Green Salad
A crisp and refreshing American-style salad featuring diced cucumber, juicy tomatoes, and sharp red onion. Tossed in a simple lemon-herb vinaigrette, it's the perfect light and healthy side for grilled meats or any summer meal.
For 4 servings
3 steps.
- 1
Step 1
- a.Prepare the vegetables
- b.Wash the cucumber, tomatoes, and red onion thoroughly.
- c.Peel the cucumbers and dice them into small, uniform 1/4-inch pieces.
- d.Cut the tomatoes in half, remove the seeds, and dice them to a similar size as the cucumber.
- e.Finely dice the red onion. For a milder flavor, you can soak the diced onion in cold water for 10 minutes, then drain well.
- f.Place all the chopped vegetables in a large mixing bowl and add the fresh parsley.
- 2
Step 2
- a.Make the vinaigrette
- b.In a small bowl or jar, combine the olive oil, fresh lemon juice, optional sugar, salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
- c.Whisk vigorously or shake the jar until the dressing is well combined and slightly emulsified.
- 3
Step 3
- a.Combine and serve
- b.Just before serving, pour the prepared vinaigrette over the chopped vegetables.
- c.Gently toss everything together until the vegetables are evenly coated.
- d.Serve immediately to enjoy the best crunch and freshness.
What to keep in mind.
5 tips from the recipe — small details that make a real difference to the final dish.
- 1For the best texture, chill the vegetables in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before chopping.
- 2Always add the dressing at the very last moment before serving to maintain the crispness of the vegetables.
- 3Feel free to add other crunchy vegetables like bell peppers, celery, or radishes.
- 4For a different flavor profile, try using red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar instead of lemon juice.
- 5Deseeding the tomatoes is a key step to prevent the salad from becoming watery.
Adapt it for your goals.
High protein
Add 1 cup of rinsed canned chickpeas or 1 cup of diced grilled chicken to make it a more substantial meal.
veganVegan
This recipe is naturally vegan. If you add a sweetener, ensure you use sugar or maple syrup, not honey.
ketoKeto
Omit the optional sugar from the dressing to make this salad keto-friendly and low-carb.
quickQuick
Use a vegetable chopper to dice all the vegetables uniformly in just a few minutes.
Why this is on our healthy list.
Excellent for Hydration
Cucumbers are composed of over 95% water, making this salad a refreshing and hydrating choice, especially in warm weather.
Rich in Antioxidants
Tomatoes are a fantastic source of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant linked to reducing the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.
Heart-Healthy Fats
The use of extra virgin olive oil provides monounsaturated fats, which are beneficial for heart health and can help lower bad cholesterol levels.
Low in Calories, High in Nutrients
This salad is a great way to get a serving of vegetables. It's low in calories but rich in essential vitamins like Vitamin C and K.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, this green salad is very healthy. It's low in calories and packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber from the fresh vegetables. The dressing uses heart-healthy monounsaturated fats from olive oil.