Salads are perfect for the summer, and this blackberry and mozzarella salad is a great way to take advantage of all of the seasonal produce. Arugula is topped with sliced cucumber, pistachios, and mozzarella and drizzled with a basil lime vinaigrette. It is a great side dish to anything you decide to grill up.
The name of the game with this salad is seasonal, simple, and fresh. Blackberries make a great addition to any salad, and the cucumber and basil are perfect for the summertime. Lightly drizzle the dressing over this salad and you will have a prefect side dish or top with grilled chicken, steak, or portobello mushroom for a complete meal. The best part is that it is ready in less than 30 minutes.
Table of Contents
Why is this salad simple?
That is because the base of the salad, without the dressing, consists of 6 ingredients. All of which you can easily get ahold of and they won’t break the bank. For those on a budget that want a healthy meal that will last a couple of days is grab a couple of chicken breasts or those rotisserie chickens. Now, you have a great meal with minimum effort, and it works well with meal prep.
Arugula: adds a nice peppery bite to the salad
Cucumber: at peak season, adds a nice crisp texture to the salad.
Blackberries: the star of the dish. They add sweetness to the salad and are the perfect compliment to the salad dressing perfectly.
Making the salad dressing
While everyone is normally making pesto with basil in their gardens, this basil-lime vinaigrette is another great way to use up all that basil in a new and interesting way. The best part about this step is that it will only take about 5 minutes. You will add all the dressing ingredients excluding the olive oil into a blender or food processor and turn it on until everything is pulverized. Then while it is still running slowly drizzle the olive oil in and bam you are done.
Blackberry and mozzarella salad for the win
One of the reasons that I love this dish is that when I don’t want to turn a single knob or light my grill then I will make this salad. The best part is a $5 chicken from Costo is your friend here and makes this an easy dish for meal prep or just a healthy meal. You can also slide it up next to another protein as a side dish. Here are some of my suggestions for additional modifications.
- Grilled peaches
- Grilled chicken, pork, or steak
- Fresh strawberries
- Swap out the mozzarella with goat cheese
Looking for other salad recipes?
Blackberry & Mozzarella Salad with Basil-Lime Vinaigrette
Equipment
- Food processor or blender
- Bowl
Ingredients
Salad:
- 4 cups arugula
- 2 cups mixed greens
- 1 cup blackberries
- 8 oz mozzarella ceiligne or torn fresh mozzarella
- 1 cup cucumber thinly sliced
- ¼ cup pistachios
Basil-Lime Vinaigrette:
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup basil leaves fresh, packed
- 2 tablespoons lime juice fresh
- 1 tablespoon lime zest
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
Make the vinaigrette:
- In a blender or small food processor, combine the basil, lime juice, salt, pepper, lime zest, honey, mustard, and garlic. Blend until smooth.¼ cup basil leaves, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1 tablespoon lime zest, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 garlic clove, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper
- Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while blending until emulsified. Season to taste with salt and pepper.⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
Assemble the salad:
- In a large bowl, toss arugula, greens, cucumber, pistachios, and blackberries gently.4 cups arugula, 2 cups mixed greens, 1 cup blackberries, 1 cup cucumber, ¼ cup pistachios
- Add the mozzarella and drizzle with dressing. You might not use all of the dressing8 oz mozzarella
Nutrition
