Mix Vegetable Salad_Healthy Salad Recipe

Mix Vegetable Salad is a healthy and delicious salad that you can customize with your favorite vegetables and dressings. Here's a basic recipe to get you started, but feel free to add or substitute ingredients according to your taste and dietary preferences.

**Ingredients:**

For the Salad:
- 2 cups mixed greens (e.g., lettuce, spinach, arugula)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cucumber, sliced
- 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup sliced carrots
- 1/2 cup sliced radishes
- 1/2 cup broccoli florets (blanched)
- 1/2 cup cauliflower florets (blanched)
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional)
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
- 1/4 cup toasted nuts or seeds (e.g., almonds, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds)
- Fresh herbs for garnish (e.g., parsley, cilantro, or basil)

For the Dressing:
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar or lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste

**Instructions:**

1. Start by preparing your vegetables. Wash them thoroughly and chop or slice as needed. If you want a more tender texture for the broccoli and cauliflower, you can blanch them in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, then transfer them to ice water to cool quickly.

2. In a large salad bowl, combine all the vegetables, including the mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, red onion, carrots, radishes, and blanched broccoli and cauliflower.

3. If you're using black olives, feta cheese, or toasted nuts/seeds, add them to the bowl.

4. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the dressing ingredients: olive oil, balsamic vinegar (or lemon juice), Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Adjust the seasoning to taste.

5. Drizzle the dressing over the salad. Start with a small amount, toss the salad, and add more dressing as needed. Remember that you can always add more dressing later, but it's hard to take it away if you add too much at once.

6. Gently toss the salad to coat all the vegetables evenly with the dressing.

7. Garnish your mix vegetable salad with fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, or basil for a burst of flavor and color.

8. Serve the salad immediately as a side dish or as a light and healthy meal on its own. Enjoy!

Feel free to get creative with your mix vegetable salad by adding grilled chicken, shrimp, tofu, or other protein sources if you'd like to make it a heartier meal. This salad is versatile and can be adapted to your taste preferences and dietary needs.