Brighten up your summer table with this Fresh Apricot Fruit Salad with Strawberries and Spinach, a vibrant, plant-based recipe that doubles as a delicious side dish or a light dessert.
Tossed in a zesty citrus mint dressing, this refreshing vegan bowl is packed with seasonal flavor and naturally sweet, juicy goodness in every bite.
Fresh apricot fruit salad is one of my favorite ways to enjoy apricot season because I always get excited when the first ripe apricots appear. I love eating them fresh as a snack, baking my vegan apricot cake, or turning them into this colorful summer bowl when I want something lighter.
The juicy sweetness of the apricots pairs perfectly with fresh strawberries, tender spinach, crunchy walnuts, and the bright citrus mint dressing for a delicious mix of sweet, fresh, nutty, and refreshing flavors.
It is a crowd-pleasing recipe that will give you a refreshing meal and an effortless way to dress up your summer table.
If you love fresh summer salads, try my cucumber watermelon mint salad, strawberry cucumber mint salad, and strawberry avocado spinach salad next.
🍓Ingredients
- Fresh apricots
- Fresh strawberries
- Baby spinach
- Orange and lemon juice
- Fresh mint
- Walnuts
- Agave syrup (or maple syrup)
As always, you can find the full recipe with a list of ingredients with measurements in a printable recipe card at the end of this post.
🔪How To Make Fresh Apricot Fruit Salad With Strawberries and Spinach
- Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine the sliced apricots, halved strawberries, and spinach leaves. Sprinkle the raw walnuts over the top.
- Make the dressing: Add the orange juice, lemon juice, finely chopped fresh mint, and agave or maple syrup to a small jar with a lid. Close and shake well until fully combined.
- Toss and serve: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat everything evenly.
📋Variations
- Change the greens: Baby spinach works beautifully here, but arugula, mixed greens, or finely chopped romaine are great alternatives.
- Use different nuts: Walnuts add a delicious crunch, but pecans, sliced almonds, pistachios, or chopped hazelnuts also work well. For a nut-free version, use pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.
- Swap the fruit: Replace the apricots with peaches, nectarines, or mango for a different summer flavor. You can also use raspberries or blueberries instead of strawberries.
💡Marinela's Tips
- Use ripe but firm apricots: Choose apricots that smell sweet and give slightly when pressed. Overripe apricots can become too soft once tossed with the dressing.
- Dress just before serving: For the freshest texture, add the citrus mint dressing right before eating so the spinach stays crisp and vibrant.
- Chill the fruit first: Cold apricots and strawberries make this salad even more refreshing on warm summer days.
❓Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
You can chop the fruits and prep the dressing up to a day in advance, but store them in separate airtight containers in the fridge. Do not combine the spinach, fruit, and dressing until right before you serve it, or the greens will get soggy.
Yes, baby spinach works best, but arugula, mixed greens, or even chopped romaine are great alternatives depending on your taste.
If you don't have mint, you can skip it or replace it with fresh basil for a slightly different but still refreshing flavor.
Any liquid sweetener works well here. If you don't have maple syrup or agave, you can use brown rice syrup or simple syrup to balance the citrus juice's tartness.
🥗Plant-Based Salad Recipes
📖 Recipe
Fresh Apricot Fruit Salad With Strawberries and Spinach
Equipment
- 1 Salad Bowl
Ingredients
- 7-8 fresh apricots pitted, sliced
- 1 cup fresh strawberries halved
- 1 cup baby spinach leaves
- ¼ cup raw walnuts chopped
Salad dressing
- 4 tablespoons orange juice freshly squeezed
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1 tablespoon agave syrup or maple syrup
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves chopped
Instructions
- Add apricots, strawberries, spinach, and walnuts to a bowl.7-8 fresh apricots, 1 cup fresh strawberries, 1 cup baby spinach leaves, ¼ cup raw walnuts
- Shake together all dressing ingredients in a jar until combined.4 tablespoons orange juice, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon agave syrup, ¼ cup fresh mint leaves
- Pour over salad, toss gently, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Choose the right fruit: Use ripe but firm apricots for the best texture and flavor. Overripe apricots will become mushy when tossed.
- Meal prep friendly: If you want to take this to work or a picnic, pack the spinach and fruit in your main container, keep the walnuts in a small dry pouch so they stay crunchy, and store the dressing in a separate small jar. Mix them right at lunchtime.
- Nut-free variation: Simply swap the walnuts for raw pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds to keep this recipe entirely allergy-friendly while retaining that satisfying crunch.
- Serve it cold: Chill your fruit in the refrigerator beforehand for an extra refreshing summer salad on hot days.
Nutrition
If you try this fresh apricot fruit salad, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag a photo @go_eatgreen on Instagram.
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Kayla DiMaggio says
Yum! This was the absolute perfect Summer salad! I loved every single bite!
Marinela says
Thank you for reviewing my apricot salad Kayla, happy you like it!
Daniela says
Amazing summer salad! Thank you for sharing
Marinela says
I'm glad you like it, Daniela, thank you, too, for commenting!
Anaiah says
What a delicious and beautiful salad! Each bite was so flavorful and so refreshing. It was perfect for this summer heat. Thank you! I look forward to trying more of your recipes.
Marinela says
Ohh - amazing! I'm so glad you liked my refreshing summer salad Anaiah! Can't wait to hear from you again!
Freya says
This is such a stunning idea for a salad! I really love fruits used in salads
Marinela says
Me too Freya! Thank you for the lovely review!