Presenting my old-school Garden Salad! Yep, the one I can make any day because I always have these vegetables on hand. Sometimes, I even get real fancy and add a sprinkle of parsley. 😳
There really are no rules when it comes to a Garden Salad. Any greens and any vegetables will do, all tied together with a classic and simple salad dressing. Make this your own!
My Garden Salad
Ordinarily I write an introduction about the recipe I’m sharing. But I find myself stuck to come up with something witty or some back story about Garden Salad.
I wish I could say this salad is made with crisp organic vegetables fresh from my garden. I want to be able to tell you that this was the only salad my hardworking mother knew how to make when I was growing up and thus has a special place carved in my heart.
I want to at least be able tell you that this version is the definitive, the classic, the original, the real-deal garden salad.
But I have nothing. No authority on this matter, and no sentimental backstory. This is just my basic everyday salad that I make “all the time”, for no other reason than it’s made with the most pedestrian of veggies that always seem to find their way into my shopping basket, week after week!
No doubt you make a similar salad, as does the majority of households in the country. Garden Salad: the great leveller! 😂
My everyday salad dressing 
What goes in my Garden Salad
So, that said and done, here are the typical things that I put in my Garden Salad.
Well, I won’t lie. Iceberg lettuce doesn’t always make my shopping trolley these days because it just seems so, well, eighties! 😂 It is quite regular when in season though because it’s crunchy, sweet and frankly pretty damned delicious even if it’s about as fashionable as a giant, hair sprayed perm. If not iceberg lettuce, I’ll always have some form of leafy greens in my fridge.
Garden Salad Dressing
The dressing I use is my basic salad dressing: 1 part vinegar to 3 parts olive oil, thickened with Dijon Mustard so it emulsifies and clings to the salad better, simply seasoned with salt and pepper.
There’s all sorts of extra flavouring options available to you if you want to upgrade your Garden Salad, including garlic, lemon zest, dried or fresh herbs. And I’ve listed some suggestions in the recipe notes.
But at its core, this is the basic salad dressing that I use “all the time”.
And that, my friends, is all I have to say about my Garden Salad.
Gee, I wish all recipes I shared could be this short and to the point! 😂 – Nagi x
PS. No video for the 3 simple side salads I’m sharing today! (This Garden Salad, a Blood Orange Salad and Panzanella – Italian bread salad). But if you really want a Garden Salad recipe video, shout out below!
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Garden Salad
Ingredients
Salad:
- 1 small head iceberg lettuce or other lettuce or leafy greens , chopped into big bite size pieces (5 to 6 big handfuls)
- 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved (~125g/4oz), or 2 tomatoes cut into wedges or chunks
- 1 cucumber , sliced (medium Lebanese / Persian cucumber, or 1/2 long Telegraph/English cucumber)
- 1 carrot , peeled and grated using a box grater
- 1 tsp parsley or chives , very finely chopped (if you’re feeling fancy!)
Dressing:
- 1 tbsp cider vinegar (or any vinegar or lemon juice) (Note 1)
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (or other neutral oil)
- 1/2 tsp Dijon Mustard (or other non spicy smooth mustard)
- 1/2 tsp cooking/kosher salt (or 1/4 tsp table salt)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Dressing: Shake Dressing in a jar. Taste and adjust – more oil for creamier/less tang, vinegar for more tang, sugar if you want touch of sweet.
- Toss: Place all Salad ingredients in a big bowl. Pour over Dressing. Toss well.
- Serve: Transfer to serving bowl and serve immediately!
Recipe Notes:
- Apple cider vinegar (my most used)
- White wine vinegar (2nd most used, use a touch more as it’s milder)
- Balsamic
- Red wine vinegar, sherry vinegar, champagne vinegar
- Plain white vinegar (most sharp, so you may need touch more oil)
- Rice wine vinegar
- 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
- Sugar or honey can take the sharp edge off dressings without using more oil. Don’t use BOTH, use one!
- Dried or fresh herbs
- Lemon zest
Life of Dozer
His big head always pops over with interest whenever he hears the rustle of a paper bag in the front seat…
I recently discovered that you can BUY that yummy dressing on Vietnamese salads .
So that’s my go to dressing for salads . Better than praise mayonnaise & healthier.
