Name: Simple Green Salad
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 3.5 oz mixed salad greens (or any favorite lettuce); ¼ cup hazelnuts (roughly chopped & toasted); 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar (or apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar); ½ tsp Dijon mustard; ½ tsp maple syrup; ¼ tsp salt; ¼ tsp black pepper

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Just a simple green salad recipe or probably the best green salad in the world! It’s my absolute favorite – fresh, delicious, and ready in under 10 minutes, it’s everything you want in a salad and more.

This classic green salad is a staple in my home, making an appearance at least every other day. It’s versatile enough to be a starter, a side salad, or a light meal with some added toppings and freshly baked bread.

You might think that preparing a green salad is a no-brainer, but I’ve found that not everyone has mastered the art of creating a truly fresh and delicious salad. No more store-bought dressings! Say goodbye to mediocre lettuce swimming in subpar dressing. Let me show you how to prepare the best green salad in less than 10 minutes. This recipe is tasty, healthy, and definitely a keeper!

a bowl filled with the world's best green salad

What Readers Are Saying

Readers who have made this recipe are raving about it! Here is what they had to say after feeding their family:

I never leave reviews BUT I had to leave one for this one. My husband said it tasted like restaurant quality 🤪 save, save, save. It was a hit and nothing leftover! Thank you!

Jhen Vega

I absolutely love this salad and dressing. I take it to parties and am always asked for the recipe. Such good flavor and so easy!!

Ashley

Ingredients

See recipe card for quantities.

Lettuce: I love to mix different salad greens or use assorted small young salad greens (also known as mesclun or spring mix). Best lettuce for this recipe to mix: Green & red leaf lettuce, butter lettuce, little gems, baby spinach, arugula, and microgreens.
Nuts: Toasted hazelnuts add a delightful crunch and extra flavor. Substitute with almonds, cashews, pine nuts, pistachios, pecans, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds. Always toast nuts in a skillet for a few minutes to enhance their flavor.
Dressing: A mild balsamic dressing made with balsamic vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil, maple syrup (or honey), Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. → Garlic lover? Add some minced garlic (about ¼ of a garlic clove is enough).

Variations

Vinegar: Swap balsamic vinegar with apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar or fresh lemon juice. Make sure to stick to 2 parts oil and 1 part vinegar, you don’t want your dressing to be too oily or sour.
Dressing: Feel free to use this White French Dressing, Honey Mustard Dressing, Strawberry Vinaigrette, or Pumpkin Seed Oil Salad Dressing instead of the balsamic vinaigrette.
Cheese: Crumble some feta, goat cheese, or shaved parmesan cheese over the salad for a creamy, tangy twist.
Herbs: Tastes excellent with fresh herbs such as basil, thyme, parsley, dill or chives.
Berries: I love to add fresh berries such as strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries for a summer version.
Seasonal Twists: Feel free to swap out or add ingredients based on what’s in season or what you have on hand. Radishes, cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, shallot, red onion, or shredded carrots make excellent additions. You can even add some dried cranberries.
Reader’s Choice: Add pears, walnuts, and blue cheese as one of my readers did – see comment section (thank you Jamie Bakondy for this splendid idea)!
Protein Boost: Add roasted chickpeas or a protein of your choice to turn this salad into a more substantial meal.
Double The Dressing: If you add any toppings, you might want to double the green salad dressing!

Tips & Tricks

Make sure to spin dry your lettuce thoroughly after washing it with cold water. Any remaining water can dilute the salad dressing, making your salad taste bland. I love to use this salad spinner for this.
If you want to make this salad ahead of time, store all ingredients individually in the fridge for up to one day. Toss right before serving.

More Green Salad Recipes You Will Love:

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on Feb 7, 2020. It was republished with new images and more helpful content on June 19, 2024.

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