Best 8 Garden Fresh Chef Salad Recipes

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Creating a garden fresh chef salad is an excellent way to use up all those amazing summer vegetables from your garden. The trick to making a great chef salad is having a variety of ingredients in different colors and tastes. From the basic salad ingredients of crisp romaine lettuce and cherry tomatoes to the more exotic marinated artichoke hearts and tangy gorgonzola cheese, this salad is a flavor explosion that's visually appealing and refreshingly delicious.

Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!

GARDEN FRESH SALAD



Garden Fresh Salad image

New potatoes and fresh green beans make this salad perfect for summer.

Provided by CHEF17411

Categories     Salad     Potato Salad Recipes     Red Potato Salad Recipes

Time 30m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 pound new red potatoes, scrubbed and halved
1 pound new white potatoes, scrubbed and halved
½ pound fresh green beans, trimmed and snapped
½ pound fresh wax beans, trimmed and snapped
½ cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 stalks celery, chopped
⅓ cup chopped fresh dill
salt and pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Place the potatoes into a large pot with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Add the green beans and wax beans during the last 2 minutes to blanch them. Drain, and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Cool before adding to the dressing.
  • In a large bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, mustard, celery, dill, salt, and pepper. Add the cooled potatoes and beans, and stir to coat. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 163 calories, Carbohydrate 22.5 g, Cholesterol 3.5 mg, Fat 7.4 g, Fiber 3.1 g, Protein 2.9 g, SaturatedFat 1.1 g, Sodium 86.4 mg, Sugar 1.7 g

GARDEN-FRESH CHEF SALAD



Garden-Fresh Chef Salad image

For much of the year, I can use my garden's produce when I make this cool salad. In spring, the salad mix and radishes come from my crop. In summer, I use the tomatoes, cabbage and carrots. What a good feeling! -Evelyn Gubernath, Bucyrus, Ohio

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 25m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

6 cups spring mix salad greens
2 medium tomatoes, coarsely chopped
6 hard-boiled large eggs, coarsely chopped
3 slices deli turkey, cut into thin strips
3 slices deli ham, cut into thin strips
1/2 cup shredded cabbage
4 green onions, sliced
4 fresh baby carrots, sliced
4 radishes, thinly sliced
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup reduced-fat Thousand Island salad dressing or dressing of your choice

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, combine the first 9 ingredients. Sprinkle with garlic powder and pepper; toss to coat. Serve with salad dressing.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 171 calories, Fat 9g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 227mg cholesterol, Sodium 508mg sodium, Carbohydrate 11g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 12g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

ALMOST-FAMOUS GARDEN SALAD



Almost-Famous Garden Salad image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 25m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
3 tablespoons Miracle Whip
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1 10-ounce bag American salad blend
1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
4 small pickled peppers, such as pepperoncini
1 small vine-ripened tomato, quartered
2 tablespoons sliced black olives
1/2 cup large croutons
1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Combine all the dressing ingredients and 1 to 2 tablespoons water in a blender or food processor; puree until smooth.
  • Place the salad blend in a large bowl and top with the remaining salad ingredients. Drizzle with the dressing.
  • Photography by Kate Sears

PERFECT GARDEN SALAD



