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Summer Chopped Salad with Creamy Herb Dressing

May 29, 2020 By Kaitlin McGinn Leave a Comment

Garden-fresh summer salad tossed in a deliciously creamy herb dressing! Plus super easy to customize with your own favorite vegetable combos. (Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free)

Plate of summer chopped salad tossed in creamy herb dressing

This nutrient-packed summer salad is bursting with bright colors and fresh garden flavors.

It’s an adaption of the Southwestern Chopped Salad with Cilantro-Lime Dressing that we simply adore.

Chopped ingredients for summer salad in a bowl

Ingredients for Summer Salad

  • Romaine (or mixed greens of choice)
  • Cucumber
  • Orange bell pepper
  • Grape tomatoes (or cherry, roma, etc.)
  • Red onion (or green for milder flavor)
  • Sweet corn

However this recipe is highly customizable. I encourage you to modify it based on your own favorites or what’s available in your area. (We love our local food co-op and farmer’s market for fresh produce.) Seeds, beans, and sprouts are also lovely additions.

Creamy vegan garden herb dressing in a jar

Creamy Garden Herb Dressing

The star of the show is the creamy herb dressing. It’s oil-free, slightly tangy, and packed with so much flavor. For the dressing recipe, you’ll need:

  • Avocado
  • Fresh parsley
  • Fresh basil
  • Lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
  • Garlic
  • White wine vinegar
  • Agave
  • Salt
Vegan summer chopped salad tossed with herb dressing on a plate with spoon
Plate of summer chopped salad tossed in creamy herb dressing
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4.8 from 5 votes

Summer Chopped Salad with Creamy Herb Dressing

Garden-fresh summer salad tossed in a deliciously creamy herb dressing! Plus super easy to customize with your own favorite veggie combos.
AuthorKaitlin – The Garden Grazer
Prep Time25 mins
Total Time25 mins
CategoryMain Dish, Salad, Side Dish
CuisineGluten-Free, Oil-Free, Vegan
Servings4 medium bowls

Ingredients

US Customary – Metric
  • 1 large head romaine (or other mixed greens of choice)
  • 1 cucumber
  • 1 orange bell pepper (or carrot)
  • 6 oz. grape tomatoes
  • 1/3 cup red onion (or green onion for milder flavor)
  • 1 1/2 cups cooked sweet corn
  • Optional additions: garbanzo beans, sugar snap peas, sprouts, purple cabbage, sunflower seeds, etc.

For the Creamy Garden Herb Dressing:

  • 1 small avocado (or 1/2 large)
  • 1/3 cup fresh parsley (thick stems removed)
  • 1/3 cup fresh basil (stems removed)
  • 3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon, or more to taste)
  • 1-2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 1/2 tsp. white wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp. agave (or other sweetener)
  • 1/8 tsp. salt (more to taste)
  • 3 Tbsp. water to thin (more as needed to desired consistency)
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Instructions

MAKE THE DRESSING:

  • Puree all dressing ingredients in a small food processor or blender until smooth (scraping down sides with spatula as needed.)
  • Add more water if needed, a little at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. (More salt, lemon juice, sweetener, etc.)

PREPARE THE SALAD:

  • Roughly chop romaine and place in a large bowl.
  • Dice cucumber and bell pepper. Halve/quarter tomatoes. Finely dice red onion. Add to bowl.
  • Add corn to bowl. Then pour desired amount of dressing over top and toss well to combine. (Alternatively, you can store salad and dressing in separate containers in the fridge until ready to serve.)

Notes

Can also serve about 6 as a small side dish.
This salad is incredibly versatile – have fun trying out your own favorite veggie combinations. (We love adding garbanzos and clover sprouts.)
Try it with grilled or fire-roasted corn for added flavor!

Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)

Calories: 179 kcalCarbohydrates: 26 gProtein: 5 gFat: 9 gSaturated Fat: 1 gPotassium: 715 mgFiber: 7 gSugar: 8 gVitamin A: 2701 IUVitamin C: 69 mgCalcium: 37 mgIron: 1 mg
Did you make this recipe?Please leave a star rating or comment below.
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vegan summer chopped salad photo collage

Enjoying this summer salad? Also check out:

  • Vegan Italian Pasta Salad
  • Berry Crunch Salad

Come join The Garden Grazer on Instagram and then share a photo if you make or adapt this! (Also please leave a review & star rating below if you give it a try – your feedback is always very appreciated. Thank you!)

Filed Under: 30 Minutes or Less, Gluten-Free, Main Dish, Recipe, Salad, Sides, Vegan, WFPBNO Tagged With: avocado, basil, bell pepper, corn, cucumber, family-friendly, lemon, onion, parsley, picnic, potluck, romaine, summer, tomato

Previous Post: « Creamy Garden Herb Dressing (Vegan, Oil-Free)
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Hi, I'm Kaitlin! I share easy vegan recipes that are mostly whole food, plant-based, oil-free, & gluten-free. Learn More About Me →

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