Simple Garden Salad Recipes

PERFECT GARDEN SALAD

Steps:

• Tear lettuce into bite sized pieces and wash and dry thoroughly. Place in large salad bowl (wider than it is deep). Top with prepared vegetables.
• Sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cheese. Go lightly until you learn how much is "to taste" for you.
• Pour oil over salad, then vinegar. It is important that the oil be first. Quantity requires a bit of practice - go light on the vinegar at first. You can add more if needed. Aim to coat the top layer of vegetables. Toss until well mixed. Taste - add vinegar or oil if needed, and toss again. Do not add dry ingredients (see below). Serve immediately.
• Note: Your first couple salads may not be perfect. If you find that you didn't add enough salt or pepper, let diners add more as served - you can't get it well dispersed if you add to the salad bowl after the oil and vinegar have been added If you find that you added too much vinegar, a little salt can counteract - again, add as served.

ALMOST-FAMOUS GARDEN SALAD

Steps:

• Combine all the dressing ingredients and 1 to 2 tablespoons water in a blender or food processor; puree until smooth.
• Place the salad blend in a large bowl and top with the remaining salad ingredients. Drizzle with the dressing.
• Photography by Kate Sears

GARDEN SALAD

Steps:

• Dressing: Shake Dressing in a jar. Taste and adjust - more oil for creamier/less tang, vinegar for more tang, sugar if you want touch of sweet.
• Toss: Place all Salad ingredients in a big bowl. Pour over Dressing. Toss well.
• Serve: Transfer to serving bowl and serve immediately!

YOUR BASIC TOSSED SALAD

Steps:

• Place salad greens in a salad bowl and top with tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, and carrot. Place oil, vinegar and sugar in a small plastic container. Put the lid on the container and shake dressing until sugar dissolves, about 1 minute. Pour dressing over salad. Season salad with salt and pepper, to taste, and toss to combine.

GARDEN SALAD

Steps:

• Wash and dry the lettuce, leaves and herbs. Tear larger leaves into bite-size pieces and tip all the greenery into a large salad bowl.
• Put the garlic, onion, parsley and watercress or rocket into a mini chopper or food processor. Blitz until finely chopped. Add the vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper and blitz briefly. Add the oil and blitz until thickened. Drizzle over the salad and toss until the leaves are just coated. You might not need all the dressing, but it will keep in the fridge for a few days.

GARDEN FRESH SALAD

Steps:

• Place the potatoes into a large pot with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Add the green beans and wax beans during the last 2 minutes to blanch them. Drain, and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Cool before adding to the dressing.
• In a large bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, mustard, celery, dill, salt, and pepper. Add the cooled potatoes and beans, and stir to coat. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

SIMPLE GARDEN SALAD

Steps:

• Combine tomato, avocado and cucumber on top of lettuce.
• Top with salad dressing.

QUICK GARDEN SALAD

Steps:

• Wash and dry the lettuce, leaves and herbs. Tear larger leaves into bite-sized pieces and tip everything into a large salad bowl.
• To make the dressing, put the garlic, onion, parsley and watercress or rocket into a mini chopper or food processor, and blitz until finely chopped. Add the vinegar, mustard and some seasoning, and blend briefly. Slowly add the oil and blitz until thickened. Drizzle over the salad just before eating and toss until the leaves are just coated. (You might not need all the dressing, but it will keep in the fridge for a couple of days.)

GREEN SALAD WITH GARDEN CRESS

Steps:

• Stir together vinaigrette and horseradish in a salad bowl. Add lettuce leaves, onion, and garden cress. Mix to combine.