Summer Salad With Berries

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my summer salad recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.

• Fresh Spinach – I love the tender texture of fresh spinach as the base for this summer salad, but romaine lettuce works great too for a crunchier bite. Sometimes I toss in some fresh herbs, too, like basil or mint.
• Fresh Berries – I mixed raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries to make this a berry salad. Blueberries, sliced cherries, peaches, nectarines, or even watermelon would also work. The key is using fruit that’s ripe, juicy, and not too watery after cutting.
• Fresh Mozzarella Balls – I recommend the cherry-sized ones, called ciliegine, which are a good size for individual bites. The fresh mozzarella gives this Caprese salad vibes and pairs well with the berries, but you can swap in feta cheese, goat cheese, burrata, or even blue cheese if you prefer a tangier, creamier, or bolder flavor.
• Avocado – Adds a rich, buttery bite. I add avocado to most of my salads!
• Sliced Almonds – For a light crunch that feels summery. Pecans or walnuts work too, but feel a little heavier. Feel free to swap in sunflower seeds for a nut-free option.
• Strawberry Vinaigrette – I made this 3-ingredient dressing specifically for this recipe, with avocado oil, apple cider vinegar, and my real-fruit strawberry syrup. And truly, it’s my favorite thing about this salad.

VARIATION: Want to add fresh veggies?

Sometimes I toss in zucchini, corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, or even red onions. They work well with the same dressing. You can add one or two of them in addition to the berries, or add them all instead of the berries.

How To Make The Best Summer Salad

The best summer salad recipes have contrast: something fresh and juicy, something creamy, something crunchy, and a dressing that ties it all together. This one checks all those boxes! Here’s how I layer it, or really any other summer salad:

1. Start with the dressing. Whether it’s my strawberry dressing or any other kind, I highly recommend making it first. It gives the flavors a little time to develop, plus the salad ingredients stay fresh until closer to serving time.
2. Spread out the greens. I recommend a platter over a deep bowl, because it helps the toppings sit on top instead of sinking to the bottom, so every serving gets a little of everything.
3. Add juicy summer fruit. I add it next since it usually takes up a lot of space and is easy to arrange over plain greens. In this case, it was raspberries, blackberries, and sliced strawberries.
4. Add something creamy. Scatter cheese and avocado over the salad. The creamy texture balances the tangy dressing and sweet berries.
5. Finish with crunch. I sprinkled sliced almonds over the top. Adding them last helps keep them crunchy.
6. Dress right before serving. Drizzle the dressing over the summer salad at the end, or serve it on the side if you’re making this for a party. This keeps the spinach fresh and the berries from getting weighed down.

Serving Ideas

This summer salad is fresh, colorful, and a little sweet, so it works best with simple mains that let the berries and strawberry vinaigrette shine. Here are my favorite ways to serve it:

• Cookouts – Serve it with grilled chicken thighs, grilled steak, chicken burgers, or smash burgers. The berries make this salad feel so summery for BBQs.
• Seafood dinners – This is my favorite option because seafood is naturally light, and so is this salad! Try it with my air fryer salmon, pan seared tilapia, shrimp skewers, or for date night, grilled lobster tail.
• Brunch – Add it to a spread with my crustless quiche, frittata, breakfast casserole, or egg muffins. The berry salad is the perfect fresh side to balance the savory eggs and still feel brunchy.
• Lunch main dish – Canned or quick roasted chickpeas are my favorite easy add-in for this salad, but grilled chicken, salmon lox, or even sliced skirt steak would also be really good with the punchy dressing.

More Summer Salad Recipes

Fresh salads are one of my favorite ways to enjoy summer produce, especially when it’s too hot for anything heavy. Try one of my other easy summer salad recipes next:

Zucchini Salad

Cucumber Tomato Salad

Peach Salad

Strawberry Spinach Salad