The Perfect Side Salad | Easy, Delicious, and Healthy

The perfect side salad might sound like an exaggeration, but as we were having this for dinner, I realized this salad was delicious and versatile, and I think it’s just perfect! Let me elaborate.

The classic salad with a lettuce base and a few veggies scattered on top and covered with dressing is just boring. This salad uses kale instead of lettuce, but it’s not used in overwhelming proportions, so it’s just another ingredient. The peas, cucumbers, tomatoes, and every other ingredient share the spotlight equally, and it creates a much more balanced and interesting dish.

In order to make the flavors really pop, I highly recommend using premium grade extra virgin olive oil. Most grocery stores don’t sell really good olive oil, but it’s worth finding one. You can get good olive oil at Whole Foods or OliveOilLovers.com. I was very lucky to get a bottle this year from my favorite winery in Sonoma, Scribe Winery. Good olive oil is worth every penny. I think a good olive oil is the only dressing needed on a salad like this, along with a little salt and pepper.

Finally, I think this is a perfect side salad because it pairs great with any protein. Add chicken, steak, or tuna steak, as we did in the pictures below. If you are a vegetarian, go ahead and skip the add-ons. This is a crunchy and fresh salad that will leave you satisfied.

The Perfect Side Salad | Easy, Delicious, and Healthy

The perfect side salad might sound like an exaggeration, but as we were having this for dinner, I realized this salad was delicious and versatile, and I think it's just perfect! The peas, cucumbers, tomatoes, and every other ingredient share the spotlight equally, and it creates a much more balanced and interesting dish.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 2 mins

Course Salad

Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 3/4 cup fresh peas
• 1/2 red bell pepper cut into 1/4 inch pieces
• 6 leaves dinosaur kale ribs removed, cut into bite sized pieces
• 1/4 sweet yellow onion diced
• 1/2 English cucumber cut into 1/4 inch pieces
• 3/4 cup cilantro leaves coarsely chopped
• 1 avocado cut into 1/4 inch cubes
• 1/2 cup fresh sprouts
• 1 cup heirloom grape tomatoes
• 1/3 cup premium extra virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt and fresh pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• Bring a small pot of water to a boil and add the peas. Cook for about two minutes, drain, and rinse with cold water.
• Cut all the ingredients into small bite-size pieces.
• Add all ingredients to the bowl. Season with salt and pepper and dress with olive oil. Mix.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. Check out more recipes here.