When it comes to salad, my belief is the simpler the better. While I don’t want a boring salad, I also don’t want to spend hours making something that is, at the end of the day, still just a salad. So when I can create a recipe for a salad with a ton of flavor that can also be made in 15 minutes, I call it a success! Enter this amazingly simple and delicious summer salad with basil vinaigrette.
It’s that time of year when we start transitioning from spring to summer vegetables – meaning the world is our oyster at the farmers market! This salad celebrates the bounty of vegetables this time of year with some of my favorites: crunchy snap peas, peppery radishes, creamy avocado, and sweet spring greens. As more summer produce comes around, corn would be an amazing addition here too!
The dressing is a simple lemon vinaigrette with the addition of a bunch of fresh basil and some fresh chives. This herby dressing just screams summer! Simply pulse it all together in a food processor or blender. If you don’t have either of those, you can always just chop the herbs up as fine as you can.
Finally, add in some feta cheese for salty goodness and pine nuts for crunch, and you’ve got a salad that is anything but boring in about 15 minutes! This is a great side salad for any BBQ or potluck. You can also just add some protein on top for a complete meal. I make this with some spicy grilled shrimp, but chicken or even steak would go great with the herbs here too. However you serve it, it’s going to be gobbled up at your next summer cookout!
Looking for more salad recipes? Find them here!
Wine Pairings for Summer Salad with Basil Vinaigrette
- Pinot Grigio: The bright fruitiness of Pinot Grigio (or Pinot Gris) goes well with light, fresh flavors and herbs, making it the perfect accompaniment to the herbaceous dressing. It will also complement the peppery radishes well.
- Gruner Veltliner: This zippy, high acidity white wine will hold up well next to the vinaigrette. It also has an earthy, herb-like flavor that goes well with any salad.
Summer Salad with Basil Vinaigrette
- Total Time: 15 minutes
Description
An amazingly simple recipe of summer vegetables and greens tossed with a tangy, herbaceous basil vinaigrette.
Ingredients
SALAD
- 3 cups spring greens
- 1 cup snap peas, sliced diagonally
- 5 radishes, thinly sliced
- 1 avocado, diced
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ cup toasted pine nuts
DRESSING
- ⅓ cup fresh basil leaves
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
- 1 clove of garlic
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Make the dressing: Add all ingredients to a food processor and pulse until combined. Season with salt and pepper as desired.
- Assemble the salad: Add all ingredients to a bowl and toss with half the basil dressing. Add more dressing as desired and serve!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
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