Berry salad

Cooking time 20 min
Berry salad

Fancy a salad that is equal parts crunchy, juicy, and creamy? Then say hello to our berry salad. It is full of sweet berries, green asparagus, leafy greens, mellow white cheese, and golden roasted almonds. To make things even tastier, we coat everything in a strawberry and poppy seed dressing. This fruity side is ready in 20 minutes, with flavours so fresh it feels like your plate took a quick stroll through the garden.

Ingredients

Green asparagus
500 g
Fresh berries
500 g
Rocket salad
70 g
Baby spinach
70 g
200 g
Sliced almonds, roasted
100 g

Strawberry and poppy seed dressing

Strawberries
200 g
Sugar
1 tbsp
White wine vinegar
3 tbsp
Oil
100 ml
Salt
1 tsp
Black pepper
¼ tsp
Poppy seeds
1 tbsp
Fresh basil
50 ml

Instructions

  • Trim the woody ends from asparagus, then boil for 2 minutes. Rinse and transfer to ice-cold water.
  • Mix fresh berries, rocket, baby spinach, white cheese, and toasted almonds in a large salad bowl.
  • For the dressing, blend strawberries, sugar, ​basil, and white wine vinegar until smooth (or use a hand blender). With the blender running, slowly pour in the oil. Season with salt, pepper, and poppy seeds.
  • Pour the dressing over the salad and serve.

Recommended information

Serving suggestion

Enjoy!

Clean the berries

Rinse all berries under cold water before using, as dirt and tiny insects can hide in all the nooks. Bigger berries like strawberries do best under a gentle stream while you hold them by the stem. For smaller berries like blueberries or raspberries, place them in a colander and rinse lightly or dip them in a bowl of water to avoid bruising. Pat everything dry with a paper towel so they stay firm and do not water down the salad.

Use fresh asparagus

Choose fresh asparagus stalks with tightly closed heads that feel crisp and springy from tip to end. The stems should hold their shape, and the base should look freshly cut, not dry or woody. Once you get them home, a fresh stalk should snap easily near the base, which is a good sign you picked well.

Choose a high-quality oil

The oil you use in the dressing makes a big difference, so go for one with a clean, mild taste that will not interfere with the flavours of the basil and strawberries. Cold-pressed rapeseed oil works well, or use light olive oil if you prefer a fruitier note.

FAQ: Questions about berry salad

To make things run smoothly in your kitchen, we answer a few key questions about prepping and storing the berry salad.

How to store the berry salad?

Store your berry salad in the fridge and try to eat it within a day while everything still feels fresh and crisp. If you can, keep the salad and dressing in separate containers, as it helps the greens and berries stay firm. 

How long can I store the dressing?

Store the dressing in a sealed jar or container in the fridge and use it within 3 days. Give it a good shake before serving, as the oil may separate slightly over time.

Can I prepare the berry salad in advance?

Yes, you can prepare the berry salad a few hours ahead if you keep the salad and dressing separate. Keep everything chilled and hold off combining it until the last moment to keep it fresh.

Nutritional values

Nutritional value, per

1826 Kcal

Fibre 57.3 gram fibers
Protein 42.8 gram
Carbohydrates 75.2 gram
Fat 152.3 gram

Fresh and fruity berry salad with asparagus

This berry salad recipe boasts an undeniable allure, shaped by a fresh and fruity harmony that creates layers of sweetness, sharpness, and crunch. Though similarly sweet, each berry brings a different character to the mix. Strawberries release their fragrant aroma and juiciness straight away, while blueberries offer a jam-like texture and a tart undertone, pulling the sweetness in a more comforting direction.

We quickly blanch green asparagus to take off the raw edge while keeping the crunch, which gives it a clean, fresh flavour with a gentle earthiness that anchors the sweetness of the fruit. Together with the spinach and rocket salad, these vibrant elements turn this fresh and fruity berry salad with asparagus into a colourful celebration—it is light, bright, and bursting with seasonal flavour.

This berry salad is just one of our fresh favourites. Explore our sweet-savoury watermelon pizza, crisp gem lettuce salad, or herby falafel salad.

Creamy and crunchy with white cheese and toasted almonds

Creaminess and crunchiness sit side by side in this salad. The white cheese softens slightly into the berries and greens yet stays firm enough to give it that signature crumble. Its slight tang and saltiness sharpen the sweetness of the fruit and pull more flavour out of the greens, making the whole mix feel more defined.

We toss in toasted almonds for their lovely bite. Toasting them draws out their sweeter notes and deepens their nutty taste, while their crunch breaks up the softness of the other elements. It is a salad that lingers, from its textures to its flavours.

Tangy sweetness from strawberry-poppy seed dressing

The lively mix of berries and greens lays the foundation, but it is the dressing that brings the entire salad together. Strawberries and sugar contribute to the sweetness, while white wine vinegar reins them in with its tanginess. Poppy seeds swirl through, leaving behind a gentle nuttiness, and fresh basil introduces a minty-sweet note.

Everything is blended into a smooth, slightly thick dressing that pours easily while clinging to the ingredients. The dressing plays a major part in taking the salad up a notch. It perks up the rocket, deepens the berries, and smooths out the cheese, like a final brushstroke that makes all the colours pop.

Serve the salad alongside your dinner

This light and fresh salad is more than happy to accompany your favourite mains. It slips easily onto the table next to grilled chicken, seared salmon, or roasted white fish. To build it into a fuller meal, fluffy couscous provides a gentle texture, ​​grilled vegetables mirror its freshness, and crusty bread adds a pleasant chewiness with a neutral flavour that lets the salad shine. Whichever direction you go, this berry salad keeps things tasting vibrant right to the last bite.

Add a personal touch

This berry salad is a starting point, ready for you to unlock your culinary creativity, and we have a few ideas to get you started. If you want to introduce more creaminess, add slices of avocado or include some mozzarella pears. The avocado is smooth and buttery with a nutty undertone, while the mozzarella contributes a delicate, milky touch.

However, if you wish to explore more robust flavours, add thinly sliced red onions for their sharp kick or a handful of peppery radishes for an additional boost of crunch.

https://www.arlafoods.co.uk/recipes/berry-salad/