Strawberries in a salad has been done a zillion times, but that’s because it’s so good. Strawberries, sweet, juicy and pretty lay well against a vinaigrette and bring a special flavor and balance to a salad. When the salad is arugula with strawberries and Manchego cheese, it’s a special treat, getting a little bit of sweet, savory, and creamy.
What I like most about this salad is that there are only three ingredients, yet it still tastes special. Arugula is one of those salad greens that brings such a blast of peppery tang that I don’t like to inundate with a lot of ingredients. I like to give it star billing and allow the dressing and a few ingredients to remain in important supporting roles.
The strawberries are Tennessee strawberries picked this past week, and they are sweet the way local berries in season are. Manchego cheese is one of my top five favorite cheeses. It’s an aged sheep’s milk cheese from Spain, that is crumbly and flavorful, and has universal appeal. I’ve never met anyone that has been hostile to Manchego. It’s marries well with fruit and the peppery arugula. The dressing is almost too simple here. Arugula takes oil quickly so one must be careful not to over dress it. A quick tossing of extra virgin olive oil, followed by a squeeze of fresh lemon and dot of good balsamic and the salad is done.
The Salad Bar
This is an entry for a new cooking group called the Salad bar started by Wendy, of Weekend Gourmet. Every month, we are assigned a new ingredient. I love salads and thought this would be fun.
If you don’t have strawberries, use a different berry. I love blackberries and had that on a different night.
If you want to try a very unique arugula berry salad, try this one made with a confetti of white chocolate instead of cheese.
Arugula, Berries, White Chocolate
So tell me, what do you like most in your salad?
- 4 cups arugula (or one container)
- 1 cup strawberries, trimmed and sliced in half
- 2 ounces Manchego cheese, shaved
- fresh lemon juice squeezed from half lemon
- ¼ teaspoon syrupy balsamic vinegar (optional)
- sea salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- Toss arugula with one tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, one teaspoon at a time because you may not need it to. Add lemon juice and balsamic vinegar. Toss again. Season with salt and pepper. Add strawberries and cheese.
Sometimes the simplest ingredients, make the most delicious meal. This would be a salad I love!
I love Arugula. I am sure the peppery taste goes well with the sweet strawberries. I will have to give it a try. We have receiving a lot of strawberries from our CSA and I have enjoyed finding dishes for them!
This salad looks beautifully simple and delicious.
Angela,the combo of Arugula and Strawberries is one of our favorites over at Food on Fifth. We have a salad most week nights for dinner…I call our meals “variations on a salad” and we often combine sweet berries with peppery arugula. Love what you have done with your salad combos.
I love your photos! And strawberries with arugula is one of my favorite combinations for salads. Hands down.
Count me in the manchego club!
I love manchego! This looks wonderful!
The use of manchego cheese is brilliant. Your salad is most excellent.
With tomorrows din din. Thanks : >
I love Manchego, but still have not tried arugula yet. Need to fix that. And white chocolate on a salad? Oh my! Would love to try that too.
I’ve never had Manchego cheese – but given how deeply I love cheese it sounds like I better check it out 🙂 I love simple, fresh salads like this, I can eat them by the bowlful.
The peppery arugula would go so nicely with the strawberries. Great combination!!
A delightful combination! This fresh and refined salad is really mouthwatering.
Cheers,
Rosa
Arugula has become my new favorite green…the perfect match for sweet berries. What a beautiful salad, Angela!
Simple and fresh seasonal ingredients…best salad! I totally love this salad.
Monchego is one of my favorite cheeses. I imagine it’s buttery flavor is amazing paired with those beautiful berries.
I so agree Shannon. It’s so butter and yet flavorful.
You know I cant resist a good salad. They can be thrown together at the last minute and there is never a shortage of combinations or ingredients.
Oh my garsh – all of those gorgeous strawberries! This is so simple, and so perfect. I adore arugula and can just taste the perfect compliments and contrasts between it and the strawberries and manchego. Yum!
Thanks, Heather
What a simple yet beautiful salad! Love spicy arugula!
That’s a great word to describe arugula, spicy.