Dairy-Free Garden Salad with Ranch Dressing

Refreshing, vibrant, and completely dairy-free, this Garden Salad with Ranch Dressing is the ultimate plant-based twist on a classic favorite. Packed with crisp romaine lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, and an array of colorful veggies like bell peppers and carrots, this salad gets a nutritional boost from sunflower seeds and fresh parsley. The real star, however, is the homemade dairy-free ranch dressing, made creamy with raw cashews and flavored with an enticing blend of garlic, dill, and nutritional yeast. Quick to prepare in just 20 minutes, this gluten-free, vegan-friendly dish is perfect for a light lunch, a side at dinner, or even meal prep. Serve this wholesome salad chilled for a refreshing take on a timeless recipe.

Nutriscore Rating: 83/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:20 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 head Romaine lettuce
• 1 cup Cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium Cucumber
• 0.5 large Red bell pepper
• 0.25 Red onion
• 1 medium Carrot
• 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley
• 0.25 cup Sunflower seeds
• 0.5 cup Raw cashews
• 0.5 cup Dairy-free milk (almond or soy)
• 1 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar
• 0.5 teaspoon Garlic powder
• 0.5 teaspoon Onion powder
• 1 teaspoon Dried dill
• 1 teaspoon Dried parsley
• 1 tablespoon Nutritional yeast
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.25 teaspoon Ground black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Start by preparing the dairy-free ranch dressing. In a high-speed blender, combine the raw cashews, dairy-free milk, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill, dried parsley, nutritional yeast, salt, and ground black pepper.

Step 2

Blend on high speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy. If the dressing is too thick, add more dairy-free milk a tablespoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency.

Step 3

Taste the dressing and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Set it aside in a jar or container while you prepare the salad.

Step 4

Wash the romaine lettuce thoroughly and pat dry with a clean kitchen towel. Chop the lettuce into bite-sized pieces and place it in a large salad bowl.

Step 5

Halve the cherry tomatoes and add them to the salad bowl.

Step 6

Slice the cucumber into thin rounds and add them to the salad.

Step 7

Cut the red bell pepper into thin strips and the red onion into thin slices. Add both to the salad.

Step 8

Peel the carrot and shred it using a grater. Add the shredded carrot to the salad bowl.

Step 9

Finely chop the fresh parsley and sprinkle over the salad.

Step 10

Toss in the sunflower seeds for a crunchy finish.

Step 11

Drizzle the prepared dairy-free ranch dressing over the salad. Toss everything together gently to ensure all the ingredients are well coated with the dressing.

Step 12

Serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to enjoy a cool, refreshing salad.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1371.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	786.0

Total Fat 45.8g	0%
Saturated Fat 6.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 12.4g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1497.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 76.6g	0%
Dietary Fiber 22.7g	0%
Total Sugars 23.0g
Protein 34.2g	0%

Vitamin D 50IU	0%
Calcium 608.9mg	0%
Iron 13.8mg	0%
Potassium 3108.5mg	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: 48.2%

Protein: 16.0%

Carbs: 35.8%