Looking for a healthy and flavorful dinner that can be whipped up in no time? Try this easy chopped salad recipe, packed with fresh ingredients and ready in minutes!
Before getting started, gather the necessary ingredients: salad greens of your choice, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese, olives, red onion, and a flavoring of your choice. Cut up each ingredient into small pieces and place in a bowl. Finally, add in olive oil and vinegar to create a flavorful dressing that will ensure each forkful is bursting with flavor.
To create a well-balanced chopped salad, combine the salad greens with other vegetables and cheese for a more nutritious meal. Cherry tomatoes are a great choice to add in as they provide juicy bursts of flavor in each bite. Additionally, cucumbers can be included for texture and freshness, while feta cheese brings out a distinct salty taste. Olives add a hint of briny goodness to the dish and red onions give it an extra crunch. Once all of your ingredients are assembled, whisk together olive oil, vinegar or lemon juice and other seasonings to coat the salad with plenty of zingy flavor.
To begin, wash and dry all the salad ingredients. Take your small knife to chop up each ingredient into small pieces- a rough chop is best for speed and texture. Add the chopped ingredients to a large bowl and mix together with the olives and feta cheese. Now the salad base is ready for flavoring!
Prepare the dressing. Take a small bowl and add the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, and Italian herbs. Whisk together until all the ingredients are blended for an even flavor. To finish the salad, pour half of the dressing over the chopped ingredients and mix together with two large spoons or a salad server to get all pieces evenly coated. Taste and add more seasoning/dressing if needed. Finally, place chopped salad on plates or a large platter and enjoy!
Start prepping and chopping your ingredients, beginning with the cucumbers. Peel away the skins, then half the cucumbers lengthwise before cutting them into small cubes. Dice up the tomatoes and pepper until they reach desired size, then set aside all ingredients into a bowl. For added texture and flavor, add in sliced olives and crumbled feta cheese to the bowl. Your meal is now ready for a delicious dressing!
Next, thinly slice the red onion and add it to the bowl. Chop up a handful of fresh mint leaves and throw them in with the rest of the ingredients. If you enjoy a bit more spiciness in your salads, add jalapeño peppers or freshly grated ginger. For some added crunch, try adding some chopped nuts to the bowl. Lastly, grab some ripe avocadoes and slice them into cubes before gently folding them into the mix. All that's left is to top this easy chopped salad off with your favorite dressing for an all-in-one meal!
To finish your meal, make the dressing. Put together olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, a teaspoon of honey mustard and a pinch of salt and black pepper. Mix these ingredients together until they combine in a creamy consistency. Add the dressing to your bowl of vegetables and enjoy!
The perfect dressing for a chopped salad has all of the bright flavors to compliment and enhance the vegetables, such as olive oil, lemon juice and honey mustard. Start by making your own dressing. The best way to go about this is to combine equal parts of olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice, then add a teaspoon of honey mustard combined with salt and black pepper. The trick is to mix these ingredients together until they emulsify in a creamy consistency - this will bring out the sweetness of the vegetables in your salad. Finally, pour the dressing over your bowl of chopped salad and enjoy!
Once the vegetables are all prepped, you'll want to add finishing touches such as cheese, nuts or seeds to your salad. These extra ingredients will add flavor and crunch to your meal. For example, some delicious toppings that pair well with chopped salads include feta cheese, walnuts, and sunflower seeds. Enjoy your quick and easy chopped salad!
Adding a flavorful dressing is the final touch that will make your chopped salad pop. Choose a dressing with healthier ingredients, such as olive oil and lemon juice or balsamic vinegar. You can also use Greek yogurt and mustard to create a creamy vinaigrette. Mix up 2 tablespoons of your favorite oil, 1 tablespoon of vinegar, 1 teaspoon of honey, and salt & pepper to taste for a classic French vinaigrette. With that last delicious step, you're all set for enjoying your sweet and crunchy chopped salad!
