Recipe: Tossed Green Salad With Simple Vinaigrette Dressing

Adding a tossed green salad to any meal is a great way to increase your daily veggie intake. Dark, leafy salad greens are packed with nutrition. The darker the leaves, the more impactful the nutrients – so pass on the iceberg. With so many varieties of greens at the market today, experiment and try some new ones!

When choosing the oil for the vinaigrette, remember to select unrefined or minimally refined, healthy artisanal varieties — or look for naturally flavored oils to increase the flavor profile. For an entrée salad, add your favorite protein, such as grilled chicken or tofu.

Ingredients

Salad

8 cups dark leafy greens
1 avocado, pitted and sliced or diced
Handful of chopped nuts or seeds

Vinaigrette

3 tablespoons oil of choice (extra virgin olive oil, avocado, walnut, pumpkin seed, pistachio, etc.)
1 tablespoon vinegar of choice (red wine, white wine, unseasoned rice, Balsamic, apple cider, raspberry, etc.) Can also substitute with fresh lemon or lime juice.
Pinch sea salt
Pinch fresh ground black pepper

Optional dressing ingredients

1 garlic clove, finely chopped or grated
1 to 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

Directions

1. Whisk the oil and the vinegar together until combined. Add the salt and pepper and any optional ingredients, as desired, and whisk together.
2. Divide the salad greens among four plates, add the avocado and nuts and drizzle 1 tablespoon of vinaigrette to each salad.

Nutrition information (per serving)

Makes 4 servings (1 serving = 2 cups salad, 1 tablespoon dressing)

Calories: 190
Total fat: 18 g
Saturated fat: 3 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Fiber: 5 g
Protein: 2 g
Carbohydrate: 7 g
Sodium: 150 mg