Mixed Greens Salad
This simple mixed greens salad is my secret weapon for weeknight dinners and hosting dinner parties — it’s fresh, crunchy, and comes together in under 20 minutes. I prep it ahead, layer it smart (no soggy lettuce here), and toss right before I serve it. If you need the best salad for a dinner party that actually holds up and feels elevated without effort… this is it.
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 237kcal
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin, walnut or canola oil will work
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar red wine, white wine, apple cider vinegar are options
- 1 ½ teaspoon honey or maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Mixed Greens Salad and optional Add-ins
- 8 ounces Mixed Greens: 6-8 cups lettuce or your favorite lettuce and ½ chopped Romaine
- 2 cups fruit and or veggies see combinations in notes
- ⅓ cup cheese feta, goat or parmesan
- 3 tablespoons nuts pine nuts, walnuts, pecans or almonds (optional)
- 1 shallot sliced thin add as much as you like
Instructions
- Add all of the dressing ingredients to a bowl and whisk
- Taste. Add additional vinegar, honey, or salt to taste.
- Prepare, wash and dry fruit
- Add greens to a large mixing bowl. Add toppings (I reserve a spoonful of each topping to garnish the top of the salad.
- Toss the mixture in the desired amount of dressing. You may not need all the dressing. Add slowly and add more as needed.
- Add reserved toppings for garnish and add pepper if desired.
Notes
Double or triple the dressing recipe and store leftovers in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.
Top tips: Chop into bite-sized pieces, dress right before serving, don't overdress, taste your dressing, and adjust seasoning.
Salad Combinations:
- 🍁 Fall: Apples + pecans + goat or Parmesan cheese + pine nuts + sliced shallot or red onion if desired w/ the balsamic maple salad dressing
- ❄️ Winter: Pears or halved grapes + cranberries + your favorite nut + blue cheese + sliced shallot or red onion if desired w/ balsamic or maple salad dressing recipe
- 🌸 Spring: Strawberries, blue Berries + Goat or Feta Cheese + nuts + sliced shallot or red onion if desired w/ balsamic salad dressing recipe
- ☀️ Summer: Peaches + burrata + pistachios w/ balsamic salad dressing recipe
- 🍅 Italian: kalamata olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, artichokes, shallots, garbanzo beans, cannellini beans, pepperoncini, Giardiniera, cured meats, hearts of palm. Mix and match until your heart is content.
Nutrition
Calories: 237kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 665mg | Potassium: 217mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 919IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 1mg
