Spring has arrived, and what better way to celebrate than with a light and refreshing spring mix salad?
This salad is bursting with the vibrant colours and flavours of the season, featuring a colourful mix of fresh greens, juicy strawberries, tangy goat cheese, and crunchy pumpkin seeds.
The real star of the show, however, is the zesty and sweet raspberry vinaigrette, made with the secret ingredient, Jam!
Whether you’re looking for a healthy lunch option or a stunning side dish for your next dinner party, this spring mix salad with raspberry vinaigrette is sure to impress.
And the secret ingredient to the Salad dressing is...
I have been making this salad dressing for years and has always been a hit in my house and with friends. The secret ingredient here is Jam, of all things…Jam is a great ingredient to use because it adds instant flavour, it is thicker by nature so it helps to coagulate the dressing better and I also think it helps balance out the acidity from the vinegar. Its a Win-Win!
Use different flavours of jam to create different salad dressings. For example, you may want to use an orange marmalade, or a fig jam, strawberry or even cherry! Trust me you can get very creative here with your flavours!
Making a balanced salad
The key to making a good spring mix salad is to have the right balance of ingredients! I like to add a fruit whether it be fresh fruit or dried, nuts or seeds of your choice, a soft cheese such as goat or feta, avocado for the creaminess, and then a green onion for added flavour!
ingredients for the spring mix salad
For the salad you will need:
1 container of Spring Mix, washed and spun.
1 avocado, sliced
1-2 green onions, chopped
Crumbled Honey Goat Cheese
Strawberries, sliced
Pumpkin Seeds
For the Raspberry Vinaigrette
- 1 1/2 tbsp. Raspberry Jam or any flavour of jam that you desire
- 1/4 cup Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 tbsp. a Fresh Herb -Thyme basil, or rosemary (thyme is my preferred herb)
- 1 tbsp water to loosen the jam
- 1 clove Garlic minced
- 1/2 cup Olive Oil
- salt & pepper
instructions:
In a small bowl, begin with the jam, and loosen with a fork. Add the vinegar, fresh thyme, water, garlic, salt and pepper. Whisk in olive oil. Taste for balance.
For The Salad:
I like to use spring mix, strawberries, pumpkin seeds or pecan pieces, honey goat cheese, and green onion.