Description
Refreshing strawberry cucumber salad with honey balsamic dressing brings summer’s crisp symphony to your plate. Delicate strawberries and cool cucumbers mingle with sweet-tangy dressing, offering perfect balance for light, elegant dining.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients:
- 2 cups strawberries, fresh
- 1 large cucumber
- 1/4 cup red onion
- 2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves
Dressing Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Garnish Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup feta cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped almonds
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Thoroughly wash strawberries, cucumber, and mint leaves under cool running water to remove any potential dirt or residue.
- Hull and slice strawberries into thin, elegant wedges, creating a vibrant and appealing visual texture for the salad.
- Peel cucumber partially or completely, then slice into delicate, translucent half-moons or quarter-rounds for a crisp foundation.
- Finely mince red onion into delicate, translucent slivers to distribute a subtle, sharp flavor throughout the salad.
- Gently chop fresh mint leaves into fine, aromatic pieces to enhance the herb’s delicate fragrance and flavor profile.
- Whisk honey, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil together in a small bowl until the mixture becomes smooth and fully integrated.
- In a large serving bowl, combine sliced strawberries, cucumber, red onion, and mint leaves, creating a colorful and fresh base.
- Drizzle the honey balsamic dressing over the salad, carefully tossing to ensure even coating and distribution of flavors.
- Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese across the salad, allowing the tangy cheese to provide a creamy contrast to the sweet and fresh ingredients.
- Garnish with chopped almonds, adding a delightful crunch and nutty dimension to the salad’s texture.
- Season with a light dusting of salt and freshly ground black pepper to enhance and balance the overall flavor profile.
- Chill for 10-15 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and develop a refreshing temperature.
Notes
- Swap feta for vegan alternatives like cashew cheese or nutritional yeast to create a dairy-free version that maintains creamy richness.
- Reduce honey quantity or replace with agave nectar for a lower glycemic index option suitable for diabetic-friendly diets.
- Toast almonds briefly before adding to enhance their nutty flavor and create a more intense, roasted crunch in the salad.
- Slice vegetables uniformly to ensure consistent texture and balanced flavor distribution throughout the dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 5mg