jewels with summer berries. And I particularly love your raspberry balsamic vinaigrette
Thanks so much Balvinder! It’s such a great way to enjoy berries. 🙂
I’m not even lying when I say this is exactly the kind of salad I make regularly! Goat cheese, pecans, berries and hearty greens. It’s PERFECT! Great job, salad queen!!
Thank you Katherine! Aren’t these flavors just too good?