Low Sodium Garden Salad with Croutons

Brighten up your meals with this Low Sodium Garden Salad with Croutons, a fresh and flavorful way to embrace healthy eating without sacrificing taste. Packed with crisp romaine lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, vibrant red bell peppers, sweet carrots, and zesty red onion, this nutrient-rich salad bursts with garden-fresh goodness. The homemade croutons, toasted to golden perfection with a hint of garlic butter, add an irresistible crunch to every bite. Tossed in a zesty olive oil and lemon juice dressing that's seasoned with dried parsley and black pepper, this recipe delivers big flavor while keeping sodium levels in check. Ready in just 30 minutes and perfect for serving as a light main dish or a colorful side, this low-sodium salad is as easy to make as it is delicious!

Nutriscore Rating: 81/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 head Romaine lettuce
• 1.5 cups Cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium Cucumber
• 1 medium Red bell pepper
• 2 small Carrots
• 0.5 Red onion
• 3 tablespoons Olive oil
• 2 tablespoons Lemon juice
• 0.25 teaspoons Garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Dried parsley
• 0.25 teaspoons Ground black pepper
• 3 slices Bread
• 2 tablespoons Unsalted butter
• 0.25 teaspoons Garlic powder for croutons

Directions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

Step 2

Cut the bread slices into small cubes to make croutons.

Step 3

Melt the unsalted butter in a small saucepan over low heat.

Step 4

Combine the melted butter with 0.25 teaspoons of garlic powder.

Step 5

Toss the bread cubes in the garlic butter to coat evenly.

Step 6

Spread the bread cubes on a baking sheet in a single layer and bake for 8-10 minutes or until crispy and golden brown. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.

Step 7

Rinse the romaine lettuce and chop it into bite-sized pieces, then place them into a large salad bowl.

Step 8

Rinse the cherry tomatoes and cut them in halves. Add to the salad bowl.

Step 9

Peel the cucumber, slice it thinly, and add to the salad bowl.

Step 10

Deseed the red bell pepper, thinly slice it, and add to the salad bowl.

Step 11

Peel and grate the carrots, adding them to the salad bowl.

Step 12

Thinly slice the red onion, and add to the salad bowl.

Step 13

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, 0.25 teaspoons of garlic powder, dried parsley, and ground black pepper to create the dressing.

Step 14

Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine all the ingredients.

Step 15

Sprinkle the cooled, homemade croutons over the top of the salad just before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1523.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1142.5

Total Fat 72.3g	0%
Saturated Fat 21.7g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 6.4g
Cholesterol 62mg	0%
Sodium 758.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 107.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 25.2g	0%
Total Sugars 31.9g
Protein 28.5g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 532.7mg	0%
Iron 11.0mg	0%
Potassium 3016.1mg	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: 54.4%

Protein: 9.5%

Carbs: 36.1%