Perfectly Balanced Salad for Your Spring Meal

Today’s recipe focuses on a light yet nutritious salad that can be served as both a meal or a side dish. This perfectly balanced salad combines fresh vegetables with a simple dressing, offering a refreshing option during the warmer months. Perfectly Balanced Salad is not only delicious but also packed with essential vitamins and minerals.

Cooking time: Approximately 20 minutes

Number of servings: 4 generous portions

Ingredients:

• 4 cups mixed greens (lettuce, spinach, arugula)
• 1 medium cucumber, sliced into rounds
• 1 ripe avocado, peeled and cubed
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Salt to taste (optional)
• Freshly ground black pepper (optional)
• Optional garnish: 1 teaspoon sesame seeds or a few chopped green onions

Preparation Method:

1. Begin by washing all the vegetables thoroughly under cold water. Dry them with a clean kitchen towel to prevent any moisture from affecting the dressing.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the mixed greens, cucumber slices, and cubed avocado. Gently toss these ingredients together until they are well distributed within the salad mixture.
3. Next, add in the cherry tomatoes, which have already been halved if purchased whole. Toss again to ensure all components of your salad blend harmoniously.
4. While you prepare the dressing separately; mix 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice together in a small bowl. Taste it and adjust with salt or pepper according to personal preference.
5. Once you have prepared both the main salad components and dressing, gently fold the dressed ingredients into your salad mixture until everything is coated evenly with the oil and citrus flavors.
6. For an extra touch of flavor and texture, consider adding sesame seeds or finely chopped green onions on top as a garnish. These additions will add a nutty crunch to this already refreshing dish.
7. Your perfectly balanced springtime salad is now ready to be served cold from the refrigerator!

Benefits & Nutritional Value:

The Perfectly Balanced Salad contains no cholesterol, and it also contributes towards meeting daily nutritional requirements due to its rich content of various essential nutrients. The combination of leafy greens provides numerous health benefits including improved digestion through fiber intake, enhanced bone density with calcium absorption support, as well as reduced risks associated with certain types of cancers thanks to antioxidants present in vegetables like spinach.

Cucumber helps cool down the body during hot weather conditions by hydrating it effectively. Additionally, avocados contribute healthy fats which are crucial for brain development and maintenance of heart health while tomatoes contain lycopene – an antioxidant that can help protect against cell damage caused by free radicals.

Tips for Serving:

• If you prefer to save some time during preparation, consider purchasing pre-washed lettuce mixes or precut vegetables whenever possible. This makes setting up the salad quicker and easier without compromising on quality.
• For extra flavor depth when tossing together your dressing, try adding a pinch of sugar along with salt; this helps balance out acidity from lemon juice nicely while enhancing overall taste sensations without changing texture negatively.
• To make the meal more substantial for lunch or dinner, consider serving it alongside grilled chicken breast or salmon fillets. This would create a hearty main course suitable enough to satisfy even the most ravenous appetite!

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p>This perfectly balanced salad is a delightful choice for those who seek something nutritious yet simple in their daily diet choices. Enjoy creating this refreshing dish and share its benefits with friends and family members alike!