Vegetable Garden Salad (Healthy and Delicious!)

This Garden Salad recipe is an incredibly refreshing and healthy dish that’s perfect for any occasion. Made with a variety of fresh and colorful vegetables, this salad is a true feast for the eyes and the taste buds. 

What’s best is that you can even prep this salad ahead of time. Simply chop all your veggies, cover the dish with plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for a few hours! Now that part of your meal is covered and done! And you’ll be happy to know all the fresh garden veggies your family is having that you can know and trust.

Whether you’re looking for a side dish to complement your main course or a light lunch to enjoy on a sunny day, this Garden Salad is the perfect choice.

What is a Garden Salad?

Garden salad is a dish consisting of a variety of fresh vegetables, such as lettuce, spinach, cucumber, tomatoes, bell peppers, carrots, and onions, mixed together in a bowl and typically served with a dressing. 

It’s a healthy and nutritious dish that provides a range of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The vegetables in a garden salad are low in calories and high in fiber, which helps to keep you feeling full and satisfied. Plus, the different colors and textures of the vegetables provide a vibrant and appealing visual appeal to the dish. 

Garden salad is a great option for those looking for a light and refreshing meal or as a side dish to complement a main course.

Key Ingredients

• Red/pink tomatoes: We’ll be using some red/pink tomatoes in this recipe. They’ll be adding a burst of sweetness and juiciness to the salad, making it even more delicious. 
• Yellow tomatoes: You’ll need some yellow tomatoes for this recipe. They’ll be providing a slightly tangy and acidic flavor to the salad, balancing out the sweetness of the red/pink tomatoes. 
• Purple/red onion: We’ll also be using some red onion in this recipe. It’ll add a sharp and pungent flavor to the salad, making it more robust and flavorful. 
• Cucumbers: You’ll need some cucumbers for this recipe. They’ll be adding a refreshing and crisp texture to the salad, making it even more delightful to eat. 
• Dill: We’ll be using some dill in this recipe. It’ll be adding an herbaceous and slightly floral flavor to the salad, elevating its taste and aroma. 

For the Dressing:

• Olive oil: You’ll also need some olive oil for this recipe. It’ll provide a smooth and rich mouthfeel to the salad, making it more satiating. 
• Sea salt: We’ll be adding some sea salt to this recipe. It’ll be enhancing the natural flavors of the ingredients and provide a balanced taste to the salad. 
• Black ground pepper: We’ll also be using some black ground pepper in this recipe. It’ll add a subtle heat and spiciness to the salad, making it more interesting. 
• Lemon juice: Finally, you’ll need some lemon juice for this recipe. It’ll provide a zesty and tangy flavor to the salad, tying all the ingredients together.

How to Make Vegetable Garden Salad

Making this incredible garden salad is easier than you think. Here's how to make them at home step by step:

To make this delicious cucumber and tomato salad, start by rinsing the cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onion thoroughly. Once they are clean, slice them into thin pieces using a sharp knife or a mandoline slicer.

Next, take a large salad in a large bowl and place all the sliced vegetables into it. To add some flavor, chop some fresh dill and sprinkle it over the vegetables. Be sure to mix everything well so that the dill is evenly distributed throughout the salad.

Now, it’s time to add some seasoning. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste over the salad and mix it well. Remember to start with a small amount of salt and pepper, as you can always add more later if needed.

TIP: Add seasoning and dressing to the veggies immediately before serving the salad, or it will water too much. It would still be very delicious, just not as presentable.

To add some tanginess to the salad, drizzle some olive oil or avocado oil over the vegetables. Then, squeeze the juice of a fresh lemon over the vegetables. The amount of oil and lemon juice you use will depend on your personal preferences, so feel free to adjust accordingly.

Finally, mix all the vegetables together until they are well-coated with the seasoning and dressing.

For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.

Tips for Making the Best Garden Salad Ever

• Choosing Fresh Produce: For the best Garden Salad, select fresh, crisp, and ripe vegetables. Choose vegetables that are in season and avoid those that are bruised or wilted.
• Preparing the Vegetables: Wash and dry the vegetables before using them. Cut them into bite-sized pieces for easy eating. If you want to add fruits to the salad, make sure they are ripe and sweet.
• Dressing the Salad: To avoid making the salad soggy, dress it just before serving. 
• Adding Crunch: Add some crunch to your Garden Salad by adding nuts, seeds, or croutons. These will add texture and flavor to your salad. You can also add some cheese for extra flavor.
• Balancing Flavors: Make sure your Garden Salad is well-balanced. It should have a mix of sweet, sour, salty, and bitter flavors. Use ingredients like tomatoes, cucumbers, and radishes to add a tangy taste to the salad.

Serving Suggestions

• Add grilled chicken or shrimp to make it a complete and satisfying meal. The protein will give you the energy boost you need and make it more filling.
• Top it with croutons or nuts for some added crunch. This will give the salad some texture and make it more interesting to eat.
• Serve it with a side of bread or crackers for a more substantial meal. This will provide some carbs to keep you fuller for longer.
• Drizzle some balsamic vinegar or olive oil over the top for some extra flavor. This will give the salad a tangy and delicious taste.
• Add some fresh fruit, such as strawberries or mandarin oranges, for a sweet and refreshing twist. This will make the salad more colorful and add some natural sweetness.

Recipe Card

Vegetable Garden Salad (Healthy and Delicious!)

Valya's Taste of Home

This Garden Salad Made with a variety of fresh and colorful vegetables is an incredibly refreshing and healthy side dish.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Salads

Cuisine Ukrainian

Servings 4

Ingredients

  

.5x1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 lbs red/pink tomatoes
• ▢ 2 lbs yellow tomatoes
• ▢ 1 medium purple/red onion
• ▢ ¼ cup chopped fresh dill
• ▢ ¼ cup olive oil
• ▢ ½ tsp. lemon juice squeezed from fresh lemon
• ▢ Salt and pepper to taste

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Instructions

 

• ▢
  To make this delicious cucumber and tomato salad, start by rinsing the cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onion thoroughly. Once they are clean, slice them into thin pieces using a sharp knife or a mandoline slicer.
• ▢
  Next, take a large salad in a large bowl and place all the sliced vegetables into it. To add some flavor, chop some fresh dill and sprinkle it over the vegetables. Be sure to mix everything well so that the dill is evenly distributed throughout the salad.
• ▢
  Now, it’s time to add some seasoning. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste over the salad and mix it well. Remember to start with a small amount of salt and pepper, as you can always add more later if needed.
• ▢
  To add some tanginess to the salad, drizzle some olive oil or avocado oil over the vegetables. Then, squeeze the juice of a fresh lemon over the vegetables. The amount of oil and lemon juice you use will depend on your personal preferences, so feel free to adjust accordingly.
• ▢
  Finally, mix all the vegetables together until they are well-coated with the seasoning and dressing.

Notes

• Add seasoning and dressing to the veggies immediately before serving the salad, or it will water too much. It would still be very delicious, just not as presentable.

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