Ultimate Summer Salad in a Jar: Fresh Strawberries, Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Honey Mustard Dressing
Embrace the vibrant flavors of summer with this incredibly fresh and satisfying salad in a jar. Featuring the perfect balance of sweet strawberries, tangy sun-dried tomatoes, crisp mixed lettuce, and a delectable honey mustard dressing, this recipe is a game-changer for your outdoor adventures. Imagine a sunny picnic, each person with their own jar filled to the brim with colorful, wholesome goodness – it’s a delightful sight and an even more delightful taste experience. This vegetarian-friendly salad is not only incredibly delicious but also fantastically convenient, making healthy eating on the go easier than ever.
Why You’ll Love This Salad in a Jar
The secret to this salad’s irresistible charm lies in the harmonious combination of its components. The creamy, subtly spicy, and wonderfully sweet honey mustard dressing acts as the perfect foundation, beautifully complementing the juicy, fresh strawberries. As you layer it with a medley of crisp mixed greens, you create a delightful textural contrast with every bite. The sweet and savory sun-dried tomatoes, with their concentrated flavor, elevate the entire salad, adding a sophisticated depth that makes it truly complete.
This vegetarian (and easily vegan-adaptable) salad is meticulously built in layers within a jar, a brilliant technique that ensures maximum freshness until you’re ready to eat. Whether you’re heading to a picnic, packing lunch for work, or simply want a delicious, ready-to-eat meal, these jars are your best friend. Just before serving, a quick shake or toss is all it takes to combine the ingredients, ensuring that the dressing coats everything perfectly and the greens remain wonderfully crisp. The result? A wonderfully flavorful, fresh, and visually appealing salad that’s guaranteed to impress.
The Magic of Layering for Optimal Freshness
The “salad in a jar” concept isn’t just aesthetically pleasing; it’s a practical method for keeping your salad ingredients fresh for days. The key is the layering technique: the dressing goes at the very bottom, followed by heartier ingredients that won’t get soggy, and finally, delicate greens at the top. This creates a protective barrier, preventing your lettuce from wilting and ensuring every component maintains its texture and flavor.
- Portability: Perfectly sealed jars make transport a breeze – no spills, no mess!
- Freshness: Proper layering keeps ingredients crisp until mealtime.
- Portion Control: Each jar is a perfectly portioned meal.
- Make-Ahead: Prepare several jars at the beginning of the week for easy grab-and-go lunches.
- Visual Appeal: The layered colors are beautiful and appetizing.
Ingredients Spotlight: What Makes This Salad Shine
Each ingredient in this salad plays a crucial role in creating a symphony of flavors and textures. Let’s delve into what makes them so special:
- Fresh Strawberries: The star of the show! Sweet, juicy, and bursting with summery flavor, strawberries add a delightful tang and a pop of vibrant color. They’re also packed with Vitamin C and antioxidants, making this salad as nutritious as it is delicious.
- Sweet Sun-Dried Tomatoes: These concentrated gems bring an intense, savory-sweet umami flavor that perfectly balances the fresh fruit. They add a wonderful chewy texture and a Mediterranean touch to the salad.
- Crisp Mixed Lettuce: A blend of various greens not only provides a refreshing base but also contributes different textures and subtle flavors. From tender butter lettuce to slightly bitter radicchio or peppery arugula, a good mix ensures a more engaging salad experience.
- Honey Mustard Dressing: This homemade dressing is truly exceptional. The sweetness of honey cuts through the sharp tang of mustard, while olive oil provides a smooth, rich base. Seasoned simply with salt and pepper, it ties all the flavors together without overpowering the fresh ingredients. It’s creamy, zesty, and utterly addictive!
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Not just for the dressing, but high-quality olive oil adds a touch of fruitiness and healthy fats, contributing to the overall richness and flavor of the salad.
Customization & Variations: Make It Your Own!
One of the best things about this salad is its versatility. Feel free to experiment with different ingredients to suit your taste or what you have on hand:
- Add Protein: For a more substantial meal, consider adding grilled chicken, pan-seared salmon, hard-boiled eggs, chickpeas, black beans, or a sprinkle of crumbled feta or goat cheese.
