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Whether you call it a garden salad or a house salad, one thing is for sure – it’s simple, oh-so-delicious, and makes a great side or salad base! This fresh garden salad is a delicious combination of crunchy fresh vegetables and romaine lettuce tossed in a light, zesty citrus vinaigrette dressing – Yum! You can customize it to add any veggies you like or switch out the dressing based on your preference.
Table of Contents
- Why you’ll love this classic garden salad recipe
- Simple garden salad ingredients
- How to make A Garden Salad
- Tips for making the best vegetable garden salad
- Popular substitutions & additions
- What to pair with a fresh garden salad
- How to store your garden salad and dressing
- Frequently asked questions
- More salad recipes:
- Fresh Garden Salad Recipe
Having a go-to salad recipe with all your favorite additions is an easy way to add more nutritious vegetables to your meals and add some texture to your plate. Enjoy this fresh house salad recipe anytime and for any reason!
Why you’ll love this classic garden salad recipe
- Quick and easy dish. Garden salads are the ultimate go-to meal for busy days. All you need to do is chop up your veggies, whip up a simple dressing, and toss everything together. You can add a protein like grilled chicken, salmon, or shrimp to make it a complete meal.
- So fresh and full of good-for-you ingredients. Raw vegetables tossed in a light, refreshing dressing offers various textures and flavors in every bite while providing plenty of nutritional benefits. Leafy greens and vegetables are rich in vitamins, beta-carotene, fiber, and folate and are naturally low in calories.
- An everyday salad. The name says it all! This side salad is enjoyable for any meal, whether as a quick lunch, as a starter for dinner, or as a side dish.
Simple garden salad ingredients
- Romaine: Romaine lettuce adds crunch and a slightly bitter taste to garden salads. Look for heads that are firm and tightly packed with crisp green leaves.
- Vegetables: For my garden salad, I went with cherry tomatoes, red onions, Persian cucumbers, and grated carrots, but feel free to mix and match your veggies depending on your preferences or what you have available.
- Dressing: For a simple garden salad dressing, I chose light and tangy ingredients that consists of olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and black pepper. I like to make my own salad dressings, but you can use storebought if you prefer.
How to make A Garden Salad
- After chopping and slicing the vegetables, layer them in a bowl, or divide them into 4 individual serving bowls.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients.
- Pour the dressing over the salad.
- Toss to combine and serve immediately. If not serving right away, wait to add dressing.
Tips for making the best vegetable garden salad
- Cut vegetables into similar sizes. Your fork should have a little bit of each veggie on it for the perfect bite. If you need some help with cutting the vegetables, check out my guides on how to cut carrots, onions, and tomatoes. They’re quick and easy to follow!
- Add dressing right before serving. Wait until the last step to toss the dressing with the salad to keep your veggies crisp. If you add it too early, your lettuce and some of the vegetables may become soggy or wilted.
- Use a salad spinner. After washing your vegetables, it’s a good idea to quickly spin them or pat them dry with paper towels to remove any excess water, making sure that the dressing sticks to the veggies and isn’t watered down.
Popular substitutions & additions
- Choose fresh and colorful vegetables. To make your salad, pop pick a variety of colorful veggies such as cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, and carrots.
- Switch up your salad greens. While I love using romaine lettuce, there are so many options to choose from, and each has its own unique flavor and texture. Try one of these common types of greens for your fresh garden salad: arugula, bibb, butter, spinach, iceberg, or green leaf lettuce. Better yet, you can grab spring mix that has a handful of different varieties of salad greens all in one container.
- Add toppings. This house salad is perfect as-is for a quick and easy recipe, but you can add whatever you like! Try some of these salad topping ideas:
- Nuts and seeds: roasted nuts, candied nuts, toasted sunflower seeds, roasted pumpkin seeds
- Fruit: diced apples, sliced strawberries, orange pieces, cubed dragon fruit, and even more fruit ideas.
- Cheese: shredded cheddar or other shredded cheeses, crumbled feta, goat cheese, or blue cheese.
- Crunchy topping: croutons or crispy garbanzo beans
- Add a protein. For a more filling and satisfying meal, top your garden salad with chicken, tofu, chickpeas, boiled eggs, or steak.
What to pair with a fresh garden salad
How to store your garden salad and dressing
It’s best to keep the vegetables and dressing separate until ready to serve. Make sure your veggies are dry and stored in an air-tight container. A zip-top bag with all the excess air squeezed out will keep your veggies extra crisp. Store the dressing in a separate container or jar in the refrigerator.
How long will salad ingredients last in the fridge?
You can store your salad with vegetables for up to 2-3 days in the fridge. After that, they will likely become soggy and watery and should be tossed.
Frequently asked questions
A light and tangy vinaigrette or a simple oil and vinegar dressing are perfect choices to pair with your garden salad.
Sure! Prep your veggies and either store them separately in the crisper drawer or meal prep your salad in individual containers. Store the dressing on the side for best results.
A fresh garden salad typically consists of fresh, raw vegetables you would find in a garden, such as lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, and radishes.
This garden salad recipe is both simple and delicious, perfect for any day of the week. The light vinaigrette dressing complements any combination of fresh vegetables or protein you choose to add. With endless options, I hope this recipe inspires you to create your own unique version of an everyday garden salad!
More salad recipes:
- Chickpea Salad
- Kale Pear Salad
- Easy Chopped Salad
- Kale & Farro Salad
- Chopped Green Goddess Salad
- Brussel Sprout Caesar Salad
- Roasted Beet Salad
- Crispy Feta Crouton Salad
- Strawberry Pecan Salad
If you try this feel good Garden Salad recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. We would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so we can repost on Stories!
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Fresh Garden Salad
Ingredients
- 1 head romaine lettuce chopped
- 1 cup grape tomatoes
- 2 Persian cucumbers
- 1 carrot peeled and grated
- ½ small red onion sliced
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Place the salad ingredients in a large bowl or divided into 4 bowls.
- Whisk the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl or jar. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Serve immediately after tossing.
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
Simple and good. Comes together fast. Like the touch of sweetness from the honey.
Simple salad with a delicious dressing.
Thank you so much, Joanne!