Strawberry salad with lemon Dijon vinaigrette

A lot of people prefer “lighter” meals in the summer, but they don’t want to feel hungry a few hours later! So I’m sharing ideas to transform your wimpy side salad into a hearty dinner salad.

Salads are a great way to use fresh, local ingredients, and they make a great base for whatever you’re grilling.

There are no rules to building a dinner salad, but there are certain key elements every good dinner salad should contain.

Those elements are greens, protein, fruit, nuts, and cheese.

Another key to building the perfect salad is using ingredients that are in season. That’s what is going to help it taste the best. Fortunately, summer is the best time to do that in Indiana as we approach a season where most produce is readily available.

If you’re worried about the amount of time it takes to prep the ingredients for salad, you can always buy pre-cut ingredients or use rotisserie chicken as a shortcut.

The last thing I want to emphasize before I discuss this particular recipe is salad dressing. I think the biggest misconception about salad dressings is fat makes you fat. NOT TRUE! Fat slows the digestion process, and it’s great for heart health and glowing skin. That’s why you don’t need a fat-free dressing.

BUT you should avoid dressings high in saturated fat and added sugar. Pay close attention to that when you’re looking at the label.

When time allows, make your own salad dressing. That way you can control everything that goes into it. It also tastes a lot better!

Now, onto this strawberry salad! Here’s the breakdown if the ingredients I used:

Greens: Spinach—it is packed with iron and fiber, among other macronutrients. It’s also currently in season in Indiana.

Protein: Grilled chicken breast—salads are versatile enough that you can incorporate anything you grill with them. I also added bacon because bacon makes everything better.

Fruit: Strawberries—they’re currently in season in Indiana!

Nuts: Pecans—they provide a crunch like croutons, but they contain important nutrients like manganese which is important for helping your metabolism properly function.

Cheese: Goat cheese—it’s a little bit lower in fat than other cheeses , and it has a tangy taste which pairs well with the sweetness of the strawberries.

Miscellaneous: Pickled onions—Not as sharp of a taste as raw onions, and they’re easier to eat, in my opinion. Also, red onions are important for your immune and digestive systems.

Strawberry salad with lemon Dijon vinaigrette

Serves about 4 people

Ingredients

For the salad

• 6 cups baby spinach
• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 8 ounces)
• 4 pieces of bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 cup strawberries, sliced
• 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
• 1/4 cup goat cheese, crumbled
• 1/2 cup pickled onions

For the pickled onions

• 1 medium onion, sliced very thin
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon honey
• 2 teaspoons salt

For the lemon Dijon vinaigrette dressing

• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 Tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

For the pickled onions

1. Place onion in mason jar or another bowl with lid.
2. Warm water for 2 minutes in microwave or on stove. Add vinegar, honey, and salt, and whish until it looks uniform. Pour over onion. Cover and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve. They’ll stay good for up to 3 weeks.

For the salad

1. In a large bowl, toss all of the ingredients together.

For the lemon Dijon vinaigrette

1. Add ingredients to mason jar and shake or whisk together in bowl. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

Dressing recipe adapted from The Kitchen Girl