Traverse City-Inspired Cherry and Goat Cheese Salad with Maple Vinaigrette

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-02 · Updated 2026-07-02

A fresh salad combining Traverse City cherries, creamy goat cheese, and a maple vinaigrette for a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors. This American-inspired salad recipe, ready in about 10 minutes, pairs mixed baby greens, goat cheese, crumbled, toasted walnuts, chopped into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 5 cups mixed baby greens
• 1 cup Traverse City fresh cherries, pitted and halved
• 4 oz goat cheese, crumbled
• 1/2 cup toasted walnuts, chopped
• 3 tbsp maple syrup
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large salad bowl, combine 5 cups mixed baby greens, 1 cup pitted and halved Traverse City fresh cherries, 4 oz crumbled goat cheese, and 1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts.
2. Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp maple syrup, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until emulsified and smooth.
3. Step 3: Drizzle the maple vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly without bruising the greens.
4. Step 4: Serve immediately to enjoy the contrast of creamy cheese, tart cherries, and crunchy walnuts with the sweet and tangy dressing.