Description
This quick and easy old-school garden salad is a refreshing side dish packed with crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, and sweet carrots, all tossed in a tangy homemade dressing. Perfect for any meal, it’s endlessly customizable and ready in just minutes!
Ingredients
Scale
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Salad:
- 1 small head iceberg lettuce or other leafy greens, chopped into large bite-sized pieces (5–6 big handfuls)
- 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved (~125g/4oz)
- 1 medium cucumber, sliced (Lebanese/Persian or ½ of a long English cucumber)
- 1 carrot, peeled and grated
- 1 tsp parsley or chives, finely chopped (optional garnish)
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Dressing:
- 1 tbsp cider vinegar (or substitute with any vinegar or lemon juice)
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- ½ tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
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Prep the Vegetables:
- Wash and dry all vegetables. Chop lettuce, halve cherry tomatoes, slice the cucumber, and grate the carrot. Add to a large salad bowl.
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Make the Dressing:
- Combine olive oil, cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small jar. Shake well until emulsified. Adjust to taste if needed.
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Toss the Salad:
- Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients. Toss thoroughly to coat evenly.
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Garnish and Serve:
- Add parsley or chives if desired. Transfer to a serving bowl and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- For a tangier dressing, add more vinegar. To soften the tang, add a pinch of sugar or honey.
- Substitute ingredients as needed: use spinach, arugula, or kale instead of iceberg lettuce, or try adding radishes or bell peppers for variety.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 24 hours, but keep the dressing separate to preserve freshness.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: None
- Category: Side Salad
- Method: Tossing
- Cuisine: Western
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approx. 1.5 cups
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 240 mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 7g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 1.5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Garden Salad, Easy Salad Recipe, Fresh Vegetables, Homemade Salad Dressing, Healthy Side Dish