- Boost the Crunch: Toasted nuts like pecans, walnuts, or almonds, or seeds like sunflower or pumpkin seeds, can add a fantastic textural element. *Remember to keep nuts and seeds in a separate small container until serving to prevent them from getting soggy.*
- Vary the Veggies: Diced cucumber, bell peppers, corn, red onion, or even avocado can be wonderful additions. Add avocado just before packing or bring it separately to avoid browning.
- Explore More Fruits: Blueberries, raspberries, or even thinly sliced apples or peaches could complement the strawberries beautifully.
- Switch the Dressing: While the honey mustard is fantastic, a balsamic vinaigrette, a lemon-herb dressing, or even a light creamy avocado dressing could also work well.
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📖 Recipe: Summer Salad in a Jar
Recipe Card
By Andréa
Pin Recipe
10 minutes
10 minutes
Salad
Other
4 salads
139 kcal
Prevent your screen from going dark
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, extra vierge
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 oz sun-dried tomatoes
- 2 oz strawberries
- 3 oz mixed lettuce
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
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In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, mustard, and extra virgin olive oil until well combined. Season generously with salt and ground black pepper to taste. This will be your delicious honey mustard dressing.1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon mustard, 3 tablespoons olive oil, ⅛ teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
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Carefully spoon the prepared dressing into the bottom of each jar. This is the crucial first layer to keep your greens fresh.
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Next, add the sun-dried tomatoes on top of the dressing. Their firm texture makes them ideal for this layer, as they won’t absorb too much dressing.1 oz sun-dried tomatoes
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Wash and hull the strawberries thoroughly. Quarter them or slice them to your preferred size.2 oz strawberries
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Gently place the quartered strawberries on top of the sun-dried tomatoes, creating another beautiful layer of color and flavor.
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Finally, fill the remainder of the jar with your mixed lettuce, packing it lightly but securely. This top layer will protect your greens from the dressing until you’re ready to eat. Seal the jars tightly with lids.3 oz mixed lettuce
Notes
1. Stay Fresh: The beauty of this layered salad is its ability to stay fresh. Just before you’re ready to enjoy your meal, simply shake the jar vigorously to distribute the dressing evenly. Alternatively, you can pour the contents into a larger bowl and toss. By placing the wet ingredients (dressing, then harder vegetables/fruits) at the bottom and the delicate greens at the top, your lettuce remains wonderfully crisp and vibrant.
2. Also Great: If you plan to add crunchy elements like nuts, croutons, or seeds, it’s best not to add them directly into the jar with the other ingredients. Instead, store them in a separate small container or a mini zip-top bag. This way, they will stay perfectly crisp and won’t get soggy from the moisture in the salad.
3. Storage: Once assembled, keep your salad jars refrigerated until ready to serve. They will stay fresh and delicious for up to 3-4 days when properly layered and sealed. This makes them ideal for meal prepping a week’s worth of healthy lunches.
4. Best Jars: Wide-mouth quart-sized (32 oz) mason jars are generally the best for salads as they allow for easy layering and tossing. If you’re making smaller portions, pint-sized (16 oz) jars work well too.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 10g
Protein: 2g
Fat: 11g
Saturated Fat: 2g
Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g
Monounsaturated Fat: 8g
Sodium: 130mg
Fiber: 2g
Sugar: 8g
Vitamin A: 1.641IU
Vitamin C: 13mg
Iron: 1mg
a great summer salad recipe, salad in a jar, strawberry salad, picnic food
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Explore More Fresh & Flavorful Salads!
If you loved this refreshing Summer Salad in a Jar, you’re in for a treat! We have a wide array of salad recipes that are perfect for any occasion, from hearty pasta salads to light and fruity options. Discover your next favorite healthy meal:
- Smoked Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad
- Watermelon Fruit Basket
- Cheddar Bacon Potato Salad
This Summer Salad in a Jar isn’t just a recipe; it’s an invitation to enjoy fresh, vibrant flavors wherever your day takes you. Whether you’re a seasoned meal prepper or looking for new picnic ideas, this easy-to-customize salad is sure to become a staple in your warm-weather menu. Enjoy the convenience and deliciousness!