Perfectly Balanced Salad for Your Summer Meal

Serve your family or friends a delightful summer salad that is not only refreshing but also packed with essential nutrients. This salad can be enjoyed as an appetizer, side dish, or even a light meal on its own. It’s ideal for those days when you want something quick and easy yet satisfying. The cooking time for this recipe is approximately 15 minutes, and it serves four people generously.

The key to creating the perfect balance in any salad is ensuring that each component contributes a unique flavor profile. This recipe includes lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, feta cheese, and avocado. You will also need a simple vinaigrette made from olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and a little honey to sweeten the dressing.

Ingredients

2 cups of mixed lettuce (you can choose romaine, spinach, or arugula)
1 cup cherry tomatoes
1 small cucumber
1/4 red onion
1/2 avocado
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
A pinch of honey (optional)

Preparation Steps

Begin by preparing each ingredient individually. Start with the lettuce, which you should wash thoroughly under cold water. Pat dry using a clean kitchen towel or paper towels.

Next, slice your tomatoes into small, bite-sized pieces and arrange them neatly on one side of your cutting board. For the cucumber, use a vegetable peeler to remove the skin if preferred, then cut it into thin slices. Thinly slice the red onion as well; this step is crucial because raw onions can be quite pungent.

The avocado should be halved lengthwise, and the seed removed by pressing down on one side while twisting the halves apart. Once separated, gently squeeze each half over a bowl to catch any juices and peel off the skin from both sides. Gently pat the flesh until you have pieces of desired size.

Crumble the feta cheese into small pieces—this adds a lovely tangy flavor to complement all the other elements of your salad. Set aside these components while you prepare the dressing.

Dressing

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and honey (if using). The sweetness from the honey will balance out some of the sharper flavors present in other ingredients. Taste as you go; sometimes just a little extra squeeze of fresh squeezed lime can make all the difference.

Assembly

Lay down your base layer of lettuce leaves on a serving platter or individual plates for each person. Top this with the cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, and red onion. Arrange the avocado pieces and feta cheese atop everything else. Drizzle generously over the prepared dressing.

Start drizzling the salad from the center outwards to ensure every part gets coated equally. Make sure no component feels neglected!
Sprinkle a bit more of your favorite herbs like parsley or basil if available for extra freshness and color.

Tips & Variations

If you're looking to vary this classic recipe, consider adding grilled chicken breasts or shrimp. They add great protein content without significantly affecting the overall preparation time. You could also try substituting different types of lettuce depending on what’s available locally and seasonally.

For those who want something vegan, omitting the feta cheese would work perfectly fine alongside a plant-based dressing alternative made from tahini instead of traditional mayonnaise or mustard.

Nutritional Information

This salad provides ample amounts of vitamins A and C, along with healthy fats and fiber. It’s low in calories but high in flavor and nutrition.

Calories per serving: Approximately 350 kcal (depending on portion sizes)

By following these straightforward steps, you can easily prepare this balanced summer salad at home. Whether it's for a casual gathering or just your personal enjoyment, this dish is sure to impress!