Sweet Peas and Saffron

meal prep recipes for busy people

Pin15K
Share237
Stumble2
+126
Shares 15K

Strawberry Arugula Salad with Steak & Balsamic Vinaigrette

34 Comments

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This delicious strawberry arugula salad is packed with fresh berries, almonds, feta and arugula, topped with seared steak, and drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette!  A fast and easy week-night dinner.

Strawberry Arugula Salad with Steak & Balsamic Vinaigrette

I don’t think I could ever live somewhere on the equator.  Forget the fact that the humidity would make my hair turn like Monica’s on Friends (the one where they go to Barbados).  Forget the fact that I would be melted into a puddle on the ground.

What I would really miss are the seasons!

Ben grew up in Darwin, Australia, which is practically on the equator.  Please, look up Darwin.  He literally grew up where Crocodile Dundee was shot, I kid you not.  He even claims to know the water buffalo in the movie.  I know.

I digress.  Darwin doesn’t really have seasons…just the hot dry season and the hot wet season.  Both of these are Monica-hair-scenarios for me.

Without seasons, we wouldn’t have this wonderful time of year to look forward to: berry season!  The summer berries are coming…maybe they are already where you live…regardless, I have the world’s most delicious way to enjoy them: this strawberry arugula salad!

MY LATEST VIDEOS

Strawberry Arugula Salad with Steak & Balsamic Vinaigrette

I mean, yes…technically we are lucky in that we can get ahold of berries any time of year…but those ridiculously expensive winter berries ain’t got nothing on the fresh, sweet, delicious summer berries!

I really enjoyed all of the comforting winter dishes I cooked this year.  But I’m ready for a change, and I’m so excited for all of the produce that summer has to offer!

Strawberry Arugula Salad with Steak & Balsamic Vinaigrette

I have a confession:  I am not that great at cooking meat…Ben is the meat cooker in this household.  But I’ve decided that it is time for me to put on my big girl apron and learn how to cook meat.  So I’ve been practising with this steak, and we’ve been eating this steak salad for a few weeks now!

What have I learned?  First of all, our barbecue is totally unsuitable for cooking steak.  It just doesn’t get hot enough, and with steak, you want it suuuuper hot…like oil on the verge of smoking kind of hot.

Secondly, the cast iron skillet is my friend.  Steak + skillet = love.

Strawberry Arugula Salad with Steak & Balsamic Vinaigrette

This strawberry arugula salad is one of my favourite salads of all time…there is just so much flavor packed in there: sweet berries, peppery arugula, tangy balsamic, and salty feta.

Also a delicious array of textures: soft berries, crunchy almonds, creamy feta.

Oh, did I mention: steak.

Also: ready in under 30 minutes.

Happy berry season!  Celebrate with salad 😉

5 from 4 votes
Print
Strawberry Arugula Salad with Steak & Balsamic Vinaigrette
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
25 mins
 
This delicious salad is packed with fresh berries, almonds, feta and arugula, topped with seared steak, and drizzled with a simple and delicious balsamic vinaigrette! A fast and easy week-night dinner!
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Calories: 506 kcal
Ingredients
Steak
  • 4 steaks of your choice I used beef sirloin tip, 1 inch thick
  • steak seasoning I used Montreal Steak Spice, but simple salt and pepper will also do
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Salad
  • 6 cups arugula
  • 6 oz 1 cup raspberries
  • 6 oz 1 cup blueberries
  • 1 cup strawberries sliced
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese crumbled
  • 1/4 cup slivered almonds
Balsamic Vinaigrette
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 3 teaspoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • salt and pepper
Instructions
Steak:

  1. Season steak and allow to sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes.

  2. Heat oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium high heat. Wait until the oil is very hot, it will be shimmering.
  3. Add the steak to the pan, do not touch it. Cook for 5 minutes, flip, and cook for another 3 minutes.
  4. Transfer the steak to a plate and allow to rest for 5 minutes before cutting into strips.
Salad

  1. While the steak rests, combine all salad ingredients in a large bowl.

  2. Shake together all vinaigrette ingredients in a small shaker, then pour over the salad and toss to coat evenly.
To Serve

  1. Divide the salad into 4 bowls, and top with steak.

Nutrition Facts
Strawberry Arugula Salad with Steak & Balsamic Vinaigrette
Amount Per Serving (1 /4 batch)
Calories 506 Calories from Fat 333
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 37g 57%
Saturated Fat 13g 65%
Cholesterol 68mg 23%
Sodium 273mg 11%
Potassium 567mg 16%
Total Carbohydrates 23g 8%
Dietary Fiber 5g 20%
Sugars 14g
Protein 23g 46%
Vitamin A 16.8%
Vitamin C 49.6%
Calcium 18.7%
Iron 16.8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Products used in this recipe:

 You may also like:

satay salad-24 wmChicken Satay Salad

Spinach Salad with Apple, Bacon and Spicy Maple Walnuts-8Spinach Salad with Apples, Bacon, and Spicy Maple Walnuts

Sweet Potato Rice Salad with Chili Lime Vinaigrette-5Roasted Sweet Potato and Wild Rice Salad with a Chili-Lime Vinaigrette

Pin15K
Share237
Stumble2
+126
Shares 15K

Reader Interactions

This site contains affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase through them, we will receive a small commission.

Comments

  1. Instructions are missing …Season steak. I also added red onions which I love. Otherwise it was delicious. If I can’t get berries I love apples or pears. Blue cheese or pepitas also work.

    Reply

  3. Absolutely stunning! Everything here is perfect. The flavors, the steak and the vinaigrette! This will be one of my favorite salad dishes. Yummy!

    Reply

  4. This salad sounds so good, I love berries!! It’s perfect for summer. I have to say, living in the desert I actually kind of miss humidity! But it definitely does a number on the hair. 😉 I love that episode of Friends!!

    Reply

  9. That’s too funny that your husband claims to know the water buffalo from Crocidle Dundee! That was one of my favorite movies when I was little. I would definitely miss the seasons, too! This salad looks just perfect, Denise! I love the steak and berry combo. Sounds so fresh and delicious!

    Reply

  10. I think berry season is definitely my favorite too. I’ve been eating salads like crazy with strawberries and blueberries, so this definitely looks like something I would love! That steak on top looks delicious!

    Reply

  12. True confession: I have Monica hair every day, unless I curl it with a curling iron. Another confession: I love steak prepared in a skillet instead of on the grill. This salad’s another winner! P.S. I went to bed with visions of those mocha meringues in my head last night. 🙂

    Reply

    • I guess if I’m being perfectly honest, I also have some pretty bad Monica hair, and have to use a straightener. Ha! Thanks, Andrea!

      Reply

  13. Here in California we don’t have very dramatic seasons. Except at the Farmers Market! Right now they have so many wonderful berries to choose from. Makes me very happy. I love this salad! I planted a ton of arugula in my garden, can’t wait to use it to cook this up : )

    Reply

  16. Oh, berry season would DEFINITELY be missed by this girl right here. 😉 I don’t even want to THINK about how meaningless life would be without berry season. LOL. This salad combines pretty much all the things I looooove this time of year, and wowee is it gorgeous! Pinned. 🙂

    Reply

  18. Denise – As much as I get tired of New England winters, I really can’t see myself living somewhere without falling maple leaves or the first snow in December. I’m a New England girl through and through. Speaking of, berry season makes the top of my list of favorite times of the year. Last year was my first time picking strawberries and I was in love. They’re so much tastier right off of the stem! What a gorgeous salad.

    Reply

Trackbacks

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

logo

join the FREE lunch prep challenge →