This Easy Garden Salad is colourful, tasty, and flexible depending on what’s in season, where you are, and what you’ve got. It’s the perfect side dish for almost any meal!
This fresh garden salad mixes crunchy veggies and romaine lettuce in a tangy citrus vinaigrette dressing – Delicious! You can mix in any veggies you love or switch up the dressing to your liking.
Having a favourite salad recipe with all your preferred add-ons is a simple way to get more healthy veggies into your meals and add some crunch to your plate. Enjoy this fresh salad recipe anytime, for any occasion.
Garden Salad Recipe
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Salad spinner (optional for washing and drying greens)
- Cutting Board
- Knife
- Salad tongs or serving spoon
- Salad plates or bowls
Ingredients
- 3 cups Mixed salad greens lettuce, spinach, arugula, etc.
- 2 Cucumbers sliced
- 2 Tomatoes chopped
- 1 Bell pepper red, yellow, or green, sliced
- 2 Carrots sliced or grated
- 1/4 Red onion optional, thinly sliced
- 4 Radishes optional, thinly sliced
- 1 Avocado optional, diced
- 1/2 Cup feta cheese or goat cheese optional, crumbled
- 1/4 Cup nuts or seeds such as walnuts, almonds, or sunflower seeds
- Homemade vinaigrette or your favourite store-bought dressing to taste
Instructions
- Wash and dry your salad greens.
- Cut up cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and carrots.
- Slice onions and radishes if desired.
- Dice avocado if using.
- Crumble cheese if available.
- Toast nuts or seeds if desired.
- Combine everything in a big bowl.
- Add dressing.
- Gently mix.
- Serve and enjoy your salad!
Notes
- Keep leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 4 days without dressing.
- Wrap washed lettuce in a towel in the fridge and chop veggies the day before.
- Ranch dressing can be made up to 3 days early (mix it before using).
- Extras to add: bell peppers, onions, avocados, broccoli, herbs, croutons, bacon bits, olives, sesame seeds, or blue cheese crumbles.
- Wait until the end to add dressing, especially for a big crowd, to keep greens crisp.
- Don’t stress, use veggies your family loves.
- Ensure veggies are fresh and crisp, like lettuce with crisp leaves.
- Layer veggies ahead of time, but add avocado and dressing just before serving.
Nutrition Facts:
| Nutrition | Value |
|---|---|
| Carbohydrates | 12g |
| Fat | 18g |
| Calories | 336 kcal |
| Cholesterol | 15mg |
| Sodium | 180mg |
| Fibre | 4g |
| Sugar | 8g |
| Calcium | 78mg |
| Iron | 1mg |
| Protein | 5g |
How to Make Your Garden Salad More Exciting?
1. Get some crunch: Add things like crunchy croutons, nuts, or tortilla strips.
2. Mix up the textures: Put creamy stuff like avocado with crispy bell peppers.
3. Add cooked grains like quinoa or farro for extra yum.
What Makes a Great Salad?
1. Fresh is best: Use fresh ingredients for a tasty salad.
2. Mix it up: Pick ingredients that taste good together, like creamy avocado and juicy tomatoes.
3. Make it look good: A pretty salad is a tasty salad! Use colorful, fresh ingredients.
How to Stop Your Salad from Getting Soggy?
1. Dry your greens: Make sure your lettuce is dry before adding dressing.
2. Dress it up right before serving: Put dressing on just before you eat to keep things crisp.
3. Keep watery veggies separate until serving: Don’t mix in cucumbers until you’re ready to eat.