This Strawberry Crunch Salad is the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and crunchy! With pretty red strawberries, crisp greens, toasted ramen noodles, creamy goat cheese, and a bright champagne vinaigrette. It’s a vibrant, refreshing salad for a spring or summer gathering.
This Strawberry Crunch Salad was part of our Easter menu this year, and it definitely stole the show. The crunchy toasted ramen noodles and almonds give it great texture, similar to my Asian-inspired Ramen Cabbage Salad, but the addition of sliced strawberries and my sweet, slightly citrusy Champagne Vinaigrette creates a completely different flavor profile.
We’ve had a whirlwind of entertaining in our house this spring. Welcoming two grandbabies just five weeks apart has led to a slew of friends and relatives stopping by to meet the new little ones. I’ll let you in on a little secret – inviting people over for a lunch buffet is FAR less stressful than dinner. I’ve been having so much fun planning these lunch menus and creating some really great new recipes, like this one.
Table of contents
Ingredient Notes
- Greens: A well chopped romaine heart and a package of baby spinach and arugula blend are combined for crunch, color, with little bite from the arugula.
- Crunchy ramen and nut mixture: You’ll just need the noodes from a packet of ramen. You can toss the salty seasoning packet. It’s toasted together with sliced almonds and melted butter.
- Cheese: I love this salad with crumbled goat cheese but it would also be delicious with crumbled feta.
- Vinaigrette: Salads with fruit, like this one, are perfect with Champagne Vinaigrette. It’s a bit softer and a bit sweeter than my Apple Cider Vinaigrette but that one would also work well in a pinch!
How to Make Strawberry Crunch Salad
- Place the ramen noodles in a zip-top bag and lightly crush them with the flat side of a meat mallet.
- Add the almonds and melted butter, spread them out on a baking sheet, and toast them in the oven until golden brown.
- Add all of the salad ingredients to a large serving bowl.
- Toss with the champagne vinaigrette just before serving.
Make-Ahead Tips
Prep the Components: Toast the ramen noodles and almonds in advance and store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
Prepare the Dressing: Make the champagne vinaigrette ahead of time and refrigerate it in a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid.
Assemble Before Serving: You can assemble the salad ingredients (except the ramen/nut mixture and dressing) several hours in advance and store it, covered, in the refrigerator.
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Strawberry Crunch Salad
Ingredients
- 1 package ramen noodles, without the seasoning packet
- ¾ cup sliced almonds
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 artisan romaine heart, well chopped
- 5 ounce container baby spinach and arugula blend
- 1 pound strawberries, hulled and sliced (about 3 cups sliced)
- ½ small red onion, sliced thinly and cut into short strips (about 1 cup)
- 4 ounces crumbled goat cheese or feta cheese
- 1 recipe Champagne Vinaigrette
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Place the ramen noodles in a gallon size zippered plastic storage bag, press out as much air as possible, and seal the bag. Using the flat side of a meat mallet, lightly pound the ramen noodles until crushed. Open the bag and add the almonds and melted butter. Seal the bag and shake it until the noodles and almonds are coated in the butter. Pour the mixture out over a large rimmed baking sheet, shaking the pan to spread it out. Bake for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring with a spatula halfway through the cooking time. Watch closely and remove from the oven as soon as the mixture is beginning to brown (this can happen quickly). Remove from the oven and set aside to cool while you prepare the rest of the salad.
- Arrange the greens, strawberries, onions, and about half of the cheese in a large bowl. When ready to serve, top with ramen/nut mixture and toss just enough dressing to coat everything. Top with the remaining cheese and serve immediately.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.
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