We get so excited when berries start to burst onto the scene every June and continue to share their bounty all summer. They're the star of the show on our summer tables, and they make delicious side dishes, too. These juicy, sweet, and savory berry salads and sides are the perfect accompaniment for all your summer meals.
Spinach & Strawberry Salad
The balsamic dressing on this simple salad brings the sweet and savory together for a delightful summer berry salad.
Ingredients
- 1 (5-ounce) bag baby spinach
- 1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup chopped toasted walnuts
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ cup aged balsamic vinegar
- 2T honey
- 2T minced shallot
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- ¾ cup avocado oil
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the spinach, strawberries, onion, walnuts, and feta. Mix.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, honey, shallot, salt, pepper, and avocado oil. Toss with the salad.
Related: 11 No-Bake Blueberry Desserts to Brighten Your Summer Menu
Berries & Coconut Milk With Hot Honey
Think of this as a sweet, spicy, dairy-free berry version of ambrosia salad. It's absolutely delicious.
Ingredients
- 4 cups of mixed berries of your choice
- ½ cup full-fat coconut milk
- 2T hot honey
Instructions
- Put the berries in a large bowl.
- In a smaller bowl, whisk together the coconut milk and hot honey. Mix with the salad. Refrigerate before serving.
Berry Beet Salad
This from Taste of Home is the perfect combo of sweet, earthy, and crispy. It's a unique and refreshing summer salad.
Strawberry & Avocado Salsa
Berries make a tasty stand-in for tomatoes in this simple salsa recipe. Serve it over fish, as a tasty side, or as a dip for tortilla chips.
Ingredients
- 1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1 avocado, peel and pit removed, and cut into cubes
- ¼ red onion, finely chopped
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Juice of one lime
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.
Berry Salad With Honey Lime Dressing
This simple makes the perfect side dish. It's a little sweet, a little tart, and totally juicy.
Blackberries & Brie
Whether you serve it as an appetizer, dessert, or just on the side, baked brie and berries are SO good. The sweet berries and the creamy, gooey brie combined with the crunch of walnuts and the bite of rosemary? Out of this world, we promise!
Ingredients
- 1 (8-ounce) wheel of brie cheese
- 1 cup honey
- ½ cup toasted walnuts
- 1 pint blackberries
- Rosemary sprigs for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
- Place the unwrapped brie on the parchment and bake in the preheated oven until soft, about 10 minutes.
- Top with honey drizzles, walnuts, fresh blackberries, and rosemary sprigs.
For best results, the brie should be cold, straight from the fridge before you put it in the oven.
Warm Spinach & Bacon Salad With Blueberry Vinaigrette
This sweet, sour, and savory salad is a super summery way to enjoy spinach and blueberries straight from your garden.
Ingredients
- 1 (6-ounce) bag baby spinach
- ¼ cup crumbled gorgonzola cheese
- ¼ cup chopped toasted walnuts
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- ½ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoons finely minced shallot
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the spinach, gorgonzola, and toasted walnuts.
- In a large skillet, cook the bacon on medium-high heat until it is browned. Remove the bacon from the fat in the pan with a slotted spoon and add it to the bowl with the spinach.
- To the bacon fat in the skillet, add the red wine vinegar, honey, shallot, and blueberries, using the side of a spoon to scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pan as you do.
- Bring to a simmer and reduce the temp to low. Simmer for about four minutes, until the liquid thickens slightly.
- Pour warm dressing over the spinach mixture and toss to mix. Serve immediately.
A Burst of Summer Berries
Berries are, no doubt, summer's sweetest ingredients. That's why you'll want them at almost every meal — to make the most of them while they're at their prime.
