Spring Greens Salad with Goat Cheese and Walnuts
A vibrant salad featuring mixed greens, creamy goat cheese, and various fresh ingredients, dressed in balsamic vinaigrette.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 18 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Salad
- Method: No Cooking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- Mixed greens (spring mix, baby spinach, or arugula blend)
- Goat cheese, crumbled
- Cherry tomatoes, halved
- Cucumber, sliced (English or Persian)
- Red onion, thinly sliced
- Avocado, diced (ripe but firm)
- Toasted walnuts (or toasted pecans if preferred)
- Balsamic vinaigrette (store-bought or homemade)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse and spin the mixed greens dry; place them in a large salad bowl.
- Add the halved cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, and thinly sliced red onion to the bowl.
- Dice the avocado and scatter it over the top so it stays visible rather than getting buried.
- Sprinkle the crumbled goat cheese evenly across the salad.
- Scatter the toasted walnuts over everything.
- Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Toss gently with tongs until ingredients are lightly coated and evenly distributed.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
For a nut-free option, substitute toasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds. To keep avocado from browning too quickly, toss lightly with lemon juice just before adding.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 15mg