Northwest Summer Berry Salad
Dive into the vibrant flavors of the Pacific Northwest with our Summer Berry Salad, perfect for those warm, sunny days. This refreshing salad is a celebration of the season’s best berries, with a sweet honey and citrus kick. Ideal for picnics, barbecues, or a light lunch on the patio – it’s your new go-to summer dish!
Why You’ll Love This Summer Berry Salad
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Vibrant Summer Salad
Oh, hey there, summer vibes! This summer berry salad is everything you love about the season, packed into one gorgeous bowl.
Inspired by the abundance of local Pacific Northwest berries available in summer, this salad features juicy, sweet berries paired with tangy goat cheese, toasty hazelnuts, and crisp greens, all topped with a zesty honey citrus dressing that’ll make your taste buds sing.
Perfect for lazy picnics, backyard barbecues, or a quick and fresh lunch. It’s easy to throw together but looks super fancy – you know, the kind of dish that makes you feel like a kitchen rockstar.
Plus, it’s totally good for you, so you can feel great about every delicious bite. Summer, we’re ready for you!
Looking for more simple yet elegant summer salads? Be sure to try our lemony green bean salad with goat cheese, charred corn salad with smoky lime dressing, mango avocado cucumber salad, simple strawberry spring salad, and our panzanella salad with fresh mozzarella.
Seasonal Produce Spotlight: Berries
In the Pacific Northwest, summer means one thing: berry season! Our lush region is renowned for producing some of the juiciest, most flavorful berries around. Here’s a quick rundown of the stars in our Northwest Summer Berry Salad:
Strawberries
Sweet and juicy, these berries are at their best from June through July. Learn more at Oregon Strawberries.
Blueberries
Packed with antioxidants, they add a tart-sweet flavor. Peak season is mid-July to September. More info at Washington Blueberries.
Raspberries
Delicate and sweet, raspberries shine in June and July. Explore more at Washington Raspberries.
Blackberries
Juicy with a hint of tartness, blackberries are best from July to September. Discover more at Oregon Berries.
Key Ingredients
For the Salad
- Strawberries: Strawberries add a sweet, juicy element to the salad. Locally sourced, Pacific Northwest grown and in-season berries offer the best flavor.
- Blueberries: Blueberries provide a burst of tangy sweetness and are rich in antioxidants.
- Raspberries: Raspberries bring a delicate sweetness and a touch of tartness. Their freshness and quality are unparalleled.
- Blackberries: Blackberries add depth with their juicy, slightly tart flavor.
- Mixed greens (such as spinach, arugula, and spring mix): The mixed greens provide a nutritious base with a variety of textures and flavors.
- Goat cheese: Goat cheese offers a creamy, tangy contrast to the sweet berries.
- Hazelnuts: Toasted hazelnuts give the salad a crunchy, nutty element. Hazelnuts are also a major local PNW crop.
- Shallots: Shallots add a mild, slightly sweet and punchy onion flavor.
For the Citrus DRESSING
- Freshly squeezed orange juice: Orange juice provides a bright, sweet citrus note.
- Lemon juice: Lemon juice adds a zesty tang that balances the sweetness of the berries and honey.
- Honey: Honey sweetens the dressing naturally.
- Olive oil: Olive oil gives the dressing a smooth, rich base.
- Salt and pepper to taste: Season the dressing with salt and pepper to enhance the flavors.
*Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
We recommend enjoying this summer berry salad with creamy chicken corn chowder, herb crusted cod, creamy vegetable pasta, or pesto crusted salmon. These dishes complement the fresh, vibrant flavors of the salad, creating a delightful and balanced meal that’s perfect for any summer gathering.
Party Tip: Red, White, and Blue Presentation
For a festive and patriotic touch, assemble your Northwest Summer Berry Salad in a red, white, and blue design perfect for summer holidays like the 4th of July! Here’s how:
- Create the Red, White, and Blue Design:
- Use a wide oval bowl as your serving dish.
- Spread the mixed greens evenly across the bottom of the bowl.
