This sweet and summery strawberry salad salad has crunch from almonds, fresh greens and a simple lemon-strawberry dressing to tie everything together. This is one of my favorite light lunches or first courses for warm nights that happens to be gluten-free and vegetarian.

Summer is the time to start putting fruit in every meal, from breakfasts like Blueberry Sage Scones to desserts like this creamy Peach and Apricot crumble. And don’t forget your savory salads in between. Strawberries lend a naturally sweet and juicy flavor that coats everything in this fresh green salad with summer flavor.

How to Make Feta-Strawberry Salad

This is a very forgiving recipe, so don’t worry if you don’t have all of the ingredients on hand. Here are some simple swaps that will still yield a refreshingly sweet and savory meal:

Feta adds natural creaminess and tang to the salad. If you can’t find feta, creamy goat cheese or a salty halloumi will also work. Or use dairy-free feta for a vegan salad.
Feel free to swap almonds for any other nut or even pumpkin seeds for a nut-free salad. Walnuts, pine nuts and hazelnuts all work well.
If you’re making this salad vegan, swap honey for maple syrup.
If you find that red onion is a bit too sharp for your liking, soak the sliced onion in cold water for 10 minutes to remove some of the bitey edge.

Early Summer Strawberry Salad

Yield: Serves: 2

This sweet summery salad has nutty crunch from almonds, brightness from a simple lemon-strawberry dressing, and creaminess from fresh feta. If you don’t have slivered almonds on hand, any nut will do. The added crunch turns this salad from good to great. You can achieve the same texture while keeping things nut-free by substituting sunflower seeds. Sumac is a zippy dried spice that adds a nice citrusy note. You can toss the sumac into the salad or simply finish the dish with a light sprinkle of the crimson spice.

Ingredients

8 ounces strawberries, sliced
⅓ cup thinly sliced red onions
2 tablespoons honey, warmed
1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
2 tablespoons olive oil
¼ cup slivered almonds
2 large handfuls organic supergreens (or any lettuce)
⅓ cup feta cheese (optional)
Sumac, to taste (optional)
Poppy seeds (optional garnish)

Instructions

In a small bowl, combine the strawberries, onions, honey, lemon juice, and olive oil. Toss and marinate for at least 10 minutes.
In a medium cast-iron skillet over medium heat, toast the almonds until lightly browned and toasty-smelling. Immediately transfer to a small bowl to cool.
In a serving bowl, add the greens, toasted almonds, feta, sumac, and poppy seeds if using. Add the strawberry dressing and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

What is Sumac?

Sumac is a deep red dried spice that’s common in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking. It’s made by drying the leaves from sumac plants.

It has a surprisingly bright, acidic and citrusy flavor that’s delicious with sweet berries. You can toss the sumac into the salad or sprinkle it on top for a pop of color and lemony flavor. If you can’t find sumac, substitute it with lemon zest.

More Salad Recipes with Fruit

If you love this summer strawberry salad recipe and want more like it, be sure to follow along on Instagram, where I’m always sharing new seasonal meals.