Restaurant-Style Salad

Ingredients

• 1 Romaine lettuce (Washed, sanitized, and torn into pieces)
• 0.5 Cucumber (Cut into half-moons)
• 200 g Cherry tomatoes (Halved)
• 1 Carrot (Grated or cut into thin strips)
• 0.25 Red onion (Thinly sliced)
• 0.5 cup Croutons (Preferably toasted)
• 3 tbsp Olive oil (For the vinaigrette)
• 1 tbsp Red wine vinegar (May be substituted with lemon juice)
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard (To emulsify the vinaigrette)
• 1 clove Garlic (Finely chopped or grated)
• Salt (To taste)
• Black pepper (Freshly ground, to taste)

Steps

1. 1

   Wash and sanitize the lettuce and vegetables. Dry them very well, ideally with a salad spinner or kitchen towels; removing excess water helps the dressing adhere instead of becoming diluted.

2. 2

   Tear the lettuce and cut the cucumber, tomatoes, carrot, and onion. Keep the vegetables chilled while you prepare the rest.

3. 3

   Place the olive oil, vinegar, mustard, and garlic in a jar with a lid. Add salt and pepper to taste.

4. 4

   Close the jar and shake vigorously for 15 to 20 seconds, until the vinaigrette looks slightly thickened and homogeneous.

5. 5

   Toast the croutons in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until golden and crisp. Let them cool for a few minutes.

6. 6

   Place the lettuce and vegetables in a large bowl. Pour in only enough vinaigrette to lightly coat them.

7. 7

   Toss the salad with tongs or clean hands, lifting the ingredients from the bottom to distribute the dressing without crushing the leaves.

8. 8

   Add the croutons just before serving to preserve their crisp texture. Taste and adjust the salt, pepper, or vinaigrette.

Notes

No transcription, comments, or recipe text were provided in the source; therefore, the quantities and instructions are an approximate reconstruction based solely on the title and common techniques for making a restaurant-style salad. For best results, dry the leaves completely, chill the ingredients, and dress the salad just before serving.

Nutrition per serving

• salad
• side dish
• vegetarian
• fresh
• crisp
• meat-free
• quick
• vinaigrette