Garden Salad with Italian Dressing

Bright, crisp, and bursting with vibrant flavors, this Garden Salad with Italian Dressing is a refreshing celebration of fresh produce paired with a zesty homemade dressing. Featuring crunchy Romaine lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, cool cucumber slices, and tangy red onion, this salad is elevated by the addition of shredded carrots, briny black olives, and the optional sprinkle of Parmesan cheese for a savory touch. The real star of the dish is the easy-to-make Italian dressing, a harmonious blend of extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, and aromatic dried herbs like oregano and basil, balanced with a hint of Dijon mustard and honey. Ready in just 15 minutes, this versatile salad is perfect as a healthy side dish or a light main course. Serve it fresh and toss with the dressing for a burst of Mediterranean-inspired flavor in every bite!

Nutriscore Rating: 79/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:15 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 head Romaine lettuce
• 1 cup Cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium Cucumber
• 0.5 medium Red onion
• 0.5 cup Shredded carrots
• 0.25 cup Black olives
• 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese (optional)
• 0.25 cup Extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons Red wine vinegar
• 1 clove Garlic (minced)
• 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon Dried basil
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Honey
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper

Directions

Step 1

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

Step 2

Rinse the cherry tomatoes and slice them in half. Add them to the bowl with the lettuce.

Step 3

Peel the cucumber if desired, and slice it into thin rounds or half-moons. Add them to the bowl.

Step 4

Peel and thinly slice the red onion, then separate the rings. Add the onion slices to the salad.

Step 5

Add the shredded carrots and black olives to the mix for added color and flavor.

Step 6

If using, sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the salad.

Step 7

In a small bowl or jar, combine the olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried basil, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and black pepper to make the Italian dressing.

Step 8

Whisk the dressing in the bowl or shake it in the jar until well combined and emulsified.

Step 9

Pour the desired amount of dressing over the salad. Toss gently to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated.

Step 10

Serve immediately and enjoy a fresh, crisp garden salad!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1237.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	799.5

Total Fat 64.8g	0%
Saturated Fat 10.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.8g
Cholesterol 8.9mg	0%
Sodium 1910.1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 51.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 14.8g	0%
Total Sugars 23.1g
Protein 16.4g	0%

Vitamin D 2.1IU	0%
Calcium 478.2mg	0%
Iron 9.9mg	0%
Potassium 2111.0mg	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: 68.4%

Protein: 7.7%

Carbs: 24.0%