Or you can make it Bev! https://www.recipetineats.com/vietnamese-chicken-noodle-bowl/ N x
Yep, that’s my basic one too. Your photo of ingredients was good as an image – but I always add the lettuce last, on top of everything. The leaves seem to mix in better that way. Further easy optional ingredients: capsicum strips, mushroom, olives.
And sorry – but I’d go with Panzanella as the lead salad
This salad looks lovely and its one that we also fall back on time and time again,so easy and versatile whats not to like sometimes no dressing and the ingredients speak for themselves
Yes exactly Beryl!!! N x
Thanks Nagi, just looove your garden salad. The dressings too. Nothing yummier than a crunchy salad. Big hugs for beloved Dozer. xx
Common a garden garden salad is always the best! Additions just add extra interest. You have our vote too.
Thanks CimmieS!! N x
This is my favourite salad also. Change the lettuce around a bit depending what I have or feel like at the time. Must admit I usually use a store bought French dressing. Avocado is a favorite addition also. 5 stars for Nagi 👍
It’s so easy to make though – once you’ve had homemade you won’t want the store-bought anymore! N x
A vote for you Nagi, and it’ll improve my garden salad to make me look good, so everyone wins!
Thanks so much Sally!! N x
Love all your recipes, so here is a vote for you. By the way I have made all 3 salads and like them all.
Need to skip the recipe dressing (which I’m sure is good!) and top this with a BIG glob of home made Bleu Cheese Dressing! Yum, yum, yum!!!!
You could definitely do that if you prefer Brian! N x
It’s reassuring to know I’m basically doing what everyone else does! Avocado usually gets tossed in as well at our place.
Love Dozer’s pics – always brings a smile.
Yum, can’t go past a perfectly ripe avo Cathy! N x
Iceberg lettuce is simply The Best for your Garden Salad, Crunchy & delicious 😋 Who cares if it’s 80’s? Small minds ruin their food with that type of thinking. I’ve always made my salads your way Nagi, I’m not a fan of Carrots but added them last night, we all enjoyed the added texture and taste.
The only problem with only iceberg is that it has little nutritional value so I add iceberg to an otherwise green lettuce salad just for the crunch.
Well you asked Nagi and seeing as you’ve delivered for me so many times, how could I refuse! I vote Nagi…and green salad! (must admit I’m off to check the Panzanella now though…..) 🙂
Love it!!! Thanks Lou! N x
Excellent! I love the carrots added to the salad. My grandmother used to make this similar garden salad. But your dressing and the cucumbers are the BOMB!
Thanks so much Morgan!! N x
I love the crunch of iceburg but typically buy romaine for our usual salad. On top of those in the recipe I add shredded purple cabbage, just a small handful of green olives, and make more of an Italian dressing for our usual table salad. I like my dressing 2-1 oil to vinegar though many recipes use 3-1 I find it way to oily and love the zing/acid of a great vinegar.
I love the variety of posts Nagi! There is something for everyone.
Cheers,
Holly x
I love that everyone has their own way!! N x
Hi Nagi!!!
I loved your post about this garden salad. Because the thing I love about your blog is your tips how to get the “everyday” thing right. Then when I want to splurge on the weekends you have the recipes to spend longer and do something really special. And having the confidence to try anything is something you’ve given me from your videos and detailed posts.
So it’s garden salad for me everyday! Then panzanella for a BBQ or Christmas! 🎅
Thanks again Nagi!
Love Jules ❤️
I love hearing this Jules, thanks so much!!! N x
‘The Garden Salad’ kind of post is exactly! The reason I’m obsessed with you! Tell the naysayers you know what your doing 😉
Thanks so much Daniela!! N x
Pretty much exactly what I put in mine, although I don’t usually add grated carrot (will now!). One of my favourites. A beautiful, fresh garden salad is often underrated.
I love the addition of carrot for sweetness too! N x
I make this basic salad all the time. It’s so easy. I just started getting your recipes, and I love them! I won’t click on the other 2 til the time is up.
haha I love this Gail!! N x
Sure would love to see a Garden Salad Video..
Maybe Dozer could help : )~
Love what you do for all of us!
freidia
Well we know he won’t want to eat it at least 😂 N x
This is pretty much how I made salad all my life (73) but I do add olives & chopped red onion. Use lemon juice abd yu can’t go wrong!
Yum! A great addition Marjorie! N x