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Healthy Garden Salad Recipe

This healthy garden salad recipe is a classic. This is by far the easiest and quickest salad that you can make with the typical ingredients you most likely have on hand.

I feel one of the most important things to have a healthy salad is to source the vegetables from your garden and if not, purchase organic produce.

garden salad recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 bunches red leaf lettuce
  • 2 carrots
  • 1 celery stock
  • 1 cucumber
  • 1 cup grape tomatoes
  • 1 red onion

Equipment

  • cutting board
  • chef knife

How to make a healthy garden salad

Making a healthy salad is so easy! It’s such a refreshing healthy meal starter or meal. Choosing your vegetables for your salad may vary from person to person but we are going to make a traditional garden salad here.

1. Wash the vegetables

salad just washed in a spinner

You always want to start by washing your vegetable. Whether you wash them in a veggie spinner or just simply rinse them under cold water.

So many chemicals like pesticides get on vegetables when they are grown or even during transport so it’s always a good habit to wash them all first.

Even vegetables that you are going to peel should be washed because when you peel them you are going to introduce the pesticides or bacteria while you are peeling.

2. Garden Salad Ingredients Prep

These are the main ingredients for a Classic garden salad. We are going to prepare them for the salad.

chopped carrots

Carrots

Carrots add a great sweet flavor and crunch to your salad. Not only are they healthy but they add some color as well which makes a salad more pleasing.

You want to wash and peel your carrots. Cut off the ends and then slice them into rounds as thick or thin as you desire.

Sometimes I even use a grater and grate up the carrots.

chopped celery

Celery

Not everyone thinks to add celery to their salad but I think it’s a must! It adds a crunch and freshness to garden salads.

Of course, wash them first, and then cut off the ends and tips, then slice them into 1/8 inch slices.

If you like them a little thicker, go for it!

cut cucumber

Cucumber

Cucumbers are so refreshing and light! A must in your garden salads!

Start as always by washing and peeling them. Slice them into rounds about 1/4in thick.

You can cut them into halves or quarters from there but I think keeping them as whole rounds looks better for presentation.

Learn how to tell if a cucumber is bad to ensure that your healthy garden salad is indeed healthy.

cut tomatoes

Tomatoes

What is a garden salad without tomatoes? Juicy bright red tomatoes are a staple in any garden salad.

I prefer to use grape or cherry tomatoes and cut them in half. They are small and can be kept just the way they are as well.

You can also use beef steak or heirloom tomatoes also. Cut them into wedges by cutting them in half and then cut those halves in half again.

sliced onion

Red onion

Adding red onions to your salad adds sweetness and a sharp bite. The color is also great for adding a pop to the dish.

Red onions add lots of flavor to a salad.

You want to cut the onion in half and peel off the papery skin layer.

Laying the flat cut-side down slice thin slices and place the strips on top of your garden salad.

green leaf lettuce

Lettuce

Lettuce is the base ingredient in a garden salad. There are so many varieties to choose from.

There is the red leaf, green leaf, iceberg, and romaine just to name a few. It’s all personal preference.

The more leafy the lettuce, the less crunchy it will be and lighter. Make sure that you wash all the leaves and either spin them in a salad spinner or you can pat them dry with a towel.

Cut your lettuce so that its bite size.

croutons

Croutons

CRUNCH! Croutons add a big crunch to your salad!

You can buy different types of croutons. Some are seasoned and some are plain.

Depending on what you like, I like the seasoned ones because they add flavor as well.

3. Toss the salad

Once all of your ingredients are washed and prepped, it’s time to toss it all together. In a large bowl start by adding your lettuce, carrots, celery, cucumbers, and tomatoes, and toss together.

Plate your tossed salad on a plate and then add a few red onions and croutons on the top.

Wait to add the dressing so that you don’t wilt the lettuce and make a soupy mess. Serve to your guests and let them add the dressings.

Kale is a great way to add more nutritional value to your salad, find out how to tell is kale is bad so that you can be sure that you are adding fresh greens to your salad.

Different dressing for garden salads

  • Italian Dressing: This by far is probably one of the most common dressings that will go on a garden salad. I really enjoy the light and clean flavor that it has with the pop of vinegar.
  • Ranch dressing: Ranch is a creamy dressing that is also very popular when it comes to salad dressing. Made with buttermilk, herbs, garlic, and onions.
  • Vinaigrette: A mixture of oil and something acidic like vinegar or lemon juice and salt and pepper. This is a great healthy and simple choice, especially when making your own dressing.

Tips for storing a garden salad

  1. When storing your salad it’s important not to pack it too tightly. To keep the lettuce crisp, you can place a paper towel at the bottom of the container. The moisture with collect in the paper towel instead of the lettuce getting too wet and soggy.
  2. If you are planning on serving your salad at a later time or plan to have leftovers, do not pour dressing over the salad. Instead, dress each salad individually. The salad will get soggy and wilt if you try and refrigerate it with dressing.
  3. Wait to add the toppings to your salad until you are going to serve it. This will help keep the lettuce crisp and make for a more refreshing salad.

A garden salad is a salad with all vegetables. A garden salad has greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, carrots and red onions.

You can spice up your salad by adding different dressings, fresh cracked black pepper or really whatever you would like. Sky is the limit!

up close picture of a garden salad on a plate

Garden Salad (7 Classic Ingredients)

Bob
This healthy garden salad has all the right ingredients for a salad.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 mins
Total Time 15 mins
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 41 kcal

Equipment

  • Cutting board
  • chefs knife
  • peeler
  • salad spinner (if you have one)

Ingredients
  

  • 2 bunches red leaf lettuce
  • 2 carrots
  • 1 celery stock
  • 1 cucumber
  • 1 cup grape tomatoes
  • 1 red onion

Instructions
 

  • Gather all of your ingredients and wash them. Make sure your lettuce is either spun or pat dry with a towel.
  • Peel your carrots and cut the ends and tips off and then slice them into circles about 1/8in thick.
  • Cut the ends off from your celery and cut across making 1/4in slices.
  • Peel your cucumber and cut off the ends, slice the cucumber into 1/4in slices and quarter them if you would like
  • Cut your cherry tomatoes in half.
  • Cut the onion in half and peel the paper skin off. Laying the onion on the flat cut side make thin slices.
  • Toss everything into a bowl mixing everything together. Plate your salad and top with croutons and your favotite dressing. ENJOY!

Nutrition

Serving: 4gCalories: 41kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 34mgPotassium: 354mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 5542IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Garden salad, How to make a garden salad, what is in a garden salad
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