Make a Garden Salad

Garden salads are not only healthy, but also colorful. They can be made with vegetables straight from your garden, including carrots, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Once you know how to make a basic garden salad, you can alter it and put your own spin on it. This article will not only show you how to make a basic garden salad and a tasty dressing for it, but also give you ideas on how to customize it to suit your tastes.

Ingredients

Ingredients for the Salad[1]

  • 1 head Romaine lettuce
  • 1 tomato
  • ¼ purple onion
  • ½ cucumber
  • 1 carrot

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients for the Salad Dressing[2]

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • Pinch of salt
  • Dash of pepper

Steps

Making the Salad

  1. Cut the leaves off the lettuce. Unless you bought your lettuce already cut into bite-sized pieces, you will need to cut the leaves off the lettuce head. Simply lay the lettuce down on its side and cut the base off where all of the leaves are gathered.
  2. Cut the lettuce into smaller pieces. Place a few leaves on top of each other and start chopping the lettuce horizontally. You can also simply tear the lettuce into smaller pieces using your fingers. If the lettuce you are using has a thick stem in the middle, be sure to cut it out and discard it.
  3. Wash and dry the lettuce. Fill a clean sink or bowl with cool water and place the leaves inside. Gently move the leaves about to dislodge any dirt. Once the lettuce is clean, dry it using a salad spinner, or set the leaves down on a clean towel and pat them dry with another towel.[3] The leaves must be dry, or else the dressing will not stick to them.[4]
  4. Cut the tomato into wedges. Place the tomato down on the cutting board with the stem facing you, and cut it in half using a serrated knife. Take one of the halves and place it cut-side-down on the cutting board. Cut it in half again, going from the top of the tomato (where the stem is) to the bottom. Cut each half into wedges. Start from the domed part of the tomato and cut down towards the middle, where the stem was. Repeat the process for the other half.[5]
    • You can also use whole cherry or grape tomatoes. You can use them whole, or cut them in half.
  5. Slice an onion. Take ¼ of a purple onion and slice it into thin rings. Use your fingers to gently separate the rings. You can also dice the onion instead.
  6. Slice a cucumber. You can peel the cucumber first, or you can leave the skin on. Make sure that the slices are thin. You can also chop the cucumber into cubes.
  7. Chop up a carrot. You can chop the carrot up onto thin slices, or you can grate it. You can also use whole baby carrots as well.
  8. Place all the vegetables into a bowl and toss them together. Use a pair of salad serving spoons to gently scoop up some salad and drop it back into the bowl. Pick up some more salad and drop it into the bowl. Keep tossing the salad like this until all o the vegetables are evenly dispersed throughout the salad.
  9. Add a salad dressing of your choice. You can use a store-bought, pre-made dressing, or you can make your own from scratch. If you wish to make you own, refer to the section in this article on making basic salad dressing. Pour some dressing into the salad and toss it. You can add as much or as little dressing as you like. In general, the greens should be lightly coated with the dressing, and not drenched so much that the dressing pools at the bottom of the bowl.

Making the Salad Dressing

  1. Find a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. You will be mixing your salad dressing in this jar. If you do not have a jar, you can use a glass bottle instead. Avoid using plastic, as that can affect the flavor.
  2. Pour all the ingredients into the jar. You will need 3 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of white wine vinegar, a pinch of salt, and a dash of pepper. For a heavier dressing, use extra virgin olive oil. If you want a lighter dressing, use light olive oil instead.
    • You can also use canola, grape seed oil, or vegetable oil instead of olive oil. These will give you a more delicate flavor.
    • Instead of white wine vinegar, you can also use apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, or rice vinegar.
  3. Consider adding in some extra flavor. You can customize your salad dressing by adding some fresh herbs, honey or sugar, or garlic. Here are some options for you to choose from:[2]
    • For a fresh, herbal touch, add 1 - 2 tablespoons of chopped, fresh herbs, such as basil, cilantro, parsley, mint, or thyme.
    • For a sharper flavor, add 1 finely-mined garlic clove. You can also use a garlic press instead.
    • For a cheesier option, add 2 tablespoons of finely grated or crumbled cheese, such as parmesan.
    • Add some spice with a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes or 1 teaspoon of dijon mustard.
    • Add a little sweetness with ½ to 1 teaspoon of 1/2 – 1 honey or sugar.
  4. Shake the jar. Close the lid tightly and shake the jar until all of the ingredients are combined. If any of the dressing as seeped out form beneath the lid, wipe it off with a damp towel. You can use this dressing on your salad and store any leftovers in the refrigerator.
  5. Store the dressing properly. If you have any salad dressing left over, close the jar tightly and store it in the refrigerator. Use it within two to three days.[2]

Making Variations

  1. Consider customizing your salad. Garden salads are easily-customizable. You can add more vegetables, use completely different vegetables, or even change the dressing. This section will give you some ideas.
  2. Use different vegetables. You can substitute the vegetables in your salad for other ones. You can also simply toss more vegetables into your salad in addition to the ones you already have to make it more colorful and flavorful. Other vegetables often found in garden salads include: black olives, mushrooms, onions, radishes, red bell peppers, and green bell peppers.
  3. Use a different salad dressing. If you don't like basic salad dressing, you can use a different instead, such as: French, Italian, red wine vinaigrette, or ranch. You can also forgo the dressing altogether and lightly season your salad with some olive oil and a drizzle of lemon juice or vinegar, and a pinch of salt and pepper.[6]
  4. Add some toppings. You can give your salad some more flavor or crunch by adding shredded parmesan cheese on top, or some of your favorite croutons.
  5. Add a Greek spin to your salad. Keep the cucumber, onion, and tomatoes in the salad, but switch out the carrot for some chopped red and green peppers and sliced black olives. Add some crumbled feta cheese and crumbled oregano. Toss everything into a bowl and mix together. Finish off with some Italian salad dressing.[7]
    • You can make the salad with lettuce, or omit it completely.
  6. Make an East Asian salad. You will need ½ cup (125 grams) of corn kernels, 1 diced tomato, ½ cup (75 grams) of diced cucumber, 3 tablespoons of diced pineapple, and a few sprigs of dried coriander. You will also need ½ cup (50 grams) sprouted mung beans (drained) and 3 tablespoons of pomegranate seeds. Toss everything into a bowl. At this point, you can some salad dressing, salt and pepper, or keep it simple with 1 teaspoon lemon juice.



Tips

  • Make sure that the salad greens are dry, as salad dressing will not stick well to wet leaves.
  • Cut the lettuce leaves before washing them.
  • For enhanced flavor, try to use fresh vegetables instead of frozen.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ Fresh Easy Meals, Garden Salad
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Kitchen Treaty, How to Make a Simple Vinaigrette Salad Dressing
  3. ↑ Fine Cooking, How to Make a Great Green Salad
  4. ↑ Huffington Post, Common Salad Mistakes
  5. ↑ The Kitchn, [www.thekitchn.com/3-essential-tips-for-cutting-tomatoes-tips-from-the-kitchn-206686 3 Essential Tips for Cutting Tomatoes]
  6. ↑ The Kitchn, 5 Salad Dressings to Know by Heart
  7. ↑ Taste of Home, Greek Garden Salad

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