Loaded Garden Fresh Italian Veggie Salad with Spring Mix

This Loaded Garden Fresh Italian Veggie Salad with Spring Mix has all the healthy ingredients your body needs to fuel up for the day! Full of color and bursting with flavor, this salad is great as a side or perfect on its own. Want to use up all of those fresh vegetables? Make it as a meal prep!

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• INGREDIENTS
• INSTRUCTIONS
• EQUIPMENT
• STORAGE
• Top Tips
• MORE RECIPES
• FAQ
• 📖 Recipe
• Food Safety
• 💬 Comments

INGREDIENTS

• Lettuce - The spring mix variety was used in this salad.
• Tomato - We prefer grape tomatoes, but use your favorite!
• Cucumber - English cucumbers are our pick for fresh garden salads.
• Carrots - One small carrot peeled and diced.
• Olives - Large Queen olives with pimento
• Radish - One small radish will do.
• Bell Pepper - Any color will work. Use what you have left over.
• Onion - Red onions make a great salad onion
• Croutons - Croutons are best when made homemade. Yum!
• Salt
• Pepper

Dressing

• Italian Vinaigrette

Note: Refer to the recipe card below for exact quantities.

INSTRUCTIONS

Step One: Prepare the Dressing

There are several ways to prepare homemade salad dressings:

1). Use a bowl to whisk or stir the ingredients together.
2). Put all of your ingredients in a mason jar with a lid, then give it a little shake.
3). Use a stick blender to blend the salad dressing ingredients together. This is helpful if the dressing includes a garlic clove or anchovies.
4). Use an oil and vinegar dispenser with your favorite extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar to drizzle on salads as needed.

Homemade salad dressings are easy to make if you keep some essential ingredients on hand. See our Top 10 Favorite Salad Dressing Recipes for the dressings we love the most.

Step Two: Prepare Homemade Croutons (optional)

Preparing homemade croutons is as easy as cutting up a loaf of french bread, mixing in some melted butter, topping it all with your favorite herbs and spices, then baking for 10-15 minutes in the oven. They really add such amazing flavor!

Step Three: Prepare Ingredients

Cut or tear up lettuce into small portions. Wash all lettuce and produce thoroughly, then set it aside to drain in a colander. While lettuce is draining, dice all remaining ingredients into small salad-sized portions.

Step Four: Assemble and Serve

Assemble the salad in layers with lettuce on the bottom, followed by fresh diced vegetables, and any additional cheeses, croutons, nuts, and/or seeds.

Add a small amount of dressing and give it a good toss. Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary. Serve immediately.

EQUIPMENT

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• Salad bowl
• Salad tongs
• Colander
• Oil and vinegar dispensers
• Knife
• Cutting board

STORAGE

Store salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator without dressing for 2-3 days. If the salad is moist from being washed, place a paper towel on top of it to draw out the moisture.

Top Tips

Buy pre-washed and ready-to-eat lettuce to save time.

MORE RECIPES

Have leftover ingredients?

• Leftover radish can be used in this Ahi Tuna Steak Salad or this Poke Bowl.

In the mood for a similar dish?

Try these other salad recipes ideas:

• Italian Salad Meal Prep
• The Famous La Scala Chopped Salad

Even more lunch recipes you will love:

FAQ

📖 Recipe

Food Safety