Name: Mixed Greens Salad with Fruit
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 2 6-8 oz. bags mixed greens; 1 cup fresh blackberries; 1 cup fresh strawberries (halved); 1 cup mandarin orange slices (from about 2-3 mandarin oranges); 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese; 1/2 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts (see notes)); 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil; 1/4 cup fresh lime juice; 2 tablespoons honey; 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

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This mixed greens salad with fruit, goat cheese and nuts is perfect for a beautiful side dish or brunch spread! It comes together quickly and is finished with a super easy honey-lime vinaigrette.

Close up of a mixed greens salad with fresh fruit, nuts and crumbled goat cheese in a large white oval serving platter.

Are you feeling merry and festive and joyous and bright?

Or are you frantically running around trying to do all the holiday shopping and events and parties and checklists?

I'm somewhere in between myself.

But for today, I'm excited to bring you my favorite brunch salad!

It's easy - takes just 10 minutes to put together - plus it's gorgeous on a table and it's always a hit!

This mixed greens salad with fruit and goat cheese and nuts and a super simple honey-lime vinaigrette is just what your brunch needs to take it over the top!

Mixed greens salad with fruit, goat cheese and nuts with honey-lime vinaigrette being poured on

(And maybe some champagne brunch punch or a poinsettia cocktail. Because bubbles! 🥂)

The sheer simplicity and yet amazing flavor of this mixed greens and fruit salad also makes it a favorite. Because no one wants to get up at the crack of dawn before a brunch party to slave away in the kitchen, right?

Yup, me neither.

So I grab a few ingredients from the store, ~~dump them in a bowl~~ strategically arrange them in a pretty and intentional way and shake up a simple homemade dressing in a jar.

Done and done! Crack that champagne!

But wait… you can't just serve salad.

I personally love a veggie lover's quiche cause them I'm getting veggies all around. Yes!

Or if you want some variety, check out this classic sausage and egg casserole that's perfect for brunch. It's a make-ahead, overnight casserole, so nothing to do in the morning but bake it off.

OK, let's get to salad arranging.

Recipe Notes:

Greens: Feel free to substitute baby spinach or baby kale for the mixed greens.

Variations: You can also change out the berries and fruits to use your favorites or what's in season.

Cheese: I love the creamy goat cheese with this, but you could use feta or your favorite cheese.

Nuts: I tend to have pecans and walnuts on hand and have used both in this salad, but you could use almonds, cashews, pine nuts - any of your favorites!

To really bring out the nuttiness of your nut of choice, lightly toast it in the oven or in a pan for a few minutes. (Just be sure to watch it closely so the nuts don't burn!)

This homemade honey-lime vinaigrette really ties everything together and it's as simple as adding your ingredients to a jar and shaking it up. However, you could substitute a good store-bough citrus vinaigrette if you prefer.

Close up of a brunch salad with fresh fruit, nuts and crumbled goat cheese in a large white oval serving platter.

Also, just to note: this makes a large salad for a bigger crowd.

If you want to serve this for a smaller group - or just as a side salad for a family dinner - you can easily halve the recipe.

I hope you give this fun mixed greens and fruit salad a try, whether for brunch, your holiday table or just as a side salad!

Have a wonderful weekend!

XO,

Kathryn

A large serving platter with a mixed greens salad topped with fresh fruit, nuts and creamy goat cheese.

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4.19 from 11 votes

Mixed Greens Salad with Fruit

This mixed greens salad with fruit, goat cheese and nuts is perfect for a beautiful side dish or brunch spread!

Prep Time10

Total Time10

Yield: 8 -10 servings

Ingredients

For the salad:

2 6-8 oz. bags mixed greens
1 cup fresh blackberries
1 cup fresh strawberries, halved
1 cup mandarin orange slices, from about 2-3 mandarin oranges
½ cup crumbled goat cheese
½ cup chopped pecans, or walnuts (see notes)

For the honey-lime vinaigrette

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

To make the salad, place the lettuce in a large serving bowl. Top with fruit, cheese and nuts.
To make the dressing, add all ingredients to a mason jar or container with a tight fitting lid. Shake to combine until the honey is dissolved and the dressing is well mixed.
Pour the dressing over the salad, starting with about ⅔s and adding to suit your tastes. Toss to combine and serve immediately.

Notes

Nuts: I tend to use pecans or walnuts, but you could use almonds, cashews, pine nuts - any of your favorites! To really bring out the nuttiness of your nut of choice, lightly toast it in the oven or in a pan for a few minutes. (Just be sure to watch it closely so the nuts don't burn!)

Yield: This makes a large salad for a bigger crowd. If you want to serve this for a smaller group - or just as a side salad for a family dinner - you can easily halve the recipe.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below or follow me on Instagram @familyfoodonthetable and tag me in your photo!

If you love breakfast and brunch recipes like I do, and want to add to your table, I've got you!

Check out my healthy sausage balls, breakfast pizza, whole wheat cinnamon sugar baked donuts, homemade veggie cream cheese to pair with some bagels and any of my healthy muffin recipes.