We LOVE this healthy Blueberry Salad! This scrumptious Summer salad is fun, fruity, and flavorful, and topped with the most amazing homemade blueberry balsamic dressing.
While I’m no stranger to dumping blueberries into my salads, I’ve never once considered blending them into a dressing. Well not until a berry dressing finally knocked my socks off, that is. There’s a sweet raspberry dressing at a local lunch spot here that has totally changed my mind about fruity dressings and holy cow I’ve been missing out!
Since I suspect their berry dressing is laced with enough sugar to classify it as liquid candy, I figured I had two choices: embrace dessert salads and give up donuts in favor of sugar-laden greens *OR* make my own healthy berry salad dressing at home.
Obviously I chose the latter.
No way am I giving up donuts!
Raspberries don’t last long in this house, as my pint-sized sidekick, can clear out a carton in a sitting, so I decided to tackle the bucket of farm-fresh blueberries we picked the week prior.
I blended a cup of berries into my go-to balsamic dressing and had to talk myself down from polishing off the entire jar right then and there. I really am kicking myself for not jumping on the fruity dressing bandwagon when it first became a thing. It’s totally legit!
Bring on the berries!
Cranberry Blueberry Salad with Blueberry Balsamic Dressing
:: vegetarian :: gluten-free :: dairy-free :: paleo :: clean eating ::
Cranberry Blueberry Salad with Blueberry Balsamic Dressing
I'm head over heels in LOVE with this healthy Cranberry Blueberry Salad with Blueberry Balsamic Dressing! This scrumptious Summer salad is fun, fruity, and full of flavor!
Ingredients
- 1 heaping cup blueberries
- 1 4-5 oz bag spring mix salad greens
- 1/2 English cucumber, chopped
- 1/2 cup mandarin orange segments
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 2-4 TBSP roasted unsalted sunflower seeds
BLUEBERRY BALSAMIC DRESSING:
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 TBSP red wine vinegar
- 2 TBSP dijon mustard
- 1 TBSPÂ honey
- 1 tsp salt I use sea salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup avocado oil olive oil works too
Instructions
-
First make your dressing: In a food processor or blender, combine all dressing ingredients except for the avocado oil. Blend until blueberries are completely pureed, then use the little top cut-out to drizzle in the avocado oil at the end. Once dressing is emulsified you're good to go!
-
Wash + dry your greens.Â
-
Combine with cucumber and blueberries, then toss with a drizzle or two of dressing. Add extra as desired.
-
Top with mandarin orange segments, dried cranberries, and sunflower seeds and serve!
Recipe Notes
Making this salad in advance? Go for it! Mix together everything minus the orange and dressing then combine when ready to serve!
NOTE: This recipe makes a bottle's worth of dressing which will keep great in the fridge for future salads. Only want a little? Feel free to halve the recipe!
Recipe yields 2 large salads or 4 side salads.
Nutrition Facts below are estimated using an online recipe nutrition calculator. Since we all add different amounts of dressing, values are for salad only. Add 50 calories per 2 TBSP of dressing.
special diets and swaps
You can swap in maple syrup or another all-natural sweetener of your choice if desired. For a VEGAN or WHOLE30 friendly dressing, simply skip the honey!
Craving cheese? GOAT CHEESE or FETA would be great in this salad!
Though I made this salad with spring mix, feel free to use whatever salad greens you have on hand. You can add spinach, arugula, massaged kale, green leaf lettuce, etc…
Feeling fruity? Add any of your favorites such as apples, strawberries, raspberries, and even kiwi.
As always, you can veg this bad boy up however you’d like! I think BROCCOLI would be absolutely amazing in this salad and sliced ALMONDS would be great too!
I’m so excited for y’all to try this cranberry blueberry salad! Whenever blueberry season starts here I get beyond giddy to whip this up!
If you get a chance to try this healthy cranberry blueberry salad, let me know! You can leave me a comment here (LOVE checking those daily!) or tag @PEASandCRAYONS on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creations. I can’t wait to see what you whip up!
Looking for a few new salad recipes to try this Summer? Check out these 20 Easy Healthy Salad Recipes!
Reinette
I absolutely loved this salad! Thank you so much for sharing. This will be a family favourite now 🙂
Cathi
Mr Picky (husband) loved this salad. Thank you for sharing the recipe. It’s the best kind of recipe because it’s customizable according to what you have. I followed it as written and loved every bite!
Karen Mogelnicki
What is the nutrition info on the blueberry cranberry salad and dressing ?
Martha
Made this for Thanksgiving and it was a huge hit! So good! I love the salad dressing and have made a second batch just for me!
Mary
Can I make this with canola oil?
Jenn
Hey Mary! It think Canola will work!
Elizabeth
Made this for dinner last night and it was delicious! Made a few swaps for convenience (almonds for seeds and we used all spinach) and I’m thinking I might add broccoli next time, too. This was easy and full of flavor. I’m already looking forward to leftovers for lunch today! It will be on heavy rotation this summer!
Rosemary
Blueberries are one of my favourite fruits and this salad was so good. Thanks for the recipe.
Jenn
So thrilled you enjoyed it Rosemary! Thank you!
Amanda Livesay
I can’t believe i’ve never thought to put blueberries in dressing! I want to drink the entire bottle!
Mary Lambert
What do you think about a sprinkle of goat cheese or blue cheese?
Jenn
Mary, that sounds fantastic!
Aislinn
This salad looks amazing, so colorful! I will definitely be trying this one. 😀
Jenn
Thank you Aislinn! Hope you love it as much as we do!
Lisa
I made this salad today for a family lunch. It was great. Everyone loved it!
Jenn
Wooot! So happy to hear it Lisa, thank you! 🙂
Emily @ Pizza & Pull-ups
This looks so delicious! I love fruity salads. I am doing Whole 30 right now, so I appreciate that it is easily adapted to Whole 30. Thanks!
Jenn
Good luck with Whole30 Emily! I really loved it when I did a round.. though the first week I was mean and hangry lol!
Joyce @ The Hungry Caterpillar
I’m not a huge salad girl, but this looks amazing. Low-FODMAP too!
Jenn
Thank you Joyce! I hope you get a chance to try this one — the flavors have me hooked! 🙂
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