Berry Spring Salad with Raspberry Balsamic Vinaigrette

What has bacon, three kinds of berries and a REAL raspberry balsamic vinaigrette? This fresh berry spring salad! A mix of spring greens is topped with crispy bacon, sliced avocados, fresh strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, goat cheese, pistachios and the most amazing raspberry balsamic vinaigrette!

Course Salads

Cuisine American

Keyword blackberry, Fair Trade, raspberry, raspberry vinaigrette, salad, spring, strawberry

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 15

Total Time 30

Servings servings

Calories 585

Author Laurie McNamara

Ingredients

FOR THE RASPBERRY BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE:

6 ounces raspberries rinsed and drained
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 (small) clove garlic grated
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt more or less to personal taste
1/4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 to 2 pinches red pepper flakes
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar raspberry infused
1 tablespoon honey
6 tablespoons light olive oil

FOR THE BERRY SALAD:

5 ounces mixed spring salad green
4 slices thick-cut bacon cooked and chopped
1 avocado halved and sliced
8 ounces fresh strawberries raspberries and blackberries (more or less to preference)
2 ounces goat cheese crumbled
1/4 cup chopped pistachios
balsamic rosemary grilled chicken breasts sliced

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

FOR THE RASPBERRY BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE:

Place 6 ounces of raspberries into a bowl with 1 tablespoon of sugar. Use fork to combine and mashed the raspberries in with the sugar. Set aside.
In a glass jar, add in the garlic, salt, pepper chili flakes, vinegar, honey and olive oil.
Next, strain the berries into mesh strainer that's set into a clean bowl. Use a rubber spatula to press the fruit through the mesh and collecting the juice in the bowl below. Discard the seeds and pour the juice into the jar. Secure the lid and shake well to combine.

FOR THE BERRY SALAD:

Arrange the spring mix into shallow bowls or salad plates. Top with grilled chicken (if using), slices of avocado, a combination of berries, crumbled goat cheese, chopped bacon, pistachios and drizzle with a few spoonfuls of the fresh raspberry vinaigrette.

Nutrition