This delicious spring salad brings together the best flavors of the season, with asparagus, strawberries and topped with goats cheese toasts.
While May Day isn’t particularly celebrated in North America, and it is often more known for worker’s marches in many other places these days, it was traditionally the day when spring was welcomed in the northern hemisphere, particularly in England and other parts of northern Europe. You’ll still come across celebrations with people dancing round a maypole, jumping fires or in England, it’s when Morris dancers gets their bells out. In most places, the traditional May day foods have been largely lost, but with the day’s celebrations also representing fertility and a celebration of the season’s produce, this spring salad aims to bring together all the May Day ideas. And the result is a deliciously tasty salad, perfect for lunch or a light meal, on any day, not just today.
This spring salad is easy to put together, with lots of delicious flavors and textures. It’s also bright and colorful, another great reminder of spring. It’s been a while since I had goats cheese toasts – I’ve tended to use goat’s cheese in other thing like goats cheese tartlets and a dressing for a winter salad instead. When I was younger, though, they seemed to have a bit of a gain in popularity and the texture makes a great contrast to everything else in this salad. They are soooo tasty so any excuse to have them, really – in fact as I was thinking about putting them in here, it got me thinking why I don’t make them more often. Then I ate them and I thought it even more. Anyway, they are great on top of this spring salad.
As I said, this salad makes a great lunch or lighter meal, plus it would also work as a side to other things such as grilled chicken. The quantities are approximate as you could easily increase or decrease components depending on your preference. I have dressed it with a lemony-basil dressing which has a nice sharpness that contrasts with the sweetness of the strawberries (if you don’t like the sharpness you can add up to a teaspoon of sugar or honey to make it have less of a kick), but you could just as easily use your favorite dressing such as a French dressing or simple oil and balsamic vinegar.
This salad is easy, colorful and full of lots of wonderful flavors, as well as healthy goodness. It’s great for spring when all the ingredients are in season, but it would be great other times as well. In short, make it and enjoy. I’m going to make some more and take it over to everyone at Fiesta Friday and Foodie FriDIY. Although some of the goats cheese toasts may get ‘lost’ on the way….
This delicious spring salad brings together the best flavors of the season - easy and so tasty.
- 10 stems asparagus cut in to roughly 1in/2-3cm chunks
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- salt and pepper
- 10 basil leaves approx
- 1/2 bulb fennel small-med
- 4 handfuls arugula rocket, approx
- 6 strawberries approx
- 6 slices baguette
- 1 round goats cheese small, with rind
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Steam the asparagus chunks for around 3-5minutes until tender to the knifepoint then run under cold water/dunk in cold water to stop them cooking further.
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Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice and a couple grinds of salt and pepper. Finely chop the basil leaves and mix with the oil-lemon dressing.
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Finely slice the fennel, cutting larger slices in half or smaller, then mix with the arugula/rocket. Mix through the dressing and arrange on either two plates or one larger serving plate.
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Arrange the asparagus over the arugula-fennel mixture. Slice the strawberries and arrange on top.
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Toast the slices of baguette lightly and put a piece of the goats cheese on each slice so that the bread is largely covered (for me, this was a half-round slice with the ends tucked in). Toast the slices under the broiller/grill for a couple minutes so that the cheese melts and starts to brown slightly. Arrange over the salad and serve.
Try these other tasty ways with asparagus:
Asparagus salad with pea shoots and pancetta
Cauliflower risotto with asparagus and mushrooms
Remember to pin for later!
Anna International says
Oh wow! This looks delicious! I have a love/hate relationship with goats cheese. I absolutely adore little tastes of it, such as on these toasts, but I can’t face it when someone gives you an entire huge slab of it – I just find it overpowering. I think the combination here with bread, and with the other delicious ingredients (though I’ll have to leave out the strawberries – allergic sadly! I;ll have to think what other fruit might go well) sounds divine!
Thank you for coming to Fiesta Friday!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, Anna. I can understand on goats cheese, and these are indeed a good way to enjoy some without it being too much. Shame about strawberries – maybe blueberries or papaya would be a reasonable alternative?
Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom says
The goat cheese toasts are a perfect addition to this salad.
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, Kristen, they are definitely great with the salad (and at other times too!)
skd says
It screams spring. Fresh and healthy.
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, that was the plan!
Analida's Ethnic Spoon says
I love goat cheese! I just started making my goat cheese at home and you do not need to own a goat! This looks great! Yummed!
Caroline's Cooking says
Wow, maybe I’ll manage to try making my own at some point. In the meantime store-bought helps me enjoy this salad. I hope you manage to try it either way!
Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake says
This salad looks awesome, I love all the flavours!
I used to love dancing around the may pole when I was in school, so much fun! Until somebody messed it up haha
Caroline's Cooking says
Too funny, Michelle! We never did maypole dancing that I remember, but plenty of Scottish country dancing which was fun too. The salad is really tasty, hope you manage to try.
Dini @ Giramuk's Kitchen says
This sounds like my kind of salad! I LOVE goats cheese and the idea of Goats Cheese toast makes me giddy!! 😀
Sounds absolutely delicious Caroline!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, Dini, it is really tasty and the goats cheese toasts are the best!
Georgina @theamazingflavoursofbrazil.com says
Hi Caroline, I found out about your blog on Pinterest when I joined Healthy Bites group board. What a beautiful salad, goat’s cheese is my favourite, with basil, lemon and olive oil is simply perfect! I could eat this every day!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, Georgina, and so glad you found my blog! This is indeed a delicious salad, I’m a big goat’s cheese fan too!
Keri|FlipFlopWeekend says
Hi Caroline! Thanks for sharing this great recipe with me! I featured it in my recent post rounding-up some yummy non-dessert strawberry recipes! You can check it out at https://www.flipflopweekend.com/strawberry-recipes/
Thanks again!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks for the feature Keri, I will head over to take a look at the rest!
Jacqueline Debono says
This is a divine salad. I love all the ingredients, especially goat cheese! I think I’m going to be making this very soon!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, it’s a delicious combination and those goat’s cheese toasts are so good.
melve says
Look tasty and I like the combination it sounds so delicious.
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, it really is so good!
Aleka says
This sounds perfect for the hot summer months!! I love strawberries in my salad! The spread of goat cheese on toast is a great idea!!!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, it’s a really tasty combination. Strawberries add such a lovely burst of color and flavor, I agree.
Amy Nash says
I love those little toasts that are part of the salad! Yay for salad with carbs! 🙂 I’m going to the farmer’s market this weekend and will be picking up the ingredients to make this!
Caroline's Cooking says
Ha, it does help make it more of a meal (and they’re just plain delicious too 🙂 ). Enjoy!