Best 5 Zesty Salad Greens With Easy Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipes

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**Zesty Salad Greens with Easy Balsamic Vinaigrette: A Symphony of Flavors and Textures**

Indulge in the delightful symphony of flavors and textures presented by our Zesty Salad Greens with Easy Balsamic Vinaigrette. This vibrant and refreshing salad is a culinary masterpiece that tantalizes the taste buds with its perfect balance of tangy, sweet, and savory notes. The crisp and tender salad greens, tossed in a zesty balsamic vinaigrette, create a symphony of textures that dance on the palate. Accompanied by a medley of colorful and flavorful toppings, this salad is a feast for both the eyes and the taste buds.

**A Culinary Journey Through the Salad's Delights:**

1. **Zesty Salad Greens:** A blend of crisp romaine lettuce, tender baby spinach, and arugula provides a foundation of freshness and crunch.

2. **Easy Balsamic Vinaigrette:** A harmonious blend of tangy balsamic vinegar, sweet honey, and a hint of Dijon mustard, emulsified with olive oil, creates a light and flavorful dressing that enhances the salad's natural flavors.

3. **Colorful Toppings:** A vibrant assortment of cherry tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, crumbled feta cheese, and toasted walnuts adds pops of color, texture, and flavor to each bite.

4. **Optional Additions:** For a protein boost, consider adding grilled chicken or shrimp. If you prefer a vegan option, roasted chickpeas or lentils are excellent choices. Craving more crunch? Sprinkle on some roasted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.

5. **Serving Suggestions:** This versatile salad can be enjoyed as a light lunch or dinner, or as a refreshing side dish to grilled meats or fish. For a delightful picnic or potluck contribution, pack the salad separately and drizzle with the dressing just before serving.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

SPICY GREENS WITH WARM BALSAMIC DRESSING



Spicy Greens with Warm Balsamic Dressing image

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Categories     appetizer

Time 10m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 bunch arugula, cleaned, trimmed and chopped
1 head radicchio, chopped
2 cups chopped escarole, 1/2 head
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, cracked
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper

Steps:

  • Arrange greens on a large platter. Heat oil and garlic in a small pan over moderate heat. Simmer garlic in oil to infuse the flavor. Remove the garlic from the oil and transfer it to a small bowl. Wipe the pan and return to heat. Add balsamic vinegar. Raise heat to high and reduce vinegar by 1/2, 30 seconds. Stream oil into saucepan and whisk to combine with vinegar. Drizzle dressing over the salad and season the greens with salt and pepper.

TANGY BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE



Tangy Balsamic Vinaigrette image

This salad topper coats spinach or any greens so nicely...and it's easy to prepare. I like to use balsamic vinegar, which gives it a tart, refreshing flavor. -Alcy Thorne, Los Molinos, California

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 5m

Yield 2 cups.

Number Of Ingredients 8

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup ketchup
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup olive oil
Salad greens and croutons

Steps:

  • In a blender, combine the vinegar, sugar, ketchup, onion, Worcestershire sauce and salt; cover and process until smooth. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Serve with salad greens and croutons.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 158 calories, Fat 14g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 222mg sodium, Carbohydrate 10g carbohydrate (10g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 0 protein.

SIMPLE SALAD WITH BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE



Simple Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette image

Provided by The Hearty Boys

Categories     main-dish

Time 15m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 bags ready to use mesclun greens
Pinch salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Balsamic Vinaigrette, recipe follows
1 pint grape tomatoes
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded, halved and thinly sliced
1 shallot, peeled and roughly chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 cup olive oil

Steps:

  • Toss the greens, salt and pepper together with just enough vinaigrette to coat, about 1/2 cup. Place them in a decorative bowl and top with the grape tomatoes and bell pepper. Serve the remaining vinaigrette on the side.
  • Put the shallot and basil into the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse until the shallot is finely chopped. Add the balsamic, sugar, salt and pepper and pulse again. With the machine running, add the olive oil in a steady stream through the feed tube. Pour the vinaigrette into a small bowl and serve.

ZESTY WHOLE GRAIN AND VEGETABLE SALAD



Zesty Whole Grain and Vegetable Salad image

I love whole grains, but could find very few recipes with sorghum. I had some vegetables from the garden and decided to throw a few things together. It was delicious! Other grains and vegetables can be added depending on what you have on hand.

Provided by Cheryl Locke

Categories     Salad     Grains

Time 2h

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 cups water
1 cup whole grain sorghum
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 rib celery, chopped
½ small onion, chopped
¼ cup chopped cilantro, or to taste
1 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 cup light Italian salad dressing
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Steps:

  • Combine water and sorghum in a small pot. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook until sorghum is tender yet firm to the bite, about 1 hour. Drain any excess water and cool, about 10 minutes.
  • Transfer sorghum to a large bowl. Add tomatoes, celery, onion, cilantro, jalapeno, and garlic; toss to combine. Stir in Italian dressing and lemon juice. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill before serving, about 30 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 226.4 calories, Carbohydrate 46.6 g, Fat 2.5 g, Fiber 1.6 g, Protein 4.9 g, Sodium 928.4 mg, Sugar 3.3 g

ZESTY SALAD



Zesty Salad image

A refreshing, zesty salad for lunch or picnics. Great with anything or just on its own.

Provided by farah

Categories     Salad     Vegetable Salad Recipes

Time 40m

Yield 2

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 small potato, cut into cubes
½ cup finely chopped cabbage
¼ cup fresh pomegranate seeds
½ carrot, cut into matchsticks
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 clove garlic, minced
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon brown sugar
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Steps:

  • Place potato cubes into a small pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Drain and let cool, about 10 minutes.
  • Combine cooled potato, cabbage, pomegranate seeds, and carrot in a large bowl.
  • Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, brown sugar, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl until well-mixed. Poured over potato mixture and toss to combine.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 120.5 calories, Carbohydrate 23.1 g, Fat 2.6 g, Fiber 3.2 g, Protein 2.5 g, SaturatedFat 0.4 g, Sodium 604.1 mg, Sugar 6.5 g

Tips:

  • For the best flavor, use fresh, high-quality ingredients.
  • To make the vinaigrette, whisk the ingredients together in a small bowl until well combined. You can adjust the proportions of the ingredients to suit your taste.
  • To prepare the salad greens, wash and dry them thoroughly. You can use a variety of greens, such as romaine lettuce, arugula, spinach, or kale.
  • To assemble the salad, place the greens in a large bowl and add the desired toppings. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and toss to coat.
  • Serve the salad immediately or chill it for later.

Conclusion:

This zesty salad is a refreshing and flavorful dish that is perfect for any occasion. The combination of fresh greens, tangy vinaigrette, and crunchy toppings makes this salad a winner. With its simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, this recipe is sure to become a favorite in your kitchen. So next time you're looking for a healthy and delicious salad, give this zesty salad greens with easy balsamic vinaigrette a try. You won't be disappointed!

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