Salads are staples in my house. I could eat them daily. In fact, some weeks, I realize that I’ve had salad for dinner every single night! There are a few tricks to enjoying salad. First and foremost, variety is key. Don’t get stuck making the same salad. You have to get creative. The availability of different greens is amazing, so expand your options and throw some kale, arugula, or watercress in your cart next time. You might just find a new favorite. And be sure to mix up you add-ins. One day add craisins, the next some roasted red peppers, then move on to artichoke hearts. Or get wild and add them all to the same salad. Try some beans, quinoa, a hard-boiled egg, homemade croutons or even some fruit. And don’t forget the cheese! This is a key element in most of my salads. Blue, feta, mozzarella (fresh and/or shredded), cojita…I mean the list goes on and on and they all have something different to offer. Lastly, it seems like there are endless dressing options these days, so keep trying until you find a few that you love. While I mostly make homemade dressing, my favorite store-bought brand is Brianna’s Homestyle. Basically, if you don’t like salad it’s because you haven’t found the right one. So, keep trying and I promise you’ll thank me!
Get salad-ing!
This salad is crunchy and creamy and delicious. If you’re looking for some more salad inspiration try this Can Can Salad, Tomato Avocado Cilantro Salad, Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad, Corn Salad, Asparagus Tomato Salad or my absolute favorite Broccoli Cabbage Caesar Salad. And if you’re on board with making your own salad dressing, here’s a recipe for a Whole Grain Mustard Dressing. As always, let me know how your Crunchy Salad with Creamy Dressing comes out by leaving a comment below. Enjoy! Buen provecho!
Crunchy Salad with Creamy Dressing
Ingredients
Salad
- 1 romaine heart, sliced into 1” pieces
- 1 apple, peeled and cubed
- 1 carrot, peeled and ribboned (see note below) or halved and thinly sliced
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts or nut of choice
- ¼ cup goat cheese or cheese of choice
- ¼ crasins
Creamy dressing
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2-3 tbsp mayonnaise (depending on desired creaminess)
- 2 tbsp stone ground mustard (can sub whole grain)
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place all the salad ingredients in a large serving bowl. Mix the dressing ingredients together well (I use a jar with a lid and give it a few good shakes). Taste and adjust to your liking. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently. (I like a lightly dressed salad, so if you feel yours is too dry, drizzle some extra olive oil over it.) Serve immediately.
