Summer Salad with Strawberries and Candied Pecans

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Sweeten up your summer salad!

summer salad with strawberries and candied pecans

In my opinion, Summer time and salads go together like peanut butter and jelly. They’re cold, refreshing, and full of rich Summer nutrients. There’s one issue though when it comes to making salad. All too often, the recipes get old and boring pretty quickly. Fortunately, this Summer salad with strawberries and candied pecans will make you look forward to eating your greens again.

Sweet and Salty Flavors

strawberry

Every salad needs layers! What we mean by this is you don’t want to just slather lettuce in dressing and call it a salad. That’s no way to live. A well rounded recipe requires you to think outside the box and combine fun ingredients.

For this salad we used ingredients that just scream, “Summer!” The sweetness from the strawberries, candied pecans, and mandarins, pairs beautifully with the salty feta and peppery kick from the arugula. This salad is one fun way to eat your greens, so much so that even the kids will ask for it!

Add Protein for a More Filling Salad

slow cooker pork tenderloin

While this salad is a great recipe for a side dish, you can also eat it as a meal. If you’re looking to make this salad your main course, consider making our Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin to pair with it. This protein compliments the fruity flavors wonderfully. If you’re not a pork fan, you may want to try making these high-protein recipes instead:

For more ideas on how to make salads exciting and healthy, read: 11 Tasty Salad Toppings for Weight Loss.

6 Simple Ingredients Combined in Minutes

Salads are one of my favorite meals, not only because they taste amazing, but because they’re ridiculously simple to make too! Combine all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and toss to combine. That’s it! 

You may serve this salad with any dressing that you’d like, however we recommend a balsamic dressing. Of course if you have some spare time, the best dressing to pair with this salad is our recipe for White Balsamic Vinaigrette. It only requires 5 ingredients (that you most likely already have in your kitchen,) so you might as well try it out! It’s super light but loaded with flavor and at 61 calories per serving it’s an incredibly low-calorie dressing. Pair the salad with that dressing and you have a meal or side dish that’s just over 200 calories!

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Summer Salad with Strawberries and Candied Pecans

This simple salad is full of sweet and savory ingredients that are filling and delicious.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Yield 6 people
Serving Size 1.25 cups
Course Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine Universal
Author SkinnyMs.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups spring mix salad or baby spinach and arugula
  • 2 cups romaine heart lettuce torn into bite-size pieces
  • 11 ounces mandarin oranges in natural juices can, drained
  • 1 cup strawberries fresh, sliced
  • 1/2 cup pecan halves candied (recipe for Pan Roasted Candied Pecans)
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese crumbles fat-free

Instructions

  • Combine all the above ingredients in a large salad bowl, toss to combine. Drizzle with your favorite dressing.
  • Our recipe for White Balsamic Vinaigrette goes great over this summer salad.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1.25cups | Calories: 159kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 161mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 14g |
SmartPoints (Freestyle): 7
Keywords Budget-Friendly, Quick and Easy, Vegetarian

Have you made this recipe?
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What did you think of this tasty summer salad with strawberries and candied pecans? Be sure to let us know in the comment section, below!

If you enjoyed this salad we think you’ll also want to try:

For more healthy summer recipes, check out our Facebook page and follow us on Pinterest for tasty recipes, clean eating tips, and healthy lifestyle resources.

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SkinnyMs.

The SkinnyMs. team believes that all people, regardless of age, size, and fitness level, have the power to transform their lives — they just need the resources to do so. The SkinnyMs. method promotes healthy living through a combination of clean eating and regular exercise. We offer everything you need to be successful.

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