Crunchy Vegetable Salad
Flavorful, bright, and healthy, this crunchy vegetable salad checks a lot of boxes. Cauliflower, carrots, celery, sweet bell pepper, cucumber, and tomatoes are marinated in a classic vinaigrette for a delicious side dish. Serve it to balance richer foods, or as a great side for cookouts and potlucks.See the original recipe on Iowa Girl Eats.
Ingredients
Salad
- 2 cups cauliflower florets usually ½-¾ of a head, depending on the size of the cauliflower head
- 2-3 large carrots peeled and diced
- 1 stalk celery, diced
- 1 English cucumber diced
- 1 sweet bell pepper (red, yellow, or orange) seeded and diced
- 2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes halved
Vinaigrette
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup white balsamic vinegar
- 4 tsp. Dijon mustard
- 4 tsp. chopped fresh herbs (thyme, oregano, and chive) or 2 tsp. dry Italian seasoning
- 2 tbsp. minced shallots
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the diced vegetables to a large bowl and set aside.
- In a separate, smaller bowl (or a large glass measuring cup or lidded jar), add the remaining ingredients (olive oil, vinegar, Dijon, Italian seasoning, shallots, and garlic). Whisk or shake vigorously till well combined. Taste and season with salt and pepper, as needed.
- Pour half of the dressing over the vegetables in the bowl and toss gently to coat. Add more dressing as needed (any extra can be refrigerated).
- Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator to chill for at least two hours. Overnight is fine, too, as this salad is perfect for making the day before.
Notes
- A large dice works best for the vegetables in this salad.
- English cucumbers are preferred, as they don't need to be peeled and the seeds are minimal. If you use regular field cucumbers, be sure to peel and seed them before dicing.
- If you choose to use dry Italian seasoning for the vinaigrette, we recommend the Morton and Bassett Italian Herb Blend.
- Also for the vinaigrette, white wine or red wine vinegar may be substituted for the white balsamic. Just be aware that those have a higher degree of tartness. If you prefer a mellower vinaigrette, stick with the white balsamic.
Nutrition Facts
Crunchy Vegetable Salad
Amount per Serving
Calories
169
% Daily Value*
Fat
14
g
22
%
Saturated Fat
2
g
13
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
10
g
Sodium
60
mg
3
%
Potassium
355
mg
10
%
Carbohydrates
10
g
3
%
Fiber
2
g
8
%
Sugar
6
g
7
%
Protein
2
g
4
%
Vitamin A
3467
IU
69
%
Vitamin C
46
mg
56
%
Calcium
36
mg
4
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.