Simple green salad is a basic salad that is packed with amazing flavors and textures. It’s a perfect side to any meal. Made with fresh crunchy salad greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, toasted almonds, sunflower seeds, and crunchy croutons. Drizzle simple homemade buttermilk ranch dressing or any other dressing to take it top notch.
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Green chopped salad recipe
You can serve this salad with almost anything. The key to perfect green salad is to use fresh crunchy lettuce leaves. To make the best green salad recipe, stay away from salad dressings from the store. Fresh homemade dressing or vinaigrette is preferred.
My simple formula to a great green salad is –
Use at least 3 different types of salad greens. I used 3 varieties of lettuce – Lollo Rossa lettuce, Romaine lettuce, and iceberg lettuce. You can vary the lettuce, use whatever looks better and suits your preference. Butter lettuce or baby spinach or kale works too.
Use at least 2 varieties of crunchy vegetables like cucumber, shallot, and cherry tomatoes.
Use nuts and seeds of your choice for extra texture and nutrition.
Shaved cheese and croutons are bonus.
Finally…do not use store-bought dressing. Making homemade salad dressing is key to making the best green chopped salad.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Lollo Rosso lettuce
- 1 cup Romaine lettuce
- 1 cup iceberg lettuce
- 1 cucumber
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
- ¾ cup toasted almonds
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ cup shaved Parmesan
- ¾ cup croutons
Salad greens – can be any type of greens you prefer. Mixed lettuce, baby spinach, kale, and arugula all work.
Cucumber –cucumber adds freshness and crunch to the salad. Use English cucumber or Persian cucumber.
Cherry tomatoes – grape tomatoes, and cherry tomatoes will work well. You can slice tomatoes into half or use them as a whole. If cherry tomatoes are not available to use, use ripe Roma tomatoes cut lengthwise into quarters and use in salad.
Seeds and nuts – I used sunflower seeds and toasted almonds. Use any seeds of your choice. Other nuts like pecan, cashew, or walnuts will work.
Cheese–shaved Parmesan is my favorite. You can also use creamy cheese like goat cheese if you prefer. Goat cheese adds a creamy, tang flavor to the chopped green salad.
Croutons – salad topped with croutons is always the best!
Additional green salad ingredients
Green salad is very easy to customize according to what is available to you and taste preference.
Other ingredients that will work best with green salad are –
- Thinly sliced red onion or shallot
- Chopped avocado
- Microgreens
- Fresh soft herbs like basil, mint, tarragon, dill
- Baby capers and olives
- Dried cranberries, cherries
- Add proteins of your choice. Hard boiled eggs, chopped chicken, tuna chunks all work well.
Key to best green salad is homemade salad dressing
Any homemade salad needs an uplift with simple homemade salad dressing. You can use any salad dressing of your choice. I love green salad with buttermilk ranch dressing, Greek salad dressing, and cilantro lime sauce. All three of these dressing livens up any boring bland salad.
How to make chopped green salad
Rinse all salad green leaves well to get rid of dirt.
Spread the greens on a kitchen towel to dry completely. Chop salad leaves into bite-sized pieces.
Slice cucumber and cut cherry tomatoes into halves.
Throw in Lollo Rosso lettuce, Romaine lettuce, and iceberg lettuce together along with sliced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, sunflower seeds, toasted almonds, and sea salt.
Toss salad well.
When ready serve drizzle with salad dressing like buttermilk ranch dressing or Greek salad dressing over the salad.
Add shaved Parmesan cheese and croutons as well.
Tips for make-ahead option
- Wash and completely dry salad leaves. Ensure salad leaves are completely dry; any moisture in them can cause bacteria. Store in a dry zip lock bag in the crispier section of the refrigerator.
- Slice cucumber and pat dry with a kitchen towel. Store in separately in air tight container.
- Cut cherry tomatoes into halve and store in another air-tight container.
- Make salad dressing and store in a clean, dry airtight glass jar.
- When ready to serve, toss all ingredients together. Serve with salad dressing drizzled on top.
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📋Simple Chopped Green Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup Lollo Rosso lettuce
- 1 cup Romaine lettuce
- 1 cup iceberg lettuce
- 1 cucumber
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
- ¾ cup toasted almonds
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ cup shaved Parmesan
- ¾ cup croutons
Instructions
- Rinse all salad green leaves well to get rid of dirt.
- Spread the greens on a kitchen towel to dry completely. Chop salad leaves into bite-sized pieces.
- Slice cucumber and cut cherry tomatoes into halves.
- Throw in Lollo Rosso lettuce, Romaine lettuce, and iceberg lettuce together along with sliced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, sunflower seeds, toasted almonds, and sea salt.
- Toss salad well.
- When ready to serve drizzle with salad dressing either buttermilk ranch dressing or Greek vinaigrette over the salad.
- Add shaved Parmesan cheese and croutons as well.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe Notes
- Wash and completely dry salad leaves. Ensure salad leaves are completely dry; any moisture in it can cause bacteria. Store in dry zip lock bag in crispier section of the refrigerator.
- Slice cucumber and pat dry with kitchen towel. Store in separately in air tight container.
- Cut cherry tomatoes into halve and store in another air tight container.
- Make salad dressing and store in clean, dry air tight glass jar.
- When ready to serve, toss all ingredients together. Serve with salad dressing drizzled on top.
Created by Jyothi Rajesh
Jyothi Rajesh is the founder of the food blog, Curry Trail. She lives in Bangalore, India and is the mom of two beautiful kids. Her passion is creating and sharing delicious and easy recipes for the home cook. She’s been blogging since 2007 and many of her recipes have appeared in both online and print publications over the years. Learn more about Jyothi Rajesh.
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