Glowing Green Salad (Printable format)

Crisp mixed greens with cucumber, celery, and bell pepper in a zesty lemon vinaigrette.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Greens

01 - 6 cups mixed baby greens (spinach, arugula, kale, or romaine)

→ Hydrating Vegetables

02 - 1 cucumber, thinly sliced
03 - 1 cup celery, thinly sliced
04 - 1 cup green bell pepper, julienned
05 - 1 cup zucchini, thinly sliced
06 - 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped

→ Vinaigrette

07 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
09 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
10 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
11 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Optional Add-ins

13 - 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds

# Directions:

01 - In a large salad bowl, combine the mixed greens, cucumber, celery, bell pepper, zucchini, and parsley.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until well emulsified.
03 - Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Sprinkle with pumpkin or sunflower seeds if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It actually tastes refreshing, not like a punishment for wanting to eat well.
  • You can throw it together in under fifteen minutes, which means no excuses for takeout nights.
  • The vegetables stay crisp and the dressing doesn't turn everything into soggy mush, because the proportions are genuinely dialed in.
02 -
  • Don't make the vinaigrette ahead of time thinking you're being efficient—it separates and tastes flat, so always whisk it fresh within minutes of serving.
  • The secret to keeping salad greens from becoming soggy is not overloading the dressing, which means err on the side of less and let people add more at the table if they want it.
03 -
  • Toss the salad with your hands instead of salad servers—you'll develop a feel for when everything is evenly coated and you'll avoid accidentally bruising the delicate greens.
  • If you're prepping this for a picnic or gathering, keep the dressing completely separate until the last possible moment and assemble everything in a large, shallow container so people can see how vibrant it looks before you toss it.
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