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Crunch Salad

Crunch Salad

Crunch Salad is a quick, fresh, and satisfying dish featuring a vibrant mix of crispy vegetables, toasted nuts, and a tangy homemade vinaigrette. Perfect for a healthy lunch, dinner side, or crowd-pleasing addition to any meal, this colorful salad is loaded with vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants, making it both nutritious and delicious. Ready in under 20 minutes, it’s easily customizable to suit various dietary preferences and occasions.

  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale

Vegetables

  • 2 cups fresh romaine lettuce, chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 cup red cabbage, finely shredded
  • 1 cup carrots, sliced into thin sticks
  • 1/2 cup celery, diced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced

Nuts

  • 1/4 cup almonds or walnuts, toasted

Herbs

  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped

Vinaigrette

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Instructions

  1. Prep the Vegetables: Rinse and dry all vegetables thoroughly. Chop romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces, shred red cabbage finely, slice carrots into thin sticks, dice celery, halve cherry tomatoes, and thinly slice red onion. This creates a balanced mix of crunchy and soft textures for the salad.
  2. Toast the Nuts: Lightly toast almonds or walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently to prevent burning. Toasting enhances their natural oils and flavor, adding depth to the salad.
  3. Make the Vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, fresh lemon juice, honey, and Dijon mustard until the mixture is emulsified. This tangy dressing perfectly complements the fresh ingredients.
  4. Toss and Combine: In a large salad bowl, combine all chopped vegetables and toasted nuts. Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently until everything is evenly coated. Avoid overdressing to maintain the fresh, light flavors.
  5. Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley or cilantro over the salad as a final touch. Serve immediately to enjoy the crisp, satisfying textures.

Notes

  • Fresh is Best: Use the freshest vegetables for maximum crunch and flavor.
  • Dry Ingredients Well: Pat all veggies dry after washing to prevent sogginess.
  • Toast Nuts Gently: Keep nuts moving in the pan to avoid burning and bitterness.
  • Dress Last Minute: Add dressing just before serving to keep the salad crisp.
  • Chop Uniformly: Try to keep vegetable pieces roughly the same size for even texture.
  • Author: Lina
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: Appetizers
  • Method: No cooking required / Toasting nuts
  • Cuisine: International
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1 bowl)
  • Calories: 180 kcal
  • Sugar: 5 g
  • Sodium: 100 mg
  • Fat: 14 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 12 g
  • Fiber: 4 g
  • Protein: 4 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

Keywords: Crunch Salad, fresh salad, quick salad, healthy salad, vegan salad option, gluten free salad, crunchy vegetables, vinaigrette salad