Description
Dandelion salad blends wild greens with zesty lemon vinaigrette, creating a fresh Mediterranean-inspired dish. Garden-fresh ingredients and simple preparation make this salad a quick, healthy choice for wellness-focused diners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (946 ml) young dandelion greens, washed and chopped
- 1 crisp apple, thinly sliced (Honeycrisp or Fuji)
- 1 avocado, diced
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml) olive oil
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
- ¼ red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup (60 ml) walnuts or pecans, toasted
- 1 tsp (5 ml) Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp (5 ml) honey or maple syrup
- ¼ cup (60 ml) crumbled goat cheese or feta (optional)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) dried cranberries or raisins (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Vinaigrette: Whisk olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, zesty Dijon mustard, and golden honey in a small mixing vessel. Season with sea salt and cracked black pepper to create a harmonious flavor profile.
- Compose Salad Base: Layer crisp dandelion greens in a spacious serving bowl, artfully arranging thinly sliced apples, creamy avocado chunks, delicate red onion slivers, and crunchy toasted nuts for textural complexity.
- Dress and Integrate: Gently cascade the vibrant vinaigrette over the salad components, using a light tossing technique to ensure each leaf and ingredient becomes elegantly coated without bruising the delicate greens. Ensure uniform distribution of dressing for a balanced flavor experience.
Notes
- Choose young, tender dandelion greens before flowering to ensure mild, less bitter flavor. Avoid picking from areas treated with pesticides or near heavy traffic.
- Neutralize dandelion’s natural bitter taste by mixing with sweeter ingredients like apple slices or honey in the vinaigrette. Blanching greens briefly can also reduce bitterness.
- Toast nuts lightly to enhance their crunch and nutty flavor. Experiment with different nut varieties like walnuts, almonds, or pecans for varied texture and nutrition.
- Incorporate additional protein sources like grilled chicken, hard-boiled eggs, or crumbled feta cheese to transform this salad into a complete, satisfying meal.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg