If you’ve fallen into the rut of bagged iceberg salad with ranch dressing, it’s time to break out! Try this gourmet salad, just as quick and easy as can be:
Easy Gourmet Salad
- 2 cups spring greens mix
- 1 cup spinach leaves
- 4 big leaves of romaine lettuce, broken in pieces
- 1/2 cucumber, sliced
- 1/2 cup baby carrots or shredded carrots
- 1 tomato, cut in wedges
- 1/4 cup red cabbage, cut thinly and chopped
- 1/2 cup alfalfa sprouts
You can do this the easy way: buy prewashed ready-to-eat organic spring greens called “spring mix” which includes baby lettuces, beet greens, red romaine, chard, argula, mustard greens, radicchio, etc; prewashed baby spinach leaves; and baby carrots at the grocery store. Better yet, grow your own! No ingredient is essential, just use all the fresh veggies you want. Just leave out that white iceberg lettuce, so lacking in vitamin content. Add sliced hardboiled eggs, cubed cooked chicken or other meat for a main course salad.
Crispy Garlic Croutons
- 2 pieces bread
- butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- pinch powdered garlic
- pinch dried basil leaves
- pinch dried parsley leaves
- 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese (optional)
Butter bread lightly, stack and slice through both to make it into small cubes. Some people cut off the crusts, but I like crusts fine, and do things the fast way, hence, crusts and all.
Mix oil and spices (and cheese) in a bowl, add bread cubes and toss. Spread in one layer on a baking sheet and broil in the toaster oven for 5 minutes, or until crispy. My preference is to use whole grain sprouted wheat bread (Jack Spratt brand). You can use old-ish bread and this turns out great.
Dashing Dressing
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (real, not flavored)
- 2/3 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon mayonaise
- 1 clove garlic
- big chunk of red pepper (about 1/8 of the red pepper)
- 1/2 tsp. dried basil
- freshly ground pepper, about 1/8 tsp.
- 1/4 tsp. salt
Put all ingredients in the blender and whiz! Tangy, beautifully colored and fabulous!
More Dressings…
Basic salad dressing can be mixed up in just a minute and is so cheap to make. Use quality olive oil for a gourmet taste and best health. Here is the basic recipe:
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 2/3 cup olive oil
- freshly ground pepper, about 1/8 tsp.
- 1/4 tsp. salt
Change the flavor by using rice vinegar, or balsamic vinegar. I like the taste of real apple cider vinegar, myself. Use the real stuff, not “flavored”.
You can vary your dressing easily. If you want it creamy, add some mayonaise. If you want it robust, add a clove of garlic or a piece of onion. Parsley or dill are delicious.
If you have skeptical kids (or husband) that have been raised on bottled grocery store salad dressings, just refill the bottles when empty with homemade dressing. No one is the wiser.
To your health!
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