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I LOVE summer. You're going to hear me say it again and again because it's truly my favorite time of year. One of the things I enjoy most on a warm, summer day is a fresh, crisp salad. While all of the veggies I have growing in my patio garden aren't quite ready yet, I am taking advantage of some of the gorgeous lettuce that is!
One of the best salads you can make in the summer is a chopped salad. It incorporates so many fresh veggies, and I love the crunch of the crisp, green leaves. I like to combine lettuce from my little garden along with some crisp romaine hearts. Perfect combo.
Chopped salads are just a whole lot of goodness all together in one bowl. For my Ultimate Chopped Salad, I throw in avocados, hard boiled eggs, grape tomatoes, mini cucumbers, mushrooms, carrots, red onion and shredded cheese. Go ahead and include some cubes of cooked chicken or sunflower seeds if you like, too.
This salad is quite a beautiful presentation once you put it all together. The grand finale is the dressing. I love using my Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing to coat each and every veggie and piece of lettuce in this salad. YUM!!
Dig right in. It's SO worth it!
Ultimate Chopped Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups mixed salad greens
- 2 whole romaine hearts
- 1 cup grape tomatoes (halved)
- 3 hard-boiled eggs (peeled and sliced)
- 2 avocados (pitted and sliced)
- 8 ounces mushrooms (sliced)
- 3 mini cucumbers (cut into thirds and then diced)
- 1 red onion (diced)
- 1 cup matchstick carrots
- ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Chop up the lettuce into small pieces and place into a large mixing bowl.
- Add the rest of the fixings and toss with dressing of your choice.
- Transfer the salad and the fixings to a large salad bowl and serve immediately.
Notes
- Uniformity is Key: When chopping the ingredients, aim for uniformity in size to ensure that each bite offers a balanced mix of flavors and textures. Consistently sized pieces not only enhance the presentation of the salad but also make it easier to enjoy.
- Layering for Freshness: To maintain the freshness of the salad, consider layering the ingredients in the serving bowl rather than tossing them all together in one large mixing bowl. Start with the sturdier ingredients at the bottom, such as lettuce and carrots, and layer the more delicate items, like avocado and tomatoes, on top. This helps prevent the salad from becoming soggy and keeps each component crisp.
- Customize Your Dressing: While the recipe suggests using a dressing of your choice, consider making your own homemade dressing to elevate the flavor profile of the salad. Experiment with different combinations of oils, vinegars, herbs, and spices to create a dressing that complements the flavors of the ingredients. Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving to ensure freshness and prevent wilting.
David @ Spiced
We absolutely love a good chopped salad in the summer! I'll have to check out this one with that buttermilk ranch dressing...sounds delicious! #client
Sara
I hope you try it, David! Fresh salads are the best in the summer time!