Dairy-Free Garden Salad with Croutons

Crisp, refreshing, and completely dairy-free, this Garden Salad with Croutons is the perfect balance of vibrant vegetables and satisfying crunch. Featuring fresh Romaine lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, and sweet carrot ribbons, this salad bursts with garden-fresh flavor in every bite. The homemade croutons, made from whole grain bread and seasoned with garlic powder and dried oregano, add a golden, crunchy texture that elevates this classic dish. A zesty lemon-olive oil dressing ties it all together, making it a wholesome, plant-based side or light main course. Ready in just 30 minutes, this easy salad recipe is ideal for busy weeknights or as a stunning addition to your table when entertaining. Perfect for vegan, vegetarian, and dairy-free diets!

Nutriscore Rating: 80/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 head Romaine lettuce
• 1 cup Cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium Cucumber
• 0.5 small Red onion
• 1 medium Carrot
• 0.25 cup Olive oil
• 2 tablespoons Lemon juice
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
• 2 slices Whole grain bread
• 0.5 teaspoon Garlic powder
• 0.5 teaspoon Dried oregano

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Step 2

Start by making croutons. Cut whole grain bread slices into small cubes.

Step 3

In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of olive oil with garlic powder and dried oregano. Toss bread cubes in the mixture until evenly coated.

Step 4

Spread bread cubes on a baking sheet and bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Remove from oven and let cool.

Step 5

Meanwhile, prepare the salad. Rinse and thoroughly dry the Romaine lettuce, then chop it into bite-sized pieces and place in a large salad bowl.

Step 6

Halve the cherry tomatoes, slice the cucumber, thinly slice the red onion, and shave thin strips of carrot using a vegetable peeler. Add them all to the salad bowl.

Step 7

In a small bowl, whisk together remaining olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.

Step 8

Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.

Step 9

Top the salad with the homemade croutons just before serving to maintain their crispness.

Step 10

Serve immediately and enjoy your dairy-free garden salad!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1212.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	871.5

Total Fat 60.3g	0%
Saturated Fat 9.5g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 7.0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1635.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 70.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 18.4g	0%
Total Sugars 21.1g
Protein 20.5g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 373.3mg	0%
Iron 8.8mg	0%
Potassium 2232.5mg	0%

*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.

Source of Calories

Fat: 59.7%

Protein: 9.0%

Carbs: 31.2%