Strawberry Poppyseed Salad (with Goat Cheese Croutons)
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My Strawberry Poppyseed Salad is a Spring and Summer must-make and I mean, look at how gorgeous it is!
We are now at the best time of the year to enjoy the sweet and juicy natural flavors of fresh strawberries, and I am so excited!
But this isn’t any old salad that you dump out of a bag. And also no judgement towards store-bought salads because I 100% believe they have their time and place! But, I love making a good homemade salad that’s full of fresh ingredients and a homemade salad dressing.
Some other reader-favorite salads: Tabbouleh Salad, 4 Bean Salad with Avocado, Healthy Broccoli Salad, Massaged Kale Blueberry Salad
Table Talk with Tawnie
This and my Favorite Everyday Salad are on repeat in my house during the Summer. The fresh, crunchy veggies, homemade dressings, and vibrant ingredients are all so good and paired with chicken, steak, or fish makes for a great warm weather meal. Ahhh I am so excited for you to make this one!! Let me know in the comments below what you think! ☺️
This chopped salad utilizes crispy romaine, peppery arugula, and fresh, fragrant basil. And not just a teaspoon of basil, but a large handful of basil! The lettuce cradles the sweet strawberries as they gently spar with the assertive and spicy flavors of the red onions. Why is that strawberry and red onion combination so heavenly?! There are so many layers of flavors and textures to this salad that make it anything but ordinary!
The other fun flavor and texture surprise is the fried goat cheese croutons. When I say I’m obsessed, I mean I am truly obsessed. I love the creamy and crispy combination that the warm goat cheese brings to this vibrant salad.
The final step to finish off these bold Summertime flavors is to dress them with a tangy-sweet homemade poppyseed dressing. It tastes a lot better than any store-bought version, it only requires 7 ingredients, and it only takes minutes to make. The extra creamy dressing and the crisp and creamy fried goat cheese are the winning ingredients that make this salad recipe so special!
This salad is great for lunch, dinner, or brunch, and it travels well for a pack-and-go lunch, too! (Just keep the dressing on the side before you’re ready to dive in). Chicken or fish pairs well with all of these fresh flavors, too, if you want to add some protein!
Why This Recipe Works
- Flavor-packed!
- Easy to make
- The crispy goat cheese makes this a show-stopping salad
- Add some protein and you have a complete meal for lunch or dinner
- So colorful, that it makes a beautiful addition to any table.
- It’s a great go-to salad. You will find your are making it often!
Ingredient Notes
For the ingredient measurements and entire recipe, be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the blog post where the recipe card is located.
- Romaine: Romaine is refreshing, juicy, and crisp. Be sure to wash and rinse it well, romaine can be very dirty!
- Arugula: Arugula is peppery, a little spicy, and nutty, and I love how its flavors play in this salad. Feel free to omit or add spinach instead!
- Basil: I love the surprise taste of fresh basil in this salad. It’s sweet and slightly spicy. Always use fresh.
- Red onion: I love the strong flavor of fresh, red onions. Dice them small but just thick enough to get a good crunch with every bite.
- Strawberries: Remove the stem and the hull, then dice the strawberry. Be sure to find fresh, juicy strawberries for the best flavor!
- Sunflower seeds: I love the subtle crunch they add to this yummy salad.
- Fried goat cheese: This is one of my favorite ingredients in this salad. The warm, creamy crispness is a stark contrast to the sweet and fresh flavors of the summertime greens and sweet strawberries.
- Poppyseed Dressing: you’ll need mayonnaise, half and half, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, sugar, and poppy seeds.
Step-by-Step Directions
Whip up the dressing
You only need 7 ingredients to make this creamy dressing! Shake it up in a jar or whisk together in a bowl.
Fried goat cheese!
This salad is extra delicious with lightly fried goat cheese croutons on top. It’s an extra step to make them, but SO worth it!
Assemble the goodies!
Add everything to a large salad bowl. Doesn’t this just scream summer?! YUM!
Serve and DEVOUR! 😍
Add the goat cheese on top and enjoy.your.life!
Expert Tips and Variations
One of my favorite things about salads is that you can always come up with tons of variations because salads are just so accommodating!
- To make this salad a full meal, try topping it off with some chicken. A quick option would be to pick up a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, or if you have chicken breasts, you could pop them in a skillet or even on the BBQ while you are putting the salad together.
- You can also use other greens in this salad. I love the crispness of the romaine, but you can also substitute spinach, kale, Spring mix, butter leaf lettuce, etc.
