This light salad is a refreshing and vibrant dish, perfect for a quick lunch or a side at dinner. Combining crisp mixed greens with juicy cherry tomatoes and crunchy cucumber, it offers a delightful mix of textures and flavors. The addition of tangy feta cheese and a zesty lemon juice dressing elevates the taste, making it a satisfying yet healthy choice. It's an easy-to-make recipe that brings a burst of freshness to your table.
Most of the ingredients in this salad are commonly found in grocery stores. However, if you don't regularly stock feta cheese, you might need to look for it in the dairy section, often near specialty cheeses. Mixed greens can be found in the produce section, usually pre-packaged for convenience. Ensure you have fresh lemon juice for the dressing, as it significantly enhances the salad's flavor.

Ingredients For Light Salad Recipe
Mixed greens: A blend of leafy greens that provide a fresh and crisp base for the salad.
Cherry tomatoes: Small, sweet tomatoes that add a burst of juiciness and color.
Cucumber: Cool and crunchy, it adds texture and a refreshing taste.
Red onion: Thinly sliced for a mild, sharp flavor that complements the other ingredients.
Feta cheese: A crumbly, tangy cheese that adds richness and depth to the salad.
Olive oil: A smooth, healthy oil used to create the salad dressing.
Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed for a bright, zesty flavor in the dressing.
Salt: Enhances the flavors of the salad ingredients.
Black pepper: Adds a hint of spice and depth to the dressing.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
To enhance the flavor of your salad, consider marinating the red onion slices in the lemon juice for about 10 minutes before adding them to the mixed greens. This will mellow the sharpness of the onion and infuse a subtle citrus note throughout the salad.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
mixed greens - Substitute with baby spinach: Baby spinach provides a similar texture and nutritional profile, making it a great alternative for a fresh and light salad base.
cherry tomatoes - Substitute with grape tomatoes: Grape tomatoes are slightly sweeter and have a firmer texture, which can add a different flavor dimension to the salad.
sliced cucumber - Substitute with zucchini ribbons: Zucchini ribbons offer a similar crunch and freshness, while adding a slightly different flavor that complements the other ingredients.
red onion - Substitute with shallots: Shallots have a milder and sweeter taste compared to red onions, which can provide a more subtle onion flavor in the salad.
feta cheese - Substitute with goat cheese: Goat cheese has a creamy texture and tangy flavor that can enhance the salad while maintaining a similar crumbly consistency.
olive oil - Substitute with avocado oil: Avocado oil has a mild flavor and high smoke point, making it a suitable alternative for dressings while providing healthy fats.
lemon juice - Substitute with lime juice: Lime juice offers a similar acidity and citrus flavor, adding a refreshing twist to the salad dressing.
salt - Substitute with sea salt: Sea salt can provide a more complex flavor profile and is often less processed than regular table salt.
black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper has a milder flavor and can add a subtle heat without altering the color of the salad.
Other Alternative Recipes to Try
How to Store or Freeze This Salad
To keep your light salad fresh and crisp, store it in an airtight container. This will help maintain the vibrant colors and flavors of the mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber.
If you're planning to enjoy the salad later, consider storing the dressing separately. This prevents the mixed greens from becoming soggy. Simply whisk the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper together and keep it in a small jar or container.
For optimal freshness, consume the salad within 2-3 days. The feta cheese may start to lose its texture after this period, and the red onion might become overpowering.
If you're considering freezing, note that fresh vegetables like mixed greens and cucumber do not freeze well due to their high water content. They tend to become mushy upon thawing, which can affect the overall texture of your salad.
However, if you must freeze, you can freeze the dressing separately. Pour it into an ice cube tray, freeze until solid, then transfer the cubes to a freezer bag. This way, you can defrost just the right amount of dressing when needed.
When ready to serve, allow the dressing to thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature. Toss it with freshly prepared vegetables for a quick and easy meal.
Remember, the key to a delightful light salad is its freshness. So, enjoy it at its best by following these simple storage tips.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Gently warm the feta cheese separately: If you prefer your feta cheese slightly warm, place it in a small oven-safe dish and warm it in the oven at a low temperature (around 200°F or 93°C) for a few minutes. This will soften the cheese without melting it completely.
Refresh the mixed greens: If the mixed greens have wilted, give them a quick ice bath. Fill a bowl with ice water and submerge the mixed greens for a few minutes. Drain and pat dry with a paper towel to restore their crispness.
Warm the cherry tomatoes and cucumber: For a slightly different texture, you can lightly sauté the cherry tomatoes and cucumber in a pan with a touch of olive oil. This will bring out their natural sweetness and add a warm element to your salad.
Re-toss with fresh dressing: Prepare a fresh batch of the olive oil and lemon juice dressing. Toss the salad again with this fresh dressing to revive the flavors and add a zesty kick.
Serve with a warm side: If you prefer not to heat the salad itself, consider serving it alongside a warm dish, such as grilled chicken or roasted vegetables, to create a delightful contrast between the warm and cool elements.
Essential Tools for This Recipe
Mixing bowl: A large bowl used to combine the salad ingredients like mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and feta cheese.
Small bowl: A smaller bowl used to whisk together the dressing ingredients such as olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper.
Whisk: A tool used to blend the dressing ingredients smoothly in the small bowl.
Salad tongs: Used to gently toss the salad with the dressing, ensuring all ingredients are evenly coated.
Knife: Essential for slicing the cucumber and halving the cherry tomatoes.
Cutting board: Provides a stable surface for safely cutting the vegetables.
Measuring cups: Used to accurately measure the mixed greens and cherry tomatoes.
Measuring spoons: Used to measure the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper precisely.
How to Save Time on Preparation
Prep ingredients in advance: Wash and chop mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber ahead of time. Store them in airtight containers in the fridge.
Use pre-crumbled cheese: Save time by buying pre-crumbled feta cheese instead of crumbling it yourself.
Make dressing in bulk: Whisk together a larger batch of olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. Store in a jar for quick use.
Invest in a salad spinner: Quickly dry your mixed greens after washing to ensure they stay crisp and fresh.

Light Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups Mixed Greens
- 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes halved
- 1 cup Cucumber sliced
- ¼ cup Red Onion thinly sliced
- ¼ cup Feta Cheese crumbled
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice freshly squeezed
- 1 teaspoon Salt to taste
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper freshly ground
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and feta cheese.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
- Serve immediately.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
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