Blueberry Strawberry Salad

Strawberry blueberry salad is the ultimate summer berry salad, bringing together fresh, juicy fruit in a light and refreshing dish. This easy-to-make salad is perfect for May celebrations like Mother’s Day and BBQ ideas for Memorial Day, as well as backyard barbecues and picnics. Unlike other fruit salads, this one is mayo-free and dairy-free, making it an ideal option for hot summer days when you need a dish that won’t spoil quickly.

The vibrant red, white, and blue colors make it a standout side for July 4th cookouts, pool parties, and festive gatherings. With its combination of sweet berries, mini marshmallows, and a tangy citrus poppy seed dressing, this salad is both delicious and visually stunning.

Why We Love This Strawberry Blueberry Salad

• It’s a tasty way to enjoy fresh summer fruit.
  And if your favorite berries aren’t in season, it’s just as easy to make with frozen fruit!
  
• Easy to make ahead.
  As long as you leave the dressing off, you can prep the berries up to 4 days ahead of time.
  
• It doesn’t weigh you down. 
  We love picnic sides like baked calico beans and potato salad, but they’re a bit heavy. It’s nice to have a lighter option for the really hot days. And the dressing tastes great with almost any salad you can think of!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions 

• Strawberries and blueberries:- Any substitutions that keep this a red white and blue salad are great! Raspberries, blackberries, even cherries — just consider how easy they are to slice and if they might break up the texture of the salad overall. Another perfect recipe to make with these combo berries is strawberry blueberry cobbler.

For the Fruit Salad Dressing

• Citrus fruit: We use the zest and juice of an orange and a lime. Oranges are easy to find almost all year, but the lime crops have had a rough year weather-wise. If you have trouble finding good limes, lemons will do just fine.
  
• Honey or maple syrup: For a lighter taste that highlights the fruitiness of this recipe, go with honey. But if you enjoy the vanilla-like taste of maple with your fruit, use maple syrup as your dressing base. Or use a mix of both!
  
• Poppy seeds: These seeds don’t just add texture; they have a subtle nutty and pleasantly sweet flavor, too. 

Recipe Variations

• Mixed berry salad with frozen fruit: We actually love working with frozen fruit. It’s usually harvested when it’s perfectly ripe, which actually means that frozen fruit can sometimes have more nutritional value than fresh fruit.
  Frozen fruit is also easier to slice! The harder flesh won’t squish and leak juice while you’re cutting into it, and you can get slices that are both thinner and more uniform.
  Just be sure to give the fruit a bit of time to thaw before you serve the strawberry blueberry salad. An hour or so in the fridge is usually plenty of time after the fruit has been sliced! 
  Sometimes you can even find frozen strawberries that have already been sliced to save even more time!
• Creamy and savory twist: Add crumbled goat cheese or blue cheese for a tangy contrast to the sweet berries.
• Nutty crunch: Toss in pecans, almonds, or other nuts for extra texture and richness.
• Dressing swap: Instead of citrus poppy seed dressing, try a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette made with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and a touch of honey.
• Fresh and herby: Sprinkle some fresh basil on top for a bright, aromatic finish. Avocado Addition: Add sliced avocado for extra creaminess and a boost of healthy fats.
• Greens upgrade: Swap the base with baby spinach or mix it with a classic green salad blend for more variety and call it strawberry blueberry spinach salad.
• Meal prep-friendly: Store your dressing in a mason jar to keep everything fresh and crisp until you’re ready to toss and serve.

How to Make Red White and Blue Salad

1. Give the berries a good rinse to brighten their color.
   Of course, you should avoid using any fruit that has visible signs of mold or dark black spots. However, if your strawberries are just a little mushy looking, a quick rinse in cool water can bring them back to life!
2. Don’t toss the fruit salad until just before serving.
   As any mixed berry salad lover knows, the longer fruits sit together, the more likely the flavors are to meld together. This means, eventually the fruits will lose their individual flavor. 
   It’s ideal to wait until the day of serving to combine the fruits for the best possible flavor and texture.

3. Use freshly zested and juiced limes and oranges.
   Concentrated juice (lime, lemon, and orange alike) has a very artificial, abrasive flavor. The dressing will maintain a much fresher, sweeter flavor when you use freshly squeezed juice.
   As for the zest, be sure not to zest down to the pith (that’s the white, spongy part below the peel). The pith is bitter and doesn’t taste good at all.

4. You can make this with or without marshmallows.
   The dish is just as delicious without them! Alternatively, a small bowl of colored marshmallows or even marshmallow fluff can be served on the side for friends and family to add on their own.

Serving Suggestions

This blueberry strawberry salad is the perfect summer salad to enjoy at BBQs, picnics, and festive gatherings like Memorial Day weekend or the 4th of July. It pairs wonderfully with grilled chicken, adding a savory contrast to the sweet, juicy berries.

For extra creaminess, sprinkle crumbled feta cheese over the red white and blue salad, or toss in fresh herbs and spices for an extra pop of flavor. If you’re serving it as a side dish, try pairing it with grilled salmon, burgers, or a light pasta dish. This blueberry fruit salad also makes a refreshing standalone meal, especially when topped with nuts or a drizzle of honey for added depth.

Serve it chilled and enjoy a taste of summer in every bite!

More Easy Salad Recipes To Try…

• Panera Green Goddess Salad
• Tuscan Bean Salad
• Kale Crunch Salad
• Jello Fruit Salad