Tossed Salad – Recipes From A Pantry

This tossed salad is so colorful and flavorful. It’s loaded with crunchy vegetables, topped with a delicious dressing, and easily customizable. It truly is the best tossed salad!

Suitable for low carb, keto, paleo, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.

They say that to eat healthy and balanced, you should “eat the rainbow,” which means having lots of color varieties in your meal, translating to a higher vitamin and nutrient content. This simple tossed salad recipe has something from almost every color family, and whatever color is missing can easily be added in!

Eating a salad doesn’t mean boring – in fact, this recipe is bursting with flavor! It’s easy to eat well with just a little forward thinking!

Well, at least it’s easier… at the moment, choosing to eat well can be challenging — But this simple and delicious salad recipe can help you plan ahead. Why have a plain side salad when you can have the BEST tossed salad?! 

And to add to your healthy eating arsenal, be sure to check out this fruit salad recipe and these air fryer vegetable kabobs.

Folks, you can easily toss salad together on the weekend and eat it all week without getting bored. Don’t believe me? Check this out….simply keep the homemade vinaigrette dressing on the side, and add a little something extra each day. Pull out a serving of the salad, then add a protein, if desired — chicken, sliced sirloin, grilled shrimp, or even tofu or chickpeas for vegan diets.

Use whatever protein you prefer to customize this salad to your meal plan or even leave it off. Feel free to customize the salad by adding other crisp fresh vegetables or toppings of your choice, such as cherry tomatoes, crumbled feta cheese, or avocado slices. Then add the dressing and you’ve got a fresh and exciting lunch or side option. It’s such a flexible thing! 

Why Make This Recipe

• Health – You and your body deserve to be fed well!
• Flavor – Eating well doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor. Enjoy your meals! 
• Convenience – If it’s easy to eat well, you (and I) are more likely to do it so use this recipe to help!

Ingredient Notes

For the salad;

• Mixed lettuce leaves — Use a spring mix of greens or your favorite: iceberg, purple romaine, or green romaine lettuce. 
• Arugula leaves — Tender and peppery, arugula adds a spicy flavor to salads. Feel free to replace it with another green if desired. 
• Cucumber  — Sliced cukes make for a cool and crunchy salad topper. Fresh garden squash or zucchini would be a good swap. 
• Radish — These are crisp and peppery with a snappy texture. You can replace them with jicama or kohlrabi. 
• Red onion — Sweet and spicy, red onions add flavor and texture. They can be left off or subbed with sweet onions. 
• Pitted olives — Use black or Kalamata, depending on the flavor profile you prefer. 
• Sunflower seeds — Adds a salty crunch, and can be replaced with pepitas, croutons, or left off. extra virgin olive oil For added crunch, you can toast the sunflower seeds in a dry pan over medium heat until lightly golden before adding them to the salad.

For the dressing;

• Balsamic vinegar — Balsamic vinegar is known for its rich, sweet, and slightly tangy taste with a hint of fruitiness.
• Apple cider vinegar — This vinegar has a tangy flavor profile and is commonly used in salad dressings. 
• Dijon mustard — Dijon mustard uses brown or black mustard seeds, white wine, or wine vinegar. The combination imparts a distinctive, sharp flavor with a hint of spiciness. 
• Sugar — The sugar takes the edge off the acid ingredients both in the dressing and the salad itself. 
• Salt and pepper — Enhance the already present flavors.

How To Make Tossed Salad

Get complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card further below.

Step 1. Add mixed lettuce leaves and arugula, cucumber, radish, red onion, olives, and sunflower seeds to a large bowl.

Step 2. In a small bowl, combine the extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, pinch of sugar, salt, and pepper.

Step 3. Whisk the dressing ingredients together until well combined and emulsified. Taste and adjust the seasoning according to your preference.

Step 4. Drizzle the dressing over the tossed salad just before serving. Toss the salad gently to ensure that the dressing coats all the ingredients evenly.

Pro Tips

• Ensure that all your salad ingredients are fresh. This will make a significant difference in the flavor and texture of your salad.
• Wash, chop, and prepare all the vegetables ahead of time. This makes the actual salad assembly quick and easy.
• Aim for a balance of textures in your salad.
• Try to cut your vegetables into uniform sizes. This not only looks visually appealing but also ensures that each bite has a mix of flavors.
• Mix the homemade dressing in a mason jar for easy pouring and to store leftovers for later use.
• Wait until just before serving to dress the salad. This prevents the salad from becoming soggy. If you’re making it ahead, store the dressing separately and toss it right before serving.
• Toss the salad gently to avoid bruising the delicate lettuce leaves. Use salad servers or two large spoons to lift and turn the ingredients.
• Ensure your salad bowl is large enough to accommodate all the ingredients without crowding. This makes it easier to toss the salad evenly.
• Adjust the ratio of oil to vinegar based on your taste preferences. Some people prefer a tangier dressing, while others may like it milder.

Delicious Variations 

• Serve the rainbow – Add a burst of color and nutrients with a mix of colorful vegetables such as tomatoes, bell peppers, and carrots.
• Add protein – Consider adding protein sources like grilled chicken, tofu, or chickpeas for a more substantial and balanced salad.
• Add cheese – Include a flavorful cheese such as feta, Parmesan, or goat cheese to add richness and depth to the salad.
• Add crunch – Sprinkle toasted nuts or seeds like almonds, walnuts, or sunflower seeds for added crunch and a boost of healthy fats.
• Flank steak and onion — Broil flank steak and onion strips then toss with your salad. The crisp greens plus the warm steak mixture pair wonderfully with balsamic!
• Holiday crunch — Leave out the olives, onions, and radishes. Add in spiral-cut ham, dried cranberries, and candied pecans to make the perfect holiday salad for your family or just yourself!
• Mediterranean twist – Add chickpeas and use Kalamata olives. Top with feta cheese and you have a Mediterranean salad!

Prep And Storage

• Prep Ahead – You can prep this ahead of time, but be sure to keep the dressing separate. This keeps that salad fresh if it’s not to be used right away. 
• Store – Keep leftover salad greens and add-ins in an airtight container separate from the dressing. You can store undressed salad for up to a week, depending on the toppings that you have added. 

FAQs 

Similar Recipes

Serve With:

• A large mixing bowl to hold all the salad ingredients.
• A good set of sharp knives for easy chopping and slicing.
• Handy tongs for tossing and serving.
• For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.

Weight Watchers Points

There are 6 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Thank you for reading my salad recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.