Why Make This Recipe?
When it comes to easy side dishes, I think we can all agree that simple spring green salad recipes can’t be beaten. Effortless to make and easy to pair, this salad recipe is worthy of putting on the weekly rotation.
- You can whip up this recipe for spring mix salad in just 15 minutes. With zero cooking and all-fresh ingredients, this dish might be the easiest recipe you’ll ever make.
- Spring salad mix recipes are some of the most customizable sides out there. You won’t believe how many add-ins, salad dressings, and mixes there are to try.
- This easy salad goes with everything—from gooey pasta dishes to grilled shrimp kabobs—making it the perfect side salad.
What is in this Recipe?
My spring mix salad ingredients are among the freshest and most nutritious of any spring blend salad out there. Simply gather red onion, spring mix, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, radish, sunflower seeds, and goat cheese.
For the Lemon Balsamic Dressing, you’ll need balsamic vinegar, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, and extra virgin olive oil.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Salad dressings: In my opinion, Lemon Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing is the best dressing for spring mix. However, if you want to change which spring mix salad dressing you use, Lemon Vinaigrette and Maple Dijon Vinaigrette are tasty options.
- Cheese: Add an irresistible creaminess to your spring greens salad by topping it off with crumbled goat cheese, feta cheese, or even fresh mozzarella.
- Seeds and nuts: Though I use sunflower seeds in my spring green mix salad, you can also use pumpkin seeds, walnuts, pecans, and sliced almonds to give it a satisfying crunch. You can even opt for candied walnuts, candied pecans, or toasted almonds for extra-sumptuous flavor.
- Maple syrup or honey: Want to give your spring green mix salad a delicious hint of sweetness? Simply add a teaspoon of maple syrup or honey to your tangy vinaigrette.
How to Make It
In less than 15 minutes and only four steps, this baby spring mix salad recipe comes together like magic! Even beginner chefs can make this garden-fresh side like a pro.
- Mix the dressing: Mix together the salad dressing ingredients in a small bowl.
- Soak the red onion: Fill a bowl with hot tap water and submerge your sliced red onion. Let the onion sit for a few minutes before draining.
- Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, add the spring mix, cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, and red onion slices. Then, drizzle the mixture with dressing and toss to combine.
- Garnish: Top off your salad with sunflower seeds and crumbled goat cheese. Serve.
How to Make Ahead and Store It
My spring mix salad recipe makes meal prep a piece of cake. Prepare each component of this easy recipe ahead of time, and it’ll be ready to serve in mere minutes.
- Make ahead: To make this recipe in advance, prepare the vinaigrette dressing and salad ingredients and store them in separate, airtight containers for up to 2 days. Then, assemble your fresh spring blend salad right before serving.
- Storage: Once prepared, this salad will stay fresh in an airtight container for up to 1 day. However, keep in mind that as it sits it will get soggy and the lettuce greens will wilt.
Variations
One of my favorite parts about this nutritious side is how versatile it is. From filling add-ins to veggie substitutes, there’s no “wrong” way to build this delicious spring salad mix recipe.
- Summer spring mix salad: Put a summery spin on your spring mix salad greens by adding other fresh vegetables, like blanched peas, roasted shiitake mushrooms or asparagus. Baked, air-fried, and even sauteed asparagus will add mouthwatering flavor to this tasty salad.
- Spring mix salad with fruit: Nothing tastes better with salad than tart, juicy fruit. Make this salad with blueberry and goat cheese similar to my Spinach Blueberry Salad.
- Spring mix and baby spinach salad recipe: If the lettuce in your spring mix doesn’t include spinach, why not add some yourself? Make this nutritious recipe even healthier by mixing in a cup of fresh baby spinach for your own spinach and spring mix.
- Make it a meal-worthy salad with adding a grain: For spring mix salad recipe ideas that work as a main dish, Quinoa Salads are the way to go! Simply add a cup of cooked quinoa, bulgur, wild rice, or even black rice to this combination salad to make it a complete meal.