- Arrange the raspberries and strawberries in horizontal rows on one side to represent the red stripe.
- Next, place a row of crumbled goat cheese, a row of hazelnuts, and a row of shallots for the white stripe.
- Finally, arrange the blueberries and blackberries in horizontal rows on the other side for the blue stripe.
- Mixing and Serving:
- Just before serving, drizzle the honey citrus dressing over the entire salad.
- Gently toss the salad to mix all the ingredients together, ensuring the berries and cheese are evenly distributed.
- Serve immediately.
This festive presentation will impress your guests and add a patriotic flair to your summer celebration. Enjoy the compliments and the delicious salad!
Recipe Tips
- Use Fresh, Local Berries: Opt for fresh, locally sourced berries whenever possible. Their peak-season sweetness and flavor will elevate the salad.
- Balance the Flavors: Taste the dressing before adding it to the salad and adjust the sweetness or acidity by tweaking the honey and lemon juice to your liking.
- Toast the Nuts: Toasting hazelnuts enhances their flavor and crunch. Do this in advance and let them cool completely before adding to the salad.
- Slice Shallots Thinly: Thinly sliced shallots blend better with the other ingredients and offer a subtle flavor without overpowering the salad.
- Assemble Just Before Serving: For the freshest taste and best presentation, toss the salad with the dressing just before serving to prevent the greens from wilting.
- Garnish with Fresh Herbs: Add a sprinkle of fresh herbs like mint or basil for an extra burst of flavor and a beautiful presentation.
- Customize to Taste: Feel free to swap out the hazelnuts for other nuts like almonds or walnuts, or try different cheeses such as feta for a different twist.
This Northwest Summer Berry Salad is a beautiful medley of colors and tastes, capturing the essence of a Pacific Northwest summer. It’s simple yet sophisticated, making it perfect for any occasion. Enjoy!
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a rating in the comments below and let us know how it turned out. Your feedback is important to us. Thank you for visiting Maplevine Kitchen!
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Northwest Summer Berry Salad
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- ¾ cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- ½ cup fresh blueberries
- ½ cup fresh raspberries
- ½ cup fresh blackberries
- 6 cups mixed greens (such as spinach, arugula, and baby kale)
- ⅓ cup goat cheese, crumbled (about 3 oz.)
- ¼ cup hazelnuts, toasted and chopped
- ¼ cup shallots, thinly sliced
For the Honey Citrus Dressing:
- 3 tablespoons orange juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper, to taste to taste
Instructions
Prepare the Salad:
- In a large bowl, combine the mixed greens, sliced strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries.
- Add the crumbled goat cheese, toasted hazelnuts, and thinly sliced shallot.
Make the Dressing:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the freshly squeezed orange juice, lemon juice, and honey until well combined.
- Gradually add the olive oil, whisking continuously until the dressing is emulsified.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Assemble the Salad:
- Drizzle the honey citrus dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all the ingredients evenly.
- Serve immediately and enjoy the burst of fresh, summery flavors!
Recipe Notes
Variation and Substitutions
- Cheese Substitute: Swap goat cheese with feta, blue cheese, or fresh mozzarella for a different flavor profile.
- Nuts: Replace toasted hazelnuts with almonds, walnuts, pecans, or even sunflower seeds for a nut-free option.
- Greens: Use romaine, butter lettuce, or a spring mix instead of the suggested mixed greens.
- Protein Addition: Add grilled chicken, shrimp, or salmon to make it a more substantial meal.
- Dressing Twist: Try a balsamic vinaigrette or a poppy seed dressing if you prefer a different dressing flavor.
Leftovers and Storage
- Leftovers: Store any leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It’s best consumed within 1-2 days to maintain freshness.
- Dressing: Keep any extra honey citrus dressing in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to a week. Shake well before using again.
- Berries: If you have leftover berries, store them in a separate container and add them to the salad just before serving to prevent them from becoming mushy.
Nutrition
*Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Maplevine Kitchen makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
