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Simple Green Salad

You’ll want to add this simple green salad to all of your weeknight meals! It takes just 10 minutes to make.

simple green salad

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Anyone else grow up eating a side salad for dinner each and every night? Our family dinners always included a vegetable, and I’ve recently realized that my standard (and desperate!) sides of easy green salads and frozen peas are the same ones I grew up eating!

simple green salad

There are many nights when two minute sides (aka greens + bottled salad dressing or frozen peas) is all there is time for. BUT, when you can spend a few minutes on green salads, it’s so worth the effort!

Simple Green Salad:

simple green salad

This simple green salad is what I like to consider my house salad. It’s our favorite toppings and my absolute favorite balsamic vinaigrette.

What to eat with your simple green salad? 
There isn’t a lot that DOESN’T go with this side salad. It pairs with just about anything. Easy grilled chicken drumsticks, salmon with fresh dill butter, or my easy trader joe’s recipe for meatball & marinara subs are all good options.

What do you put in simple green salad?
The possibilities are endless and completely customizable when it comes to green salads. Take a look at what’s in season, what you have in your pantry, and what ingredients you love!

Aim for the following simple green salad components:

  • lettuce/greens: your favorites
  • vegetables: add color and crunch
  • creamy (aka cheese)
  • crunchy: croutons, browned bread crumbs, roasted nuts
  • homemade salad dressing if I have time, or a bottled version (Brianna’s and Newman’s Own are two of my favorites!)

How do you make a delicious green salad?

Start with fresh lettuce. I love bibb or butter lettuce, but it’s more important that the lettuce in this green salad is fresh and crisp – not old and wilted! Other great varieties of lettuce to use are green and red leaf, romaine, or a blend of something really crunchy and mild like romaine with something darker and more flavorful like arugula or spinach.

The other key to a delicious green salad is to make sure you have a range of toppings and flavors and a really good dressing (preferably homemade!).

You’ll be so happy to spend a few extra minutes on this salad – it’s SO GOOD.

Be sure to tag me (@myeverydaytable or use #myeverydaytable) when you make this Simple Green Salad. I love to see your creations!

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simple green salad

Simple Green Salad

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  • Author: Emily Dingmann
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Salad
  • Cuisine: American

Description

You’ll want to add this simple green salad to all of your weeknight meals! It takes just 10 minutes to make.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tsp. dijon mustard
  • 1/8 tsp. salt and pepper
  • 1 small cucumber
  • 8 oz. grape tomatoes
  • 3 green onions
  • 1 small avocado
  • 4 oz. goat cheese
  • 1 head bibb lettuce (or 7 oz. bag)


Instructions

  1. Prep ingredients:
    Mix the olive oil, vinegar, mustard, salt, and pepper into a small jar and shake until emulsified.
    Slice cucumber in half moons.
    Slice tomatoes in half.
    Thinly slice green onion.
    Cut avocado into small chunks.
    Wash and gently tear lettuce.
  2. Compile salads either on plates or on a large platter. Spread out lettuce and top with cucumber, tomatoes, green onion, avocado, crumbled goat cheese, and a sprinkle of fresh pepper. Top salad with dressing.

Notes

  • Feel free to swap out ingredients, this is a very “loose” recipe.
  • Other vinegars to try in salad dressing: apple cider, white balsamic, champagne.

If you like this recipe, try these, too!

3 Comments

  1. i totally make the same veggie sides i ate growing up – side salads and frozen mixed veggies. i’ve recently starting sauteeing frozen thin-style (french cut or any of the other fancy varieties) green beans with a little butter and seasonings. so good! i also am addicted to the apple cider vinaigrette recipe from the run fast eat slow cookbook. love your take on this salad!

    1. Haricot verts are my favorite!!! I need to get them frozen again, it’s been a while since I’ve had them frozen, but I recall liking them almost as much as fresh. Thanks for the reminder, Sarah!

  2. Everyday Green Salad recipe from Pati s Mexican Table Season 2, Episode 10 โ€œLip-Smacking Mexican Mealโ€

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