- Use a salad spinner to dry the lettuce completely. If you don’t have one, lay paper towels or dish towels over a baking sheet and lay out a single layer of the romaine leaves so they dry.
- To thoroughly coat the salad greens with the delicious dressing, I like to pour a little bit at a time, toss, pour, and toss again. I also like to save some dressing to serve alongside, in case someone wants more.
- Serve the goat cheese warm for the best creamy texture in each bite. If you don’t want to fuss with making fried goat cheese, you can crumble the goat cheese over the top.
- If the goat cheese isn’t your thing, add feta cheese, mini mozzarella balls, or gorgonzola.
- Instead of sunflower seeds, try walnuts, pine nuts, almonds, or toasted pecans.
FAQ
What fruit can I substitute for strawberries?
Since this is a strawberry poppyseed salad, I would recommend using the strawberries, but other fruit options that pair well are blueberries, raspberries, peaches, dried cranberries, kiwi, mandarin oranges, and avocado.
Can I make this salad ahead?
Yes! Just don’t add the salad dressing until ready to serve. Make the dressing and keep in a jar or container. For the goat cheese, you can keep the goat cheese log refrigerated and cold until you are ready to fry it.
How long does poppy seed dressing last?
Stored in a jar in the fridge for up to 5 days.
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Strawberry Poppyseed Salad with Goat Cheese Croutons
Ingredients
For the salad
- 6-8 cups romaine, washed and chopped
- 2 cups arugula, washed and chopped
- 1 large bunch fresh basil, roughly chopped or torn
- 1 small red onion, diced
- 16 oz. fresh strawberries, diced
- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
For the dressing
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 3 Tbsp. half and half
- 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
- 1 Tbsp. sour cream
- 1 Tbsp. poppy seeds
- 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
Last step! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- Make the dressing: In a small mixing bowl or large liquid measuring cup, whisk together all of the dressing ingredients—mayo, half and half, sugar, sour cream, poppy seeds, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper—until well combined. (Or, you can shake the ingredients together in a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid). Set in the fridge.1/4 cup mayonnaise, 3 Tbsp. half and half, 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar, 1 Tbsp. sour cream, 1 Tbsp. poppy seeds, 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper to taste
- Prepare the goat cheese: Use this blog post for guidance.fried goat cheese
- Assemble the salad: Add the romaine lettuce, arugula, basil, onion, strawberries, and sunflower seeds in a large salad bowl. Add a drizzle of the dressing and toss.6-8 cups romaine, washed and chopped, 2 cups arugula, washed and chopped, 1 large bunch fresh basil, roughly chopped or torn, 1 small red onion, diced, 16 oz. fresh strawberries, diced, 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
- Top with the goat cheese: Then add the warm fried goat cheese "croutons" on top.
- Serve: Serve with more poppy seed dressing and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- If you don’t plan to enjoy the salad right away, keep the dressing on the salad. Only dress the salad right before serving to prevent it from becoming soggy.
- Refrigerate any leftover salad dressing in a jar for up to 5 days. Give it a good shake again prior to using.
- I like using avocado oil for frying the goat cheese thanks to the high smoke point but vegetable or canola oil works well, too.
- Prep the goat cheese log in advance! Freeze the goat cheese log the day before and then place in the fridge the next day so it’s not rock solid. When you’re ready to make the salad, you’ll just now have to dredge and fry the medallions without waiting for the goat cheese to harden!
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is automatically calculated. It should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Kroll’s Korner can’t make any guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
📸 Photos by Megan McKeehan of The Broke Girl Table
This recipe post was originally published in April 2023, and was updated in June 2025 with new photos (same recipe).
I found this (and so many more!) recipe while meal planning for my mom. I am going to make this for her as soon as I get there! Yummm, I’m excited!
Can’t wait to hear what she thinks! 🫶🏻
Super easy and delicious recipe, the goat cheese croutons are amazing.
Thank you sooo much Stephanie! Aren’t they so good? An extra step but so worth it! 🙂
Delicious salad! I used another krolls korner poppyseed dressing from a post with 6 salad dressings because I didn’t have any dairy. The goat cheese croutons were really easy to make too and take this salad to another level. Thank you for a great recipe!
Gorgeous! oooo I love the idea of using that lemon poppyseed dressing! (https://krollskorner.com/recipes/lunch/6-staple-summer-salad-dressings/) Will have to try that next. Isn’t the goat cheese so yummy?! Thank you!