Fresh Garden Salad (Printable View)

Crisp mixed greens, juicy tomatoes, and fresh vegetables in a homemade vinaigrette.

# What You Need:

→ Fresh Vegetables

01 - 4 cups mixed salad greens (romaine, arugula, spinach)
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 cucumber, sliced
04 - 1 carrot, peeled and shredded
05 - 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 1/2 red bell pepper, sliced

→ Dressing

07 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
08 - 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
09 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
10 - 1/2 tsp honey (optional)
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Optional Additions

12 - 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
13 - 2 tbsp toasted pumpkin seeds

# How To Make It:

01 - Wash and dry all vegetables thoroughly under cold water. Pat dry with clean towels or use a salad spinner to remove excess moisture.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine the mixed salad greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, shredded carrot, red onion, and bell pepper. Arrange evenly for optimal mixing.
03 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey (if using). Season with salt and pepper. Whisk vigorously until the mixture emulsifies into a smooth dressing.
04 - Drizzle the vinaigrette over the vegetables. Toss gently using salad servers to coat all ingredients evenly without damaging delicate greens.
05 - Top with crumbled feta cheese and toasted pumpkin seeds if desired. Serve immediately while vegetables remain crisp and at peak freshness.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Its the kind of salad that actually makes you excited to eat your vegetables
  • You can throw it together in under 15 minutes with ingredients you probably already have
02 -
  • Dry your greens thoroughly or the dressing will slide right off into the bottom of the bowl
  • Add the dressing right before serving, nobody likes soggy salad that's been sitting too long
03 -
  • Let your dressing sit for 10 minutes before using it, the flavors really do meld together
  • Massaging your greens with a tiny bit of olive oil first makes them taste amazing and last longer

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