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This Berry and Fig Salad with Vanilla Vinaigrette tastes like summer on a plate! Fresh and light with hints of berries, honey, and vanilla… ah yes very summery indeed! 🙂
The base of this salad is made with fresh organic greens, strawberries, raspberries, almonds, and pumpkin seeds and it’s tossed in a homemade vanilla honey vinaigrette. And if that wasn’t good enough, it is THEN topped with dried mission figs, bee pollen, and goat cheese ( which is optional ).
I couldn’t love a salad more if I tried.
In fact, I think if I was a salad, this Berry and Fig Salad with Vanilla Vinaigrette would be me…. a little sweet, a little sour, with a bit of fruit, a bit of goat cheese, and some nuts and seeds.
Perfecto!
I actually was inspired to make this salad after trying a berry and fig salad at a Nordstrom Cafe a few weeks ago.
I wasn’t feeling that well and I needed energy but I didn’t want to eat any crap that was at the food court, so I decided to try out the cafe at Nordstrom.
Side note: why have I never eaten here before?!
Anyways, I tried their berry and fig salad and was blown away by how yummy it was and by how much energy it gave me. I was also blown away by how amazing raspberries are in a salad.
I’ve used blueberries and strawberries in many a salad but never raspberries and if you haven’t tried them in a salad before, you must!
I decided to recreate my own version of this salad and have thus made this Berry and Fig Salad with Vanilla Vinaigrette many many times since.
To be honest, I usually prefer meat-less salads (which is why this salad is so me) but since my husband loves extra protein, I rarely make salads without chicken, eggs, or turkey.
So I was curious how he would like this Berry and Fig Salad with Vanilla Vinaigrette. After I handed him a big plate of it, I waited for him to say ” this is great, but I just wish there was more protein inside…” which is the usual scenario.
But I just kept waiting… and waiting.
He didn’t say anything and kept raving about how delicious it was.
Success!
This Berry and Fig Salad with Vanilla Vinaigrette is the first meatless salad that I’ve made that my husband has loved.
He kept asking for more and we both noticed and enjoyed how much energy and how great we felt after eating it… which I attribute to all the healthy fruits and veggies and healthy fats in this salad.
Also, the honey vanilla dressing here is AMAZING. Why have I never added vanilla to dressing before?
No seriously, why?!! New dressing obsession right here.
Let me know if you try this salad! 🙂
Note: Leave out the goat cheese to keep it Paleo.
Berry and Fig Salad with Vanilla Vinaigrette (GF, Paleo option)
Ingredients
Berry and Fig salad ingredients:
- 6 cups organic baby greens
- 1/2 cup quartered strawberries, ( a heaping 1/2 cup )
- 1/2 cup whole raspberries, ( a heaping 1/2 cup )
- ¼ cup sliced almonds
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
- 4-5 dried mission figs, ,halved
- 2 ounces goat cheese, -optional (remove to keep Paleo)
- a sprinkle of organic bee pollen
Vanilla honey vinaigrette:
- 2 Tbs olive oil
- 2 Tbs tarragon vinegar
- 1 Tbs vanilla
- 1 tsp honey
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Mix the organic baby greens, strawberries, raspberries, almonds, and pumpkin seeds together in a large bowl.
- Then make the vanilla honey vinaigrette. Mix 2 Tbs olive oil, 2 Tbs tarragon vinegar, 1 Tbs vanilla, 1 tsp honey and salt and pepper in a small bowl until the mixture thickens.
- Pour half of the vanilla honey vinaigrette onto the mixed greens and mix. Add more dressing if you want, or save the rest for later. ( I used about 3/4 of the dressing and saved the rest to use for another point in time)
- Put half of the salad onto one plate, and half onto another plate.
- Top each plate with sliced figs, goat cheese ( optional) and bee pollen. You can sprinkle a bit more almonds, pumpkin seeds, and dressing if you’d like.
- Note: don’t use goat cheese if you want to keep this salad Paleo.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Oh my gosh, this look wonderful!! That vinaigrette is calling my name! So many beautiful flavours and colours in one salad; I need to make this!
The vanilla in the vinaigrette is perfection!
This looks so, so good! I love the idea of adding figs to a salad! I’ve been on a super health-craze lately where I’ve pretty much only been eating salads so I’m going to definitely try this.
Perfect timing! This salad is perfect if you are looking to be healthy 🙂 Let me know how you like it!
Looks something you would find on masterchef!! Looks really beautiful and tasty.
Thank you!
I just recently got into fig and I really love it. I sometimes replace it with jelly.
I’ve always found it strange mixing salad with fruits but after I tried it ones I loved it! Your photos make it even more delicious! Great recipe! I am gonna have to try it! 🙂
Yes do try it! Salad and fruit goes so well together!
Wow! This might be the prettiest salad I’ve ever seen! 🙂 It sounds absolutely delicious, and I can’t wait to try it! Thanks!
Thanks Samantha!
I would never have thought to add berries to a fig based salad, this is such a great idea. It looks delicious and easy to prepare, thank you for sharing the recipe!
You are welcome!! The combo is so refreshing and yummy 🙂
I love berries in salad – the fig is a nice touch. very fresh looking!
Wow, it looks delicious. I’ve never tried vanilla in salad too but I might give this a go. It’s nice to not have meat in salad but still enjoy it!
You should try adding vanilla to dressing… it’s my new favorite thing!
Stunning salad and so colourful who wouldn’t love this salad.