This savory strawberry and blueberry salad is simple, full of fresh flavors, and the perfect dish to bring to your next festive gathering! Ready in just 15 minutes, this fruit salad with a bright homemade vinaigrette, fresh mozzarella pearls, and lots of basil is the most perfect summer salad!
If you've also been seeing some absolutely gorgeous strawberries and blueberries in the grocery store and at the farmer's market lately, then this strawberry and blueberry fruit salad is for you! Unlike other fresh fruit salads you may have had in the past, this one is savory thanks to a red wine vinaigrette, some fresh herbs, and lots of bite-sized fresh mozzarella balls. It tastes similar to a caprese with the fruit in place of the typical tomatoes, and the sweetness from the berries pairs so well with the acidic dressing and mild cheese.
This red, white, and blue salad would be the absolute perfect thing to bring to your 4th of July gatherings, but it's also perfect for any summer celebrations, Memorial day weekend, or for enjoying on any hot summer day as a refreshing side dish. Thanks to the minimal ingredients, this simple salad can be prepped from start to finish in just 15 minutes, with no cooking involved. If you're serving a lot of people, it would also be a super easy dish to double or even triple! With fresh ingredients, this delicious salad certainly doesn't lack flavor and will be in your recipe rotation all summer long.
Looking for more vibrant salad ideas? Check out our bright and refreshing Arugula and Spinach Salad! If you're in the mood for a strawberry recipe to pair with this fruit salad, take a look at our Floral Ice Cubes, Strawberry Mocktail, or Strawberry Snack Cake!
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Why You'll Love this Strawberry Blueberry Salad Recipe
- It's extremely easy and quick. With summer often getting super busy, this recipe is great because it's so simple to make and only takes 15 minutes.
- Great for using summer berries. If you're looking for a way to use up lots of fresh strawberries and blueberries you have in the fridge, then this mixed berry salad is the perfect option.
- It's a perfect entertaining dish. This festive looking dish is a great option for summer cookouts and other gatherings as it's pretty and is the perfect side dish for serving a crowd.
Ingredients for this Recipe
The dressing ingredients are simple and hopefully you might already have most of them on hand. The salad ingredients contain just 4 simple ingredients (plus some optional balsamic glaze!), so just make sure to get the freshest options you can as this will make a big impact on the flavor of the dish.
- Olive oil - Base for the vinaigrette. Once you whisk in the other ingredients be sure to continue whisking until the dressing is emulsified and smooth. The olive oil will seem separated from the other ingredients at first, but just keep whisking and it will eventually all incorporate! You can also shake everything in a mason jar if preferred.
- Honey - Adds some sweetness which pairs well with the berries. I don't recommend adding more than ⅛ of a cup as I think this may make it too sweet.
- Red wine vinegar - Cuts the sweetness of the salad so well and adds some necessary acidity. You could also use champagne vinegar, sherry vinegar, or balsamic vinegar. If using balsamic be sure not to add too much as it can be overpowering.
- Shallot - You want to chop the shallot as finely as possible so that it adds flavor to the dish without large chunks of shallot becoming overpowering. You could also substitute very finely chopped red onions.
- Garlic - Also be sure to mince the garlic very finely or even grate it into the dressing. I recommend only using 1 clove as I think more than 1 may not pair well with the fruit.
- Strawberries - The star! Be sure to buy the freshest and most red strawberries you can find. When cutting the strawberries, I like to just cut the stem off then slice the strawberries in half. If you prefer smaller pieces you could also cut them again. A lot of my strawberries were different sizes which is totally fine and can make the salad look extra pretty!
- Blueberries - Again try and find the freshest blueberries you can. I like to use blueberries on the larger size as they combine well with the sliced strawberries.
- Fresh mozzarella - The sweetness from the fruit pairs so well with this mild cheese which also takes on the flavor of the vinaigrette. The pearl sized balls pair great with the size of the blueberries, but if you can only find the cherry or larger sizes, then you can just cut them into smaller chunks.
- Basil - Fresh basil cut into thin strips adds another savory aspect to this dish. If you wanted to you could also use fresh mint, but I find the basil also helps make this salad not too sweet.
- Balsamic glaze - A drizzle over the top of the finished dish looks stunning and adds a little something extra, but if you don't have any it can definitely be omitted.
See recipe card below for quantities.
Step by Step Instructions
This recipe is made in just 3 easy steps.
Step 1: Prepare the vinaigrette. In a small bowl whisk together the red wine vinaigrette ingredients until the dressing is smooth and emulsified. Taste and add additional salt and/or pepper as needed.
Step 2: Combine the salad ingredients. Add the strawberries, blueberries, fresh mozzarella, and basil to a large bowl. Drizzle the vinaigrette over everything and gently toss until well combined.
Step 3: Plate and finish the salad. Transfer the salad to a serving platter, garnish with additional basil, and drizzle with balsamic glaze if desired!
Tips for Making this Summer Berry Salad
- For the vinaigrette, make sure to continue whisking until the dressing emulsifies. It may take a minute, but eventually it will combine so that the olive oil doesn't separate from the other ingredients. Also, make sure not to under-salt the dressing. The salt helps bring out the flavor from the fresh berries and ensures the salad is not overly sweet.
- Make sure the berries are not wet when added to the bowl with the other ingredients. After washing with cold water, dry them gently with a paper towel so that any excess water doesn't thin out the vinaigrette.
- Since this recipe has so few ingredients, the quality of them is key, so make sure to spend a little extra time looking for fresh blueberries and strawberries so that their flavor makes this salad delicious.
FAQs
For a salad with a sharper flavor and more tang, you could use crumbled goat cheese or cubed feta!
If you want to turn this salad into a main meal I would recommend tossing it with baby spinach and adding a protein such as grilled chicken or salmon.
I think that fresh raspberries or some cool watermelon would pair well with the other ingredients. Just note if you add more fruit this salad will of course become a bit sweeter.
Storing and Freezing
This salad is best served right away as the strawberries and basil don't do well being stored in the refrigerator with the dressing. If making ahead, I would prepare the vinaigrette, store it separately, and toss it with the other ingredients when ready to serve. Since leftovers don't keep super well, just be sure to gauge the amount of people you are serving as the recipe can definitely be halved.
Did you try this recipe? If so please leave a ⭐️ rating and/or comment below! Also, make sure to tag us on Instagram @doublethespoonfuls so we can see what you create.
📖 Recipe
Strawberry and Blueberry Salad (Red, White, and Blue Salad!)
Ingredients
Red Wine Vinaigrette
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ⅛ cup honey
- ⅛ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon shallot very finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- kosher salt
- black pepper
Strawberry and Blueberry Salad
- 4 cups strawberries stems removed and sliced in half
- 3 cups blueberries
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella pearl sized
- ⅓ cup basil thinly sliced, plus additional for garnish
- balsamic glaze for drizzling
Instructions
- In a small bowl whisk together the red wine vinaigrette ingredients until the dressing is smooth and emulsified. Taste and add additional salt and/or pepper as needed.¼ cup olive oil, ⅛ cup honey, ⅛ cup red wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon shallot, 1 clove garlic, kosher salt, black pepper
- Add the strawberries, blueberries, fresh mozzarella, and basil to a large bowl. Drizzle the vinaigrette over everything and gently toss until well combined.4 cups strawberries, 3 cups blueberries, 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, ⅓ cup basil
- Transfer the salad to a serving platter, garnish with additional basil, and drizzle with balsamic glaze if desired!balsamic glaze
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