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Our House Salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette is made with crisp romaine lettuce, vine tomatoes, smashed cucumbers, peppery red onions, and sourdough croutons. Tossed in a zesty homemade honey Dijon vinaigrette, this salad recipe pairs well with most entrees and comes together quickly in less than 10 minutes.

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We love making unique salad recipes. Radicchio Salad with Lemon Parmesan Dressing, Shaved Brussels Sprout Caesar Salad, or even our Asparagus Polonaise Salad to name a few. But sometimes a meal calls for a simple salad recipe.

Most homes and restaurants have a house salad – you know, a veggie-forward house salad that complements dinner, not competes with it. Our house salad recipe is light, fresh, and bright, and pairs well with any dinner recipe.

Made with crisp romaine lettuce, vine tomatoes, smashed cucumbers (to allow for the dressing to get in every crevice), peppery red onions, and homemade Sourdough Croutons, it’s tossed in a zesty homemade honey Dijon vinaigrette – you gotta try this easy-to-make salad dressing! It’s a versatile salad recipe that’s perfect as a side to a dinner recipe, or add chicken, steak, or additional protein to transform it into a complete meal.

Serve our House Salad as a side to our Creamy Baked Gnocchi with Vodka Sauce, Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese, or Roasted Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons.

Ingredient List​

Salad Ingredients

• Romaine Lettuce: Look for crisp, light green leaves with minimal wilting. Romaine is great for house salads, as it holds up well to being dressed.
• Tomatoes: Very typical for house salads. Look for vine-ripened tomatoes or heirloom tomatoes for the best flavor.
• Cucumbers: English or mini Persian cucumbers. We smash them so they absorb more dressing.
• Red Onions: Provides a little kick without overpowering the rest of the salad.
• Croutons: Use our homemade Sourdough Croutons or storebought. They provide a crunchy texture, and heartiness, and absorb some of the dressing for additional flavor.

Honey Dijon Vinaigrette Ingredients

• Dijon mustard: Essential in homemade salad dressings, as mustard is an emulsifier, ensuring the oil and vinegar don’t separate in the dressing. Dijon provides a nice kick without the tang of yellow mustard.
• White wine vinegar: A flavorful, yet neutral vinegar flavor that is great for everyday salad dressings.
• Honey: Provides sweetness to balance the acidity of the vinegar and bitterness of the olive oil.
• Garlic powder: Gives garlic flavor without the effort of mashing garlic into a paste.
• Italian seasoning: Adds an herbaceous flavor, which to us, makes it more restaurant-like.
• Salt: Sea salt or kosher salt.
• Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper.
• Olive oil: Extra virgin, the best quality available.

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Recipe Steps: How to Make House Salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette​

1. Make the vinaigrette base.

In the base of a medium to large salad bowl, whisk Dijon, vinegar, honey, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.

2. Add the oil.

While continuously whisking, drizzle in the olive oil, to emulsify the dressing recipe, preventing it from separating.

3. Smash the cucumbers (optional).

We love smashing cucumbers before using them in salads. The cracks fill with dressing, adding more flavor.

4. Dress the greens.

Add the greens to the bowl, and give them a quick toss to lightly coat the romaine in the salad dressing.

5. Add the vegetables and toppings.

Arrange the tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and croutons on top of the salad.

6. Season, toss, serve.

Season with additional salt and pepper, then toss again until all ingredients are evenly distributed.

Chef's Tip​

We almost always make our salad dressing in the bottom of the bowl we are serving the salad in. This uses fewer dishes and is a great way to prepare a salad ahead of time - add tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions first, then the lettuce (so it doesn’t get soggy from the dressing), then the croutons. When ready to serve, toss everything together and enjoy.

Additions​

The possibilities for additions to a house salad are endless. Below are some of our favorites.

• Cheese: For us grated cheddar cheese or freshly grated parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano) are our favorite cheeses to add to a house salad.
• Peperoncini: Adds spice, adds acid, completely delicious.
• Avocado: Thinly sliced avocado wedges or cubes are a great addition to make this salad a meal.
• Carrots: Often found in house salads, usually grated.
• Protein: Leftover chicken, cubed, is our typical go-to for adding meat to this salad.
• Seeds: For added texture, flavor, and fat, we often add seeds, such as roasted pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, or sunflower seeds.

Recipe Card​

Print

House Salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette​

Our House Salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette is made with crisp romaine lettuce, vine tomatoes, smashed cucumbers, peppery red onions, and sourdough croutons. Tossed in a zesty homemade honey Dijon vinaigrette, this salad recipe pairs well with most entrees and comes together quickly in less than 10 minutes.
Course Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine Greek Inspired, Italian Inspired, north american
Keyword quick and easy recipe, quick salad, side dish
Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Total Time 10 minutes minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 222kcal
Author Philip Lago and Mystique Mattai

Ingredients​

Dressing​

• 2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ¼ cup olive oil extra virgin
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper

Salad​

• 1 head romaine lettuce halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
• 1 medium English cucumber smashed, then roughly chopped
• 1 large tomato vine-ripened or heirloom variety
• ½ red onion halved and thinly sliced
• 1 cup croutons
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste

Notes​

Scroll up for a visual walkthrough of the recipe. Serve our house salad on the side of Creamy Baked Gnocchi with Spicy Vodka Sauce, Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese, Spicy Meatballs Baked in Tomato Sauce and Mozzarella, or Spaghetti Puttanesca. Chef’s Tip: We almost always make our salad dressing in the bottom of the bowl we are serving the salad in. This uses fewer dishes and is a great way to prepare a salad ahead of time - add tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions first, then the lettuce (so it doesn’t get soggy from the dressing), then the croutons. When ready to serve, toss everything together and enjoy. Additions: The possibilities for additions to our house salad are endless.

• Cheese: For us grated cheddar cheese or freshly grated parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano) are our favorite cheeses to add to a house salad.

• • Peperoncini: Adds spice, adds acid, completely delicious.

• • Avocado: Thinly sliced avocado wedges or cubes are a great addition to make this salad a meal.

• • Carrots: Often found in house salads, usually grated.

• • Protein: Leftover chicken, cubed, is our typical go-to for adding meat to this salad.

• • Seeds: For added texture, flavor, and fat, we often add seeds, such as roasted pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, or sunflower seeds.

Nutrition​

Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 679mg | Potassium: 653mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 14096IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 84mg | Iron: 2mg

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