Chipotle Chicken Taco Salad
This Chipotle Chicken Taco Salad is a fun way to enjoy romaine lettuce. Like the Italian Chopped Salad, this recipe offers a smokey taste, bringing it into a zestier realm.
Im a big fan of Mexican food, and I dont know how you could prepare this dish without pieces of shredded queso as a garnish.
While the recipe calls for its namesake chicken as an ingredient, this salad is also just as good as ground beef or steak.
This romaine lettuce recipe is a perfect side for fish I like it with grouper in particular.
The vinaigrette calls for red wine vinegar. However, because the remaining ingredients are relatively simple, I like to use lemon juice instead, along with a tablespoon of red wine.
Even though this is a greek salad, Ive gone Italian for my wine and used chianti. The high-tannin dryness dresses the scallions and cucumbers in the best way.
Blta Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps
I know, I know, another bacon recipe. What am I doing? Well, it wouldnt make sense to leave these Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps off of the list.
My boyfriend and I both love bringing in our lunch bags when were going to work or looking to eat something light before a hike or bike ride.
For some tanginess in the summer, I drizzle on some balsamic vinaigrette. My boyfriend likes to add a dash of hot sauce.
This recipe is a great way to enjoy romaine lettuce. Another fan favorite at my family dinners, Fattoush Salad, packs a zippy punch because it calls for lemon, garlic, and sumac.
Im not the biggest fan of croutons, so Ive always garnished this salad with instead.
I try to make my own, but Frenchs Crispy Fried Onions are quick and easy to stir in if you havent got the time.
Lettuce Salad With Caper Vinaigrette
While similar to olives, capers do have a more acquired taste. If youve not had the chance to eat capers before, this Lettuce Salad with Caper Vinaigrette is a great and easy option to help you warm up to them.
I prefer champagne vinegar for this meal, but if youre unable to find any at your grocery store, Ive discovered that rice wine vinegar is a friendly alternative.
While it brings a different taste to the salad, it complements the capers and cucumbers nicely.
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The Secret To Salad Success
Whenever our kids hear that Grandmom and Granddad are coming over , their eyes light up because they know my mom will be bringing her famous fresh, cool, crisp green salad.
Shes done this for years, and quite honestly, Ive kind of taken it for granted. She shows up with her bag of goodies, and the next thing I know, placed dead center on the dinner table is the most beautiful, rainbow of fresh, crunchy, healthy, and delicious green salad! Everyone loves it!
Truth be told, I used to suck at making a crispy green salad, so I dont make them all that often. But I finally sat my mom down and made her tell me exactly what her secret is. And its really not difficult. It just takes a little forethought.
Pear Salad With Pecans
Heres a dreamy salad if there ever was one: this brilliant Pear Salad! Its a study in contrasts: fresh, juicy pear against funky gorgonzola cheese bright pomegranate against savory shallot. Throw in some toasted pecans and cover it in tangy poppy seed dressing, and well: its absolutely irresistible.
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How To Make This Easy Salad Recipe
- Wash all the lettuce, then dry with paper towels or use a salad spinner.
- Rinse and dry the tomatoes, then quarter. Peel and slice the onion.
- Toss all the ingredients into a salad bowl and sprinkle on salt and pepper to taste.
- Make the dressing and drizzle it sparingly over the greens. Toss, taste, and add more dressing if you want.
Pro Tip: for the BEST salad, season all the ingredients with kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper BEFORE drizzling on the dressing.
Classic Three Bean Salad
Heres a fresh spin on that classic Bean Salad! This classic American summer salad has been gracing tables for generations, and everyone has their own take on it. Heres our spin on that bean salad of our youth, with a little less sugar and more freshness. But dont worry: its still an easy three bean salad thats as easy as dump and stir.
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How To Prepare A Simple Green Salad
Great green salad recipes start with great greens. Though I love a good kale salad or mixed greens salad as much as the next person, when Im making a simple, refreshing side salad, I like to use lettuce as the base.