- Spring Mix Salad with Avocado: Make this spring mix salad recipe with feta extra luxurious by topping it off with creamy, nutritious avocado. While you are add it, if you have some, add in some fresh herbs in there too.
What to Serve it With
Spring mix salads make a vibrant pair with dozens of main courses. In fact, baby greens are the perfect side for nearly any chicken, beef, or seafood recipe! Find my favorite pairings below.
Expert Tips
Healthy spring mix salad recipes are a cinch to make when you have these tricks on hand. Now you can cut down on prep time and make this delicious salad like a five-star chef.
- Soak the red onion: If the raw red onion is too strong for your taste, you’re not alone. Soaking your red onion slices in hot tap water before adding them to the salad will help reduce their pungency. However, you can skip this step if you are short on time.
- Make the dressing ahead of time: Cut your cooking time in half by preparing your dressing in advance. Simply store your prepared dressing in an airtight container and assemble the salad right before eating.
- Buy prewashed spring mix: Eliminate unnecessary prep time by purchasing a prewashed spring mix.
FAQs
No guesswork is necessary for this simple salad recipe. Whether you want to know if spring mix comes without spinach or how to keep your salad fresh, this FAQ section is for you.
Though brands vary, the types of lettuce in spring mix generally include baby lettuce and spinach. Other spring mix greens may consist of romaine, oak leaf, chard, arugula, endive, and radicchio.
This purple lettuce is usually radicchio, red romaine lettuce, or red oak leaf lettuce.
No, you can consume prewashed spring mix right away. Washing prewashed lettuce can actually introduce new bacteria from your kitchen to the mix.
Yes! These leafy greens are both low-calorie and nutrient-dense. They even promote bone strength, reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s, and support a healthy heart.
For best results, toss in your dressing right before serving. The leaves in spring mix are so delicate that too much time in the dressing will turn them soggy.
Though many spring mixes contain spinach, some don’t. Therefore, I recommend checking your bag of spring mix to see if it comes without spinach.
Similar Recipes You Might Also Like:
Below are a few of the most popular green salad recipes on the blog:
- Classic Caesar Salad
- Roasted Pear Salad
- Kale and Avocado Salad
- Kale Apple Slaw
- Need more inspiration? Check out all our salad recipes.
With so many spring mix salad ideas on the internet, I hope you give this quick, easy, and absolutely delicious recipe a try. If you end up making it please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. And if you took some pictures, be sure to share them on Instagram using #foolproofeats so I can share them on my stories.
Spring Mix Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Salad Dressing
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic , peeled and minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
For The Salad
- ½ red onion, sliced thinly
- 1 package spring mix, 5oz.
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
- 1 medium-size cucumber, peeled and sliced
- 2 – 3 small radishes, sliced
- ½ cup sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, or sliced almonds
- ½ cup crumbled goat cheese , or crumbled feta cheese – omit for vegan
Instructions
- Mix together the salad dressing ingredients in a bowl.
- Place sliced red onion in a bowl with hot tap water and let it sit for a few minutes. Drain.
- To assemble the salad, in a large bowl place spring mix, cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, and red onion slices. Drizzle with the dressing and give it a gentle toss to make sure all the ingredients are coated with the dressing.
- Top it off with the sunflower seeds and crumbled goat cheese. Serve.
Notes
- Salad dressing: In this recipe, I used my lemon balsamic dressing. However, you can also use my Lemon Salad Dressing or Maple Dijon Vinaigrette.
- Make-ahead instructions: To make this recipe in advance, prepare the vinaigrette dressing and salad ingredients and store them in separate, airtight containers for up to 2 days. Then, assemble your fresh spring blend salad right before serving.
- Storage: Once prepared, this salad will stay fresh in an airtight container for up to 1 day. However, keep in mind that as it sits it will get soggy and the lettuce greens will wilt.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
