Blueberry Summer Salad with Toasted Pecans & Feta

Every summer I look forward to picking blueberries with the kids. We inevitably bring home more berries than I know what to do with, so I’m always on the hunt for easy summer blueberry recipes to make.

Case in point, this blueberry summer salad.

This refreshing dish is perfect for a sun-soaked day, combining the lively flavors of fresh blueberries, crisp greens, crunchy pecans, and creamy feta cheese.

Tossed in our incredibly easy Blueberry Vinaigrette, this salad is a feast of colors, textures, and tastes. It’s a bright combination of savory and sweet elements, much like our popular Blueberry Caprese Salad.

So if you’re looking to put those in-season berries to good use, try making this blueberry summer salad with toasted pecans and feta. 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This salad is more than just a pretty dish. Here are a few reasons why this salad deserves a spot in your meal plan:

• Superfood Galore: This salad is a powerhouse of nutrients. Aside from the blueberries (which are incredibly healthy on their own), this recipe provides healthy amounts of greens and heart-healthy nuts. 
• Quick and Easy: You can whip up this salad in just 15 minutes, making it perfect when you experience a post-berry-picking crash. 
• Customizable: Feel free to play around with the ingredients. You can swap mixed greens for arugula, feta for blue cheese, and so on. This salad can easily adapt to what you have in your fridge.
• Versatile: This blueberry salad can be a light main course or a side dish. It pairs wonderfully with grilled meats and vegetables.

How to Make Blueberry Summer Salad:

Preparing this salad involves two simple steps: making the Blueberry Vinaigrette and assembling the salad. Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients you’ll need:

Key Ingredients:

• Greens. We use a mixture of spinach and arugula but feel free to use any greens you can find.
• Blueberries. Use fresh, in-season blueberries for the tastiest results. Bonus points if you pick them yourself.
• Pecans. In moderation, pecans can add protein, healthy fats, and fiber to your diet (1). They also bring a satisfying crunch to this salad.
• Feta. Feta is lower in fat than many other cheeses, making it the perfect light addition to this salad for extra flavor and creaminess (2).

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Make the salad dressing: Find how to do that here.

2. Toast the Pecans. Until lightly browned and fragrant. 

3. Assemble the salad: Place all the ingredients in a large bowl.

4. Dress & Toss: Drizzle the dressing over the salad and gently toss.

Recipe Tips, Variations, and Substitutions

• Change up the berries. You can replace blueberries with raspberries or strawberries for a different flavor profile.
• Skip or swap the cheese. For a vegan option, skip the cheese. Otherwise, you can try using blue cheese, burrata, crumbled goat cheese, or shaved parmesan.
• Substitute different nuts. Replace pecans with sliced roasted almonds, walnuts, or even cashews. For those with nut allergies, sunflower seeds make a great alternative.
• Add protein. Toss in a cup of cooked quinoa or some sliced grilled chicken breast for a more filling salad. Avocado is always a welcome addition too.
• Toss in raw garlic. Wanna add some extra bite to this blueberry salad recipe? Crush a clove of raw garlic and throw it in with the mixed greens.

Storage Recommendations

You can prepare the salad and dressing the day before. Store them separately, and drizzle the dressing just before serving.

Try These Other Blueberry Recipes

• Perfect Blueberry Scones – Homemade blueberry scones that are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, with just the right amount of blueberries studded throughout.
• Blueberry Caprese Salad – A bright salad recipe featuring juicy blueberries, creamy mozzarella, and fragrant basil.
• Summer Blueberry and Nectarine Scones – Fresh, home-baked scones sweetened with nectarines and blueberries.