Simple Side Salad Recipe
User Reviews
5
Simple Side Salad Recipe
Description
The salad features a mix of fresh greens and vegetables: crisp lettuce, juicy Roma tomatoes, cool cucumber slices, shredded carrots, thinly sliced red onion, crunchy croutons, and a sprinkling of Parmesan or feta cheese. Several dressing options are offered, each combining olive oil, vinegar, mustard, herbs, and spices to suit different tastes—Italian dressing with herbs and garlic powder, Greek dressing with red wine vinegar and oregano, and Balsamic dressing with honey and minced garlic. The vegetables are prepared by washing, chopping, and slicing before mixing with the dressing and toppings. This combination creates a refreshing and textured salad suitable as a side for various dishes.
The salad is served tossed lightly with half the chosen dressing to coat the ingredients and the remainder served alongside so diners can adjust the amount to taste. Adding croutons before serving preserves their crunch. This salad provides a fresh vegetable complement for meals requiring a light, crisp side.
Other vegetables like sliced olives, pepperoncini peepers, banana peppers, or chopped broccoli can be added for variation. Adjusting dressing ingredients or using your favorite bottle dressing is also an option.
Ingredients
- 5 oz lettuce a 5 ounce bag or 3-4 cups, chopped
- 1-2 Roma tomato
- ½ cucumber
- ½ cup carrot shredded
- ¼-⅓ cup red onion thinly sliced
- 1-2 cups croutons (freshly made or store bought)
- ¼-⅓ cup Parmesan Cheese or crumbled feta (optional, grated
ITALIAN DRESSING
- 3 TBSP olive oil quality
- 1 TBSP white wine vinegar or red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning blend (I love using Mrs. Dash’s salt-free blend)
- ½ tsp garlic powder or 1 small clove garlic, minced
- ¼ tsp salt or season to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper freshly ground
GREEK DRESSING
- ¼ cup olive oil or avocado oil, quality
- 2 TBSP red wine vinegar
- 1 TBSP Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp parsley or 1 tsp fresh, dried
- ½ tsp garlic powder or one super small clove garlic, minced
- ¼ tsp oregano dried
- ¼ tsp basil dried
- ⅛-¼ tsp salt
- ⅛-¼ tsp black pepper
BALSAMIC DRESSING
- ¼ cup olive oil or avocado oil, quality
- 2 TBSP balsamic vinegar plus extra to taste
- ½-1 TBSP red wine vinegar
- 1 TBSP Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp honey or sweetener or choice if vegan
- 1 garlic minced, small clove
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Choose your dressing from the list above (though if you have a go-to homemade or store bought dressing that's okay too!).
- Combine dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk *or* add dressing ingredients to a mason jar and shake well to mix.
- Let's get our veggie on! Clean and chop lettuce or snag a bag of your favorite chopped/washed lettuce.
- Slice and quarter Roma tomato(es) and thinly slice cucumber. I usually peel traditonal cucumber or leave the skin on English/seedless cucumber.
- Freshly shred/grate carrots or use pre-shredded here. Thinly slice or mince red onion.
- Combine veggies croutons, and optional cheese in a big bowl and mix it all up.
- rWhisk or shake dressing once more and dip a lettuce leaf in to taste. Adjust seasoning/ingredients to taste if desired
- Pour half the dressing over the salad before serving. Toss to combine and serve with remainig dressing for each person to add their ideal amount to their salad. Enjoy!
Notes
- This salad can be customized by adding vegetables like pepperoncini, olives, banana peppers, or broccoli.
- Dressings can be varied or substituted with store-bought options if preferred.
- Use freshly made or store-bought croutons depending on availability and preference.
- Nutrition information varies with choice of dressing and additions; adjust accordingly.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 178 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 178kcal | 9% |
| Carbohydrates | 11g | 4% |
| Protein | 5g | 10% |
| Fat | 13g | 20% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 6mg | 2% |
| Sodium | 331mg | 14% |
| Potassium | 232mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 5507IU | 110% |
| Vitamin C | 8mg | 9% |
| Calcium | 105mg | 11% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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