Fresh Garden Salad Vegetables (Print Version)

Fresh seasonal vegetables with light vinaigrette dressing ready in 15 minutes.

# What You'll 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 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
08 - 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1/2 teaspoon honey (optional)
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Optional Additions

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

# How to Make It:

01 - Wash and dry all vegetables thoroughly under cold running water. Pat dry with clean kitchen towels or use a salad spinner to remove excess moisture.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine the mixed salad greens, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, shredded carrot, thinly sliced red onion, and sliced red bell pepper.
03 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey (if using), salt, and pepper until fully emulsified and smooth.
04 - Drizzle the vinaigrette dressing over the vegetables. Toss gently with salad servers or clean hands to coat all ingredients evenly without crushing delicate greens.
05 - Top with crumbled feta cheese and toasted pumpkin seeds if desired. Serve immediately while vegetables remain crisp and dressing is fresh.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The vinaigrette comes together in seconds and tastes infinitely better than bottled dressing
  • You can customize it based on what's in your fridge or wilting in your crisper drawer
02 -
  • Never dress a salad more than 15 minutes before serving or it becomes a soggy mess
  • Dry greens are crucial — even a little water makes dressing slide right off
03 -
  • Make a double batch of the vinaigrette and store it in a jar — it keeps for a week
  • Invest in a good salad spinner, it changed how often I actually make fresh salads

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