Description
Mediterranean crunch salad blends fresh Mediterranean ingredients with crisp textures and zesty flavors. Each bite delivers a refreshing balance of vegetables, herbs, and tangy dressing you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (473 ml/16 fl oz) romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup (237 ml/8 fl oz) red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 cup (237 ml/8 fl oz) carrots, shredded
- 1 cup (237 ml/8 fl oz) cucumber, sliced
- ½ cup (118 ml/4 fl oz) snap peas, chopped
- ½ cup (118 ml/4 fl oz) purple cabbage, shredded
- ½ cup (118 ml/4 fl oz) radishes, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup (59 ml/2 fl oz) green onions, chopped
- ¼ cup (59 ml/2 fl oz) almonds, cashews, or sunflower seeds
- ¼ cup (59 ml/2 fl oz) crispy wonton strips or croutons
- 3 tbsps (45 ml/1.5 fl oz) olive oil
- 2 tbsps (30 ml/1 fl oz) rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp (15 ml/0.5 fl oz) soy sauce
Instructions
- Dressing Creation: Vigorously whisk olive oil, vinegar, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, grated ginger, and freshly ground black pepper in a small bowl until a silky, well-integrated emulsion forms.
- Vegetable Preparation: Slice romaine lettuce into crisp ribbons and julienne carrots, bell peppers, cucumber, radishes, snap peas, cabbage, and green onions into delicate, consistent strips to build a vibrant and textural foundation.
- Texture Enhancement: Sprinkle a dynamic blend of chopped nuts, assorted seeds, and crispy wonton strips or homemade croutons across the vegetable landscape, introducing layers of crunch and complexity.
- Final Assembly: Cascade the meticulously crafted dressing over the salad, using tongs to gently toss and coat each ingredient, ensuring a harmonious flavor distribution while preserving the vegetables’ delicate structure.
- Serving: Immediately plate the salad, showcasing the intricate interplay of textures and flavors, allowing the crisp vegetables and crunchy toppings to shine in their full sensory glory.
Notes
- Optimize Dressing Texture: Whisk ingredients gradually to create a stable emulsion, preventing separation and ensuring smooth, consistent flavor distribution.
- Preserve Vegetable Crispness: Chop vegetables just before serving and pat them dry to maintain maximum crunch and prevent wilting or soggy texture.
- Customize Protein Options: Add grilled chicken, tofu, or shrimp to transform the salad into a complete meal while maintaining its vibrant, refreshing profile.
- Control Nut and Seed Crunch: Toast nuts and seeds lightly before adding to enhance their nutty flavor and provide an extra layer of textural complexity without overwhelming the salad’s delicate balance.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg