Garden Salad with Italian Dressing
Bright, crisp, and bursting with vibrant flavors, this Garden Salad with Italian Dressing is a refreshing celebration of fresh produce paired with a zesty homemade dressing. Featuring crunchy Romaine lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, cool cucumber slices, and tangy red onion, this salad is elevated by the addition of shredded carrots, briny black olives, and the optional sprinkle of Parmesan cheese for a savory touch. The real star of the dish is the easy-to-make Italian dressing, a harmonious blend of extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, and aromatic dried herbs like oregano and basil, balanced with a hint of Dijon mustard and honey. Ready in just 15 minutes, this versatile salad is perfect as a healthy side dish or a light main course. Serve it fresh and toss with the dressing for a burst of Mediterranean-inspired flavor in every bite!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 head Romaine lettuce
- 1 cup Cherry tomatoes
- 1 medium Cucumber
- 0.5 medium Red onion
- 0.5 cup Shredded carrots
- 0.25 cup Black olives
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 0.25 cup Extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons Red wine vinegar
- 1 clove Garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon Dried basil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Honey
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
Instructions
Wash and dry the romaine lettuce thoroughly. Chop it into bite-sized pieces and place it in a large salad bowl.
Rinse the cherry tomatoes and slice them in half. Add them to the bowl with the lettuce.
Peel the cucumber if desired, and slice it into thin rounds or half-moons. Add them to the bowl.
Peel and thinly slice the red onion, then separate the rings. Add the onion slices to the salad.
Add the shredded carrots and black olives to the mix for added color and flavor.
If using, sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the salad.
In a small bowl or jar, combine the olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried basil, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and black pepper to make the Italian dressing.
Whisk the dressing in the bowl or shake it in the jar until well combined and emulsified.
Pour the desired amount of dressing over the salad. Toss gently to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated.
Serve immediately and enjoy a fresh, crisp garden salad!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
207 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 16.6 g | 21% | |
| Saturated Fat | 2.8 g | 14% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.3 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 2 mg | 1% | |
| Sodium | 431 mg | 19% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 12.9 g | 5% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.7 g | 13% | |
| Total Sugars | 5.8 g | ||
| Protein | 4.0 g | 8% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 120 mg | 9% | |
| Iron | 2.5 mg | 14% | |
| Potassium | 539 mg | 11% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