Look for lettuces that have soft leaves and crisp stems with no discoloration. I especially like the flavor and texture of Butter lettuces like Boston and Bibb, but tender leaf or romaine lettuce would work well here too. Use whatever looks best. The more varieties, the merrier!
When youre ready to make the salad, pull the lettuce leaves apart, and wash and dry them well. To avoid bruising or tearing the leaves, I recommend using a salad spinner for this step . With it, youll be able to get the leaves almost perfectly dry in no time!
If you dont have a salad spinner, spread the washed lettuce on a kitchen towel to dry while you prepare the other salad components.
Need Some Serving Ideas
This is such a simple salad, full of nutrients and suits just about everything.
We served with our French Green Salad for a casual dinner with friends. But it is elegant enough for a lavish dinner party, casual enough for a BBQ or potluck and makes a quick and easy side for weekday dinners .
I have served it with herb-crusted chicken, a prime rib roast, vegan asparagus risotto, and so much more.
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Simple Butter Lettuce Salad
In just five minutes, youre going to have this super simple, low-calorie Butter Lettuce Salad to enjoy.
Butterhead lettuce is my favorite which is why I put this recipe at the top of the list. However, what ties this salad together, in my opinion, are the Castelvetrano olives their sweet flavor marries beautifully with the apple cider vinegar, honey, and breadcrumbs.
While this yields 6 servings, Ive tripled the recipe and added 1-½ cups of dried cranberries for a large crowd around the holidays.
Lentil Salad With Feta
Heres a top-notch lentil salad recipe to add to your arsenal, and man is it tasty. This fresh and healthy lentil salad is Mediterranean-style, mixed with fresh veggies, feta cheese and pistachios. Its a delicious way to add protein to a vegetarian meal as a side dish, or bring to work as a lunch throughout the week. You won’t be able to stop eating it! Or try: French Lentil Salad
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French Green Salad With French Vinaigrette
Instructions
- Wash the salad leaves and either pat dry or spin dry in a salad spinner.
- Wash, trim and peel your cucumber leaving alternate green strips then cut it into rounds. Peel and dice your avocado.
- Finely dice your shallot and place in a glass jar with the remaining dressing ingredients. Season and shake until emulsified.
- Add all the ingredients to a mixing bowl, pour over the dressing, season and toss until combined.
- Taste and adjust seasonings according to your liking.
- Arrange in a salad bowl and serve immediately.
Easy White Bean Salad
Heres a salad recipe you can mix up in minutes: White Bean Salad! Its bursting with Mediterranean flavor from simple ingredients: bell pepper brings a crunch, parsley an herbaceous bite, and red wine vinegar brings a zing of acidity. Top with a sprinkle of feta, and its irresistibly tasty with minimal effort.
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How Do I Make My Salad Crispy
Get the freshest most colorful green salad ingredients out there usually this includes Romaine lettuce , ripe, red tomatoes, crunchy baby carrots, crisp English cucumbers, red, yellow, or green peppers, peppery radishes, sliced black olives, and fresh shaved or shredded cheese on top.
The dressing is a very simple extra virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar, salt and pepper mix with a hint of Dijon mustard thats drizzled on top. You can certainly use a pre-made dressing if youd like. Heres one of my favorite store bought dressings!
And the real secret is she chops up everything several hours in advance, then places each item into a zip top bag with some cool water and refrigerates everything most of the day .
For the lettuce, just wash it and sprinkle it with a bit of water, then place a damp paper towel into the bag with the chopped lettuce. This will keep it fresh, crisp, hydrated, and prevent it from getting soggy. You dont want to soak the lettuce in water.
So, theres the secret to my moms amazing, cool, crunchy, crisp green salad. Just dont ask me the secret to my parents relationship that one I cant answer
A beautiful picture for many reasons!
Radish & Gorgonzola Salad
Now, many folks might not associate radishes with the word delicious. But, I promise you, those folks never tried this sensational radish and broccoli salad with gorgonzola cheese! The combination of these three simple ingredients is truly magical. The creamy gorgonzola cheese is the perfect complement to the crunch of the broccoli florets and radish slices.
