Consider this your prescription for eating more salad.

The dressing totally makes the salad. It was inspired by a fabulous one my boyfriend's mom made last week, loaded with fresh strawberries, feta and a perfectly sweet dressing. Being the health freak that I am, I upped the vinegar, ditched the sugar for pure maple syrup, lowered the amount of oil and added a touch of water. The dressing tastes pretty much the same as the original, but boasts a much better nutrition profile. Did I mention that it tastes AMAAAAAAZE? This is THE salad dressing.
And who doesn't want an excuse to eat more pizza? More salad = more pizza.
I adore the dressing over mixed greens with strawberries, pecans and feta, but it would also be incredible with fresh or grilled peaches, candied walnuts, avocado, dried cranberries, goat cheese, etc. I mean the possibilities really are endless here.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Having a delish homemade dressing in the fridge is the key to eating more salad, which means more veggies, which means less chronic disease, which means living longer. Right? Right. More veggies = longer life, kapeesh?
When the salad tastes like a dream, it's easy to eat a whole bag of mixed greens without even knowing it. That's what we're going for here.
Do yourself a favor and make a batch of this dressing to have in the fridge for those emergencies situations when you realize the only vegetable you ate that day was a slice of tomato, which is actually a fruit. Happens to the best of us.
Don't panic. Eat this.
Strawberry Pecan Salad with Sweet Maple Dressing
Strawberry Pecan Salad with Sweet Maple Dressing
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 5 mins
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Salads
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 4 cups mixed greens
- 1 cup diced strawberries
- 1 avocado, cubed
- ¼ red onion, sliced thin
- ⅓ cup pecans
- ⅓ cup feta (optional)
- For the dressing:
- ¼ cup oil (I used grapeseed)
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp water
- ¼ tsp worcestershire sauce (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add all salad ingredients to a large bowl and toss to combine.
- Whisk together dressing ingredients and drizzle over prepared salad immediately before serving. (There will be dressing left over.) Toss to combine.
Lauren says
So delicious. My 5 year old requested the bagged "blueberry" salad from the grocery store, but since there were no bagged salad kits, I googled a sweet salad dressing and yours is what I found. Approved by kids 5 - 35 tonight 😉 and definitely a healthier version than what I could buy.
I didn't have any feta, so we skipped the cheese all together. Thanks for sharing such a yummy dressing.
Jan says
I know this is 4 years after you posted this but I couldn't even wait until I finished eating my salad to let you know I love it! Thank you!
Nancy says
I made this delicious salad to go with our grilled salmon last night and it was truly delicious.
April says
this is delish! now on my regular lunch rotation. 🙂
Alexis says
Insert the clapping hand emoji here 🙂
April says
I just had it for lunch again today! It's deeeelicious and the dressing seriously is da bomb. Making your recipes makes me feel less lonely without you. Haha. Hope you are having an aaaaamazing time! Love seeing all the pics you post on Insta & FB! xoxo
Tamara Coleman says
It looks great! I'm excited to try the dressing! 🙂
http://www.prettybitchescancooktoo.com
Alexis says
Thanks, Tamara! Let me know if you try it.
Alexis says
SUCH a money saver!
Alexis says
It would be FAB with grilled peaches! And maybe some candied walnuts? And goat cheese!?! Ok I'm getting excited.
Alexis says
You gotta love the pizza and salad combo! Your daughter would love this salad--it's perfectly sweet and weirdly addicting!