Easy Garden Salad Recipe

About This Recipe

This easy garden salad is inspired by seasonal produce. It's packed with a tasty mix of vegetables that are popular gardening favorites.

This is a classic garden salad, layered with chopped vegetables: radishes, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, bell pepper, and red onion.

Optionally, It's topped with crunchy croutons and generous sprinkle of fresh parsley.

Garden salads are also often called 'house salads,' and this recipe is similar to many restaurant's house salads.

This salad is also very versatile! Feel free to mix and match the toppings with what you have on hand (or in your garden).

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make this recipe. The full recipe and list of ingredients can be found at the bottom of the page.

For the salad:

• Romaine lettuce
• Radishes
• Yellow bell pepper
• Grape tomatoes
• Mini cucumbers
• Carrots
• Red onion
• Flat-leaf parsley (optional)
• Croutons (optional)

For the white wine vinaigrette:

• Olive oil
• White wine vinegar
• Lemon juice
• Dijon mustard
• Honey

How to Make a Garden Salad

1. In a small jar or bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients until emulsified (fully combined and slightly thickened. You can also use an electric whisk for this). 
2. Add all of the salad ingredients to a large bowl, toss with the dressing and enjoy! Optionally, top with chopped parsley, croutons, and freshly ground black pepper.

Ingredient Notes

Lettuce: Use romaine lettuce for its crisp texture and mild flavor, or use a mix of romaine and red leaf lettuce. I typically use 3 cups red leaf lettuce and 3 cups romaine.

Yellow Bell Pepper: Feel free to use orange or red bell peppers instead.

Grape Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes or diced heirloom tomatoes can be used as alternatives.

Mini Cucumbers: Sliced mini cucumbers give this salad a refreshing crunch. English cucumber or regular cucumber can be substituted.

Red Onion: If you're not a fan of raw onion, you can soak the slices in cold water for 10-15 minutes to mellow their flavor.

Flat-leaf Parsley: Optional but recommended, chopped parsley adds a fresh and herby note to the salad. Alternatively, you can use curly leaf parsley, cilantro or basil for a different flavor profile.

Cheese: This recipe doesn't include a cheese, but feel free to add some for added creaminess. Popular options include parmesan cheese, goat cheese, or feta cheese.

Nuts: Add pine nuts or sunflower seeds to give your salad extra crunch.

About The Dressing

The dressing for this salad is a simple White Wine Vinaigrette. It's made with a traditional mix of olive oil, white wine vinegar, dijon mustard, and fresh-squeezed lemon juice. Optionally, add some honey to make it sweet.

The light, tangy flavor of the dressing is the perfect complement to the fresh veggies in this recipe.

Dressing Options

This recipe is also very versatile when it comes to dressings! Feel free to pair it with your favorite one. Just about any dressing would be tasty, from light vinaigrettes to creamy options like ranch.

Here are a few other dressing ideas that would be tasty either as homemade or store-bought alternatives:

• Ranch dressing
• Italian dressing
• Red wine vinaigrette
• Everyday dressing

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Store Leftovers

To store leftovers, transfer the salad to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2-3 days. Keep in mind that the lettuce may wilt slightly, so it's best enjoyed fresh.

To preserve the texture of your salad, mix and store your dressing separately and toss your salad just before serving.

Tools

Here are a few tools that aren't necessary, but are convenient to have when making this salad (and salads in general)!

1. Salad Spinner: This removes moisture after you wash your lettuce leaves, which means they won't get soggy and will cling to your salad dressing better.
2. Lemon Juicer: The easiest (and most efficient) way to squeeze a lemon. This one is sturdy enough to last and gets all the juice out.
3. Vegetable Chopper: A must have for making salads with lots of chopped vegetables. This will save you time and makes clean up easy.

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