Bright Spring Salad (Printable)

Fresh greens, crisp vegetables, and bright citrus dressing celebrate spring flavors in under 20 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 3.5 oz baby spinach
02 - 3.5 oz mixed salad greens (such as arugula, lamb's lettuce)
03 - 8 radishes, thinly sliced
04 - 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
05 - 5.3 oz asparagus tips, blanched
06 - 3.5 oz fresh peas (shelled) or thawed frozen peas
07 - 1 small carrot, shaved into ribbons

→ Toppings

08 - 1.8 oz feta cheese, crumbled
09 - 2 tbsp toasted sunflower seeds
10 - 2 tbsp fresh chives or dill, finely chopped

→ Dressing

11 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
12 - 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
13 - 1 tsp honey
14 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - Blanche the asparagus tips and peas in simmering salted water for 2 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool quickly.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine baby spinach, greens, radishes, cucumber, blanched asparagus, peas, and carrot ribbons.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
04 - Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
05 - Top with crumbled feta, sunflower seeds, and chopped herbs. Serve immediately and enjoy the flavors of spring!

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Every crisp bite tastes like sunshine and new beginnings, exactly what we crave after months of heavy comfort food
  • The dressing comes together in seconds but makes you look like you understand the delicate balance of acidity and sweetness
02 -
  • Dressing this salad too early will make it sad and wilted within twenty minutes. Always dress right before serving if you value crunch.
  • Room temperature vegetables absorb dressing better than cold ones straight from the fridge. Let everything sit out for ten minutes before tossing.
03 -
  • Dry your greens thoroughly after washing. Water on the leaves prevents dressing from adhering properly and makes for a watery, diluted flavor.
  • Taste a piece of your dressed salad before serving and adjust with more salt, lemon, or honey. Seasoning at the end is what takes good to great.