Description
Mediterranean sunshine dances through this Everyday Salad, blending crisp greens with zesty Mediterranean flavors. Fresh ingredients create a light, refreshing experience you’ll crave for quick, wholesome meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 5 ounces (142 grams) spring greens mix
- 0.5 English cucumber, very thinly sliced
- 0.5 medium red onion, peeled and very thinly sliced
- 0.5 cup (75 grams) pepitas or toasted pine nuts
Dressing Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) olive oil
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) Dijon mustard
- 1 small clove garlic, pressed or finely minced
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 0.5 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 0.25 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
- In a mixing vessel, craft the vibrant dressing by combining olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, sea salt, and black pepper. Whisk thoroughly or seal and shake until the mixture emulsifies into a smooth, harmonious blend. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed for balanced flavor.
- Select a spacious salad bowl and layer the spring greens mixture as a verdant base. Using a sharp knife or mandoline, delicately slice cucumber and red onion into translucent, gossamer-thin pieces to ensure elegant texture and distribution.
- Gently toast pepitas or pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until fragrant and golden, releasing their nutty essence. Sprinkle the toasted nuts over the prepared greens.
- Drizzle the prepared dressing across the salad, using tongs to softly toss and coat each ingredient. Execute with a light touch to prevent bruising the delicate greens, ensuring an even, glossy distribution.
- Plate the dressed salad immediately to preserve its crisp texture and vibrant flavors. Optionally, reserve a small amount of dressing on the side for additional personalization. Serve at room temperature for optimal taste experience.
Notes
- Toast nuts carefully to enhance their nutty flavor and prevent burning, creating a rich, aromatic base for the salad.
- Slice vegetables paper-thin using a sharp knife or mandoline for consistent texture and elegant presentation.
- Customize the dressing by experimenting with different vinegars or adding herbs like fresh basil or dill for extra brightness.
- Make the salad vegan-friendly by replacing any cheese or animal-based ingredients with plant-based alternatives like nutritional yeast or toasted seeds.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 0mg