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For years, I thought salads had to look a certain way—bland iceberg lettuce, salty croutons, and a thick, creamy dressing. I ate them… but I didn’t love them. That all changed when I realized how fresh, vibrant, and satisfying salads can actually be.
This strawberry mixed greens salad is one of my favorites. It’s all about the balance—crisp greens, sweet fruit, creamy avocado, and that bright strawberry basil vinaigrette that brings everything to life. This is the kind of salad you’ll actually crave. Enjoy!
Table of Contents
What is a Mixed Greens Salad?
A mixed green salad is a simple salad made with a variety of leafy greens—like spring mix, spinach, arugula, or lettuce—topped with fresh ingredients and a dressing. It’s known for being light, flexible, and easy to customize based on what you have on hand.
This recipe stands out because it’s more balanced and satisfying—with fruit, healthy fats, crunch, and a homemade strawberry basil dressing that adds fresh, vibrant flavor.
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How to Make Mixed Greens Salad
This mixed greens salad recipe is filled with these greens, plus tangy green apple, creamy avocado, and crunchy almonds. Seriously, this salad is the perfect meal when your sweet tooth comes calling and you’re trying to eat healthy.
1. Wash and dry greens
A recent study done by Consumer Reports says that we should all be washing any produce that comes into our cooking spaces, whether “pre-washed”, organic or otherwise. This is because even those mixed greens carefully washed by well meaning producers can still contain contaminants from E. coli, chemicals and more.
2. Chop apples, avocado and cucumber
I like to chop them all into bite-size pieces (the smaller, the better).
3. Make the Strawberry viniagarette
Combine dressing ingredients in a high-speed blender or food processor and puree into the best dressing you’ve ever had with mixed greens.
4. prepare the plate
Add the mixed greens first, and then toppings to the plate. Drizzle dressing on top and enjoy!
Make-Ahead Tips
If you want this salad for work, prep it all in a mason jar. It’s seriously so easy! Simply layer the ingredients in the mason jar. Keep the strawberry dressing in a separate container until time to eat. When you’re ready to eat, pour the dressing on top, give the mason jar a good shake, and enjoy!
Strawberry Mixed Greens Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cup spring mix greens loosely packed
- 1 cucumber thinly sliced
- 1 green apple diced
- 1 avocado sliced
- ¼ cup sliced almonds
Dressing
- 1 cup strawberries diced
- 6 fresh basil fresh, roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 tsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp pure maple syrup
- pinch sea salt, unrefined
- pinch black pepper, ground ground, to taste
Instructions
- Arrange salad ingredients on plates.
- Puree the dressing ingredients in a blender or food processor. Taste and add more salt and pepper, if needed.
- Drizzle some of the dressing over salad (you may not need all of it). Eat immediately.
Notes
- Swap mixed greens with the leafy greens of your choice.
- Oil-free? Omit the olive oil. It’ll still be delicious and less caloric.
- Lemon Vinaigrette would also be delicious on this recipe.
- Add the nuts or seeds of your choice for more healthy fats + protein.
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review for a chance to win signed copies of my cookbooks!Common Questions
Yes! If you have a favorite dressing, feel free to swap out my Strawberry Vinaigrette. Yet I do encourage you to make it one time like this because it’s out-of-this-world delicious!
You sure can. You can swap it for any leafy green you prefer or have on hand. You might check out our Leafy Greens Guide for more inspiration.
In all my salads, I try and use some sorta nuts, seeds or protein to help me stay full. A salad is typically a meal for me, which means it needs a variety of fiber, healthy fats, protein and carbs to keep me full until the next meal.
Really good vinaigrette, great combo of flavours between the strawberries and basilic. I like the cucumber a little less in the mix. But will definitely keep this one
Rawesome! You can def omit the cucumber! Make this recipe work for you.
Oh my gosh! This salad hit all the right flavor notes and was filling. I had never thought before about a strawberry basil dressing but it may have become my favorite of all time!
This salad had a crisp flavor and would make a good side salad. The green apple was the balancing ingredient. Unfortunately my avocado was not ripe to include. Next time.
Delicious and easy to make!
I loved the Strawberry Mixed Greens salad! The main thing I changed was doubling the greens and adding zesty microgreens! I also used half of the dressing and finished with sea salt flakes. The fresh cukes with the tart apple balanced with creamy avocado and sweet dressing- so fresh and tasty!
I loved this salad! The dressing was my favorite part and so easy to make. I did add more almonds to balance out the sweetness. Can’t wait to have the other serving for lunch tomorrow!
Omg!!! Sooo delicious, first of all, I love vegetables and lots of greens also fruits. The sauce was amazing I’m going to add this to my recipes. Thank you!
Loved how quickly this came together after I prepped the dressing the night before (I halved the maple syrup). I definitely recommend adding a few fresh sliced strawberries (or other berry) to the salad, too. The avocado added such great texture.
Loved how quickly this came together after I prepped the dressing the night before (I halved the maple syrup). I definitely recommend adding a few fresh sliced strawberries (or other berry) to the salad, too. The avocado added such great texture. The basil in the dressing was
Great suggestion to add fresh strawberries!
Totally enjoyed this. Fabulous dressing. Will definitely make this again. I didn’t have basil so I used cilantro; and used walnuts instead of almonds.
I bet cilantro was an amazing substitute in this dressing!
It was a nice taste between sweet and tangy. Apple gave nice crunch. Dressing was good.
Delicious! Loved the dressing.
This salad was so good! I loved the strawberry basil dressing! This salad wold be good for a ladies luncheon!
I didn’t use all the dressing. Nice combination of flavors and textures.
The mixed greens salad was a nice mix of fruits and veggies, with different textures. I liked that it included some protein and healthy fats so it can serve as a quick, healthy meal. I’m looking forward to leftovers for lunch tomorrow!
Salad was tasty. The dressing was a little too tart for my taste, but I think it’s because my strawberries weren’t quite ripe enough to give it sweetness. Next time I might add a little more maple syrup unless I have sweet in season strawberries. However, the basil gave it a nice refreshing flavor.
It was refreshing to have something other than my usual garden salad. i cannot have hone nor maple syrup so I substituted couple of dates. It went well. Thanks.
Dates are a great substitute, Marlena! Great call!
I made the leafy green salad with the strawberry dressing. I love love loved the salad. I used roasted sliced almonds and they were so tasty and left a great crunch. I thought the dressing was okay, might have liked it better with a little vinegar, but in all honesty it was a little out of my comfort zone as far as dressing is concerned and it wasn’t bad. The combination of apple, avacado and almonds made for a tasty salad. I am looking forward to tomorrows salad.
Hooray for getting out of your comfort zone! Way to challenge yourself! #RawkstarStatus
I liked the dressing, the salad was ok. Not enough crunch for me though.
Delicious- awesome dressing, though I used a bit less basil. Makes me think of summer.
It was simply to make and very tasty, light and refreshing. There was more dressing than I needed for my salad so I used it as a snack later, and just dipped cucumbers in it. So good!
Good idea!
This is a great salad! My fav part it the strawberry dressing! I always make extra 😉
This salad is light and refreshing! The strawberry dressing is delicious. It would be a great dish to take to and share at a summer picnic! Thanks for another great recipe, Jen!
This was a hit with the whole family! This is my new go-to recipe when strawberries are just past their prime.
So delicious. This was my first time trying something like this and not only was it delicious, but it was fun and simple to make. I All I can say is yummy!