Side Salad With Lemon Honey Vinaigrette

This everyday side salad with mustard, lemon, and honey vinaigrette is a staple in my kitchen. It’s a simple yet delicious dish that I enjoy a few times a week, usually as a side salad for dinner. With just a few additional ingredients, it can easily be transformed into a main meal. This versatile side salad recipe complements almost any dish!

Jump to: ℹ️ Overview | 🛒 Ingredients | 📷 How To Make |📺 Watch Video | 🥗 Salad Variations & Additions | 📝 Go To Full Recipe | 👨‍🍳 More Easy Side Salad Recipes

Firstly, I believe that incorporating a salad into your daily meals is essential. Whether it’s a lunch salad or a side salad with dinner, it provides a boost of vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber.

Secondly, while this side salad recipe may seem straightforward, it will help you perfect this fundamental dish and learn efficient techniques for quickly cutting vegetables and creating a delicious lemon honey vinaigrette. Use it as a base to experiment with your own variations.

My Everyday Side Salad

When it comes to everyday salads, this recipe is my go-to choice (along with red cabbage coleslaw). This salad features Romaine lettuce (also known as Cos or Gem lettuce), cucumbers, red bell peppers, radishes, cherry tomatoes, and red onions. These vegetables are always stocked in my fridge, making this side salad easy to put together.

This side salad is reminiscent of a classic garden salad, and I usually dress it with a mustard, lemon, and honey vinaigrette. Occasionally, I may switch out the lemon for Balsamic vinegar.

This salad pairs well with almost any main dish! Whether it’s sausages and mash, crispy chicken tenders, lamb cutlets, or steak, this side salad is my preferred choice. It offers a refreshing and zesty contrast to rich mains like creamy orzo or mushroom stroganoff.

What You’ll Need

Let’s take a look at the ingredients for this healthy side salad. You can find the full measurements in the recipe card below.

• Lettuce – I typically opt for Romaine/Cos or Gem lettuce for their nutritional value and texture. These lettuce varieties hold dressing well and maintain crispness, even when prepared in advance.
• Red bell pepper – A great source of Vitamin C and antioxidants, adding sweetness and juiciness to the salad.
• Cucumber – I use Lebanese cucumbers for their crispness and mild flavor. I leave the peel on for added vitamins and fiber.
• Radishes – These provide a peppery flavor and crunchy texture, as well as a pop of color to the salad.
• Cherry tomatoes – Sweet and flavorful, these tomatoes are easy to slice and offer a dose of vitamins and antioxidants.
• Red onion – While optional for some, I enjoy the sharpness and visual appeal of red onion in this salad. Green onions can be used as an alternative.

Lemon Honey Vinaigrette

I prefer dressing this salad with a tangy and slightly sweet lemon honey vinaigrette with Dijon mustard. The balance of flavors is perfect. Occasionally, I may substitute lemon juice with Balsamic or Dijon mustard with wholegrain mustard.

This vinaigrette can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to a week. The ingredients are simple: lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper.

How To Make My Side Salad

Preparing a salad is straightforward, but I’ll share my efficient and quick method for cutting the vegetables. Here’s a video to help you understand, along with some accompanying images.

Step 1. Dice all vegetables into similar-sized pieces. Thinly slice the onion as desired.

Step 2. Prepare the dressing by whisking or shaking all ingredients in a jar. Dress the salad just before serving for the best results.

Tip: If making this salad ahead of time, store it undressed in the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before serving to enhance flavors. The salad will remain fresh for up to 24 hours before the leaves lose their crispness.

Watch The Video

Salad Variations & Additions

• Enhance satiety: Add chickpeas, lentils, quinoa, croutons, nuts, or seeds to make the salad more filling.
• Include protein: Incorporate grilled shrimp, chicken, feta cheese, Cheddar cubes, Parmesan, tempeh, tuna, or sardines for added protein.
• Experiment with other vegetables: Carrots, celery, fennel, green onions, zucchini, or mushrooms can be great additions to the salad.
• Change up the flavor: Try adding fresh herbs, olives, capers, sun-dried tomatoes, or different dressings like Asian, Caesar, or Ranch for a unique twist.