And when you throw in some blue cheese salad dressing and a bit of salt and pepper, youve got yourself a delicious salad youll want to eat right down to the last savory crumb!
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The Best Vegetarian Green Salad Recipes
Ingredients: tomatoes, basil, garlic, shallot, balsamic vinegar, croutons, romaine lettuceIngredients: white balsamic vinegar, honey, lettuce, basil, pine nuts, nectarines, burrataIngredients: MAKE THIS RECIPEIngredients: yogurt, dijon mustard, lemon, honey, greens, crouton, celery, eggIngredients: blueberries, balsamic vinegar, pistachios, blue cheese, spinachMAKE THIS RECIPEIngredients: chickpeas, parmesan cheese, romaine lettuce, lemon MAKE THIS RECIPEIngredients: butternut squash, wild rice, arugula, cranberries, almondIngredients: dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, spinach, dates, blue cheese, pecans, shallotMAKE THIS RECIPEIngredients: soy sauce, ginger, honey, peanut butter, kale, broccoli, carrots, bell pepper, peas, cilantroMAKE THIS RECIPEIngredients: asparagus, peas, arugula, almond, lemon, mintMAKE THIS RECIPEIngredients: apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, spinach, strawberries, corn, sunflower seeds, Dubliner cheeseIngredients: romaine lettuce, black beans, red bell pepper, corn, avocado, jalapeno, tomato, cilantro, feta
Famous French Green Salad With French Vinaigrette
In our loaded version of this classic French Bistro Salad, we have combined fresh leafy greens, cool refreshing cucumbers and healthy fat avocado and smothered them in our super delicious classic French vinaigrette for a salad that suits anything and everything.
Not the green salad you had in mind? Then pop over to our Ultimate Green Salad Collection for even more inspiration.
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What To Serve With Green Salad
Like I mentioned earlier, this easy green salad can be served with ANY meal. It is the best basic side salad. We call it our house salad because it is a family favorite and we make it all of the time! If you wanted to make a meal out of the salad, you could top the salad with grilled chicken, salmon, shrimp, beef, or beans!
If you need some ideas on what to serve with our easy green salad, here are a few of our favorite recipes, but really, you can serve this green salad with ANYTHING!
The Best Green Salad Recipe
This is quite a simple lettuce salad, but incredibly yummy and perfect for family dinners. Or, if youre interested in doubling or tripling the recipe, you can serve this at a dinner party or larger gathering.
I love the red onions, and for an extra kick, Ive tossed in thinly sliced banana peppers as well.
No matter your additions, its hard to argue with the basics of The Best Green Salad Recipe.
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Ingredients In The Best Spinach Salad
You may notice this salad has a vague retro vibe. In fact, its a spin on my Grandmas 1970s spinach saladwith a few tweaks! For the dressing we went with a classic balsamic vinaigrette, which complements the flavors perfectly. Instead of bacon, smoky glazed pecans create the illusion of meat but make the salad vegetarian. Heres what youll need for this classic spinach salad:
- Hard boiled eggs or apple: Hard boiled eggs require forethought, so to whip this up in a flash substitute a crisp-tart apple. Its just as good!
- Smoky pecans: The secret to bacon flavor without meat! Glaze whole pecans in a mixture of soy sauce, maple syrup and smoked paprika.
- Spinach: Baby spinach is more tender with a sweeter flavor or, use chopped standard spinach.
- Shallot: Thinly sliced shallot is the best trick for green salads. Its delicate oniony flavor is gentler than red onion.
- Feta : A sprinkle of feta cheese looks like confetti and brings a salty pop.
- Balsamic vinaigrette: Tie it all together with this incredible homemade dressing.
Best Simple Lettuce Salad Recipes
Are you interested in eating healthy? Trying to introduce more greens into your diet, but you have no clue what to do with lettuce? I hear you. I wasnt always keen on using this leafy vegetable as the focal of a meal until I discovered these recipes. Now, I cant get enough!
Not only are these lettuce salad recipes easy, but they will also likely open your mind to the different vegetable options available at your grocery store.
Its easy to forget how many different types of lettuce there are from butterhead to Batavia, or even leaf lettuce, the one you choose can change the flavor and texture of your salad. Ive compiled a list of my twenty favorite recipes using lettuce, all simple and delicious.
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Spring Gem Salad With Soft Herbs And Labneh Toasts
Chef Nancy Silverton says the first sign of spring is when she puts this salad on the menu at Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles. She dresses the asparagus, peas, radishes, and sugar snap peas with a lemon vinaigrette, then offers toasts topped with labneh alongside, turning this ode to spring produce into a light lunch or first course for dinner.
Green Salad Serving Suggestions
Because youre working with tender lettuces and avocado, which has a tendency to brown, this salad is best if you assemble it right before you eat. If you want to get ahead, you can wash and dry the lettuce a day in advance and store it, well-wrapped, in the fridge. You can also roast the nuts ahead of time and store them, loosely covered, at room temperature. The dressing is make ahead-friendly, too! Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Serve this green salad as a side dish with almost any meal a weeknight dinner, a special occasion dinner, a festive brunch, or a summer cookout. It pairs well with just about anything. I love to make it for dinner when Im serving pasta, pizza, or cookout fare like veggie burgers, black beans burgers, or BBQ jackfruit sandwiches.
If youre serving it for brunch, try pairing it with any of these savory recipes:
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Best Kale Salad Recipes
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Kale Caesar Salad. Caesar salad isnt something we eat for its health-consciousness or nutrition-density. Unless, of course, were eating this kale Caesar salad recipe, which is Whole30 compliant and full of nutrients.
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Kale Salad with Apples and Pumpkin Seed Clusters. A colorful, healthy kale salad recipe thats loaded with crisp apples, goat cheese and pumpkin seeds, then tossed with creamy apple cider vinegar dressing.
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Tropical Kale Salad. Piled high with crunchy veggies, sweet mangos, macadamia nuts and tossed with the creamiest coconut curry dressing, this kale salad recipe is a cheery rainbow of a meal.
Easy Steps To Making This Salad
1 – PREPARE YOUR GREENS
Wash your salad leaves, remove any wilted or damaged ones, either pat dry with a clean kitchen towel or spin dry in a salad spinner.
Wash your cucumber, trim, then peel, leaving alternate green strips. Then cut into rounds.
Wash and peel your avocado, dice and squeeze some lemon juice on top to prevent browning.
- WASH YOUR SALAD MIX
- EITHER PAT OR SPIN DRY
- CUT YOUR CUCUMBER INTO ROUNDS
- DICE AVOCADO & ADD LEMON JUICE
2 – SHAKE UP YOUR DRESSING
Finely dice your French shallot, place in a glass jar with the remaining vinaigrette ingredients, season with some sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Shake your dressing until it emulsifies .
- ADD INGREDIENTS TO JAR
- SHAKE UNTIL EMULSIFIED
3 – ASSEMBLE YOUR SALAD
Place your salad ingredients in a large mixing bowl, pour the dressing over the salad, season and toss well to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings according to your liking.
Arrange in a salad bowl and serve immediately.
- ADD INGREDIENTS TO MIXING BOWL
- TOSS WELL TO COMBINE
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+ Green Salad Recipes
These easy green salad recipes are loaded with texture, and flavor, and are anything but boring! Enjoy them as a meal on their own or serve them as a side to just about any main dish from grilled meat or seafood, to pizza and pasta, or soup.
If there is one thing I know for certain its this: far too many containers of mixed greens go unused and are left sitting sad and lonely in the back of fridges everywhere. But not anymore!
With this collection of mixed green salad recipes, youll never throw out a sad lonely container of lettuce again. Instead, youre going to be serving flavor-filled and texture-loaded salads alongside main dishes and even as your main!
These simple salads range from bold and vibrant flavors that are hearty enough to stand on their own as a main dish .
Others are more go-with-the-flow and can be mixed and matched with whatever main dish youre serving up, from salmon to shrimp, to stuffed mushrooms, to lasagna, or flatbreads. Many are vegetarian or vegan and can be tossed for a crowd or a dinner for two.
So, lets get to the salads now, shall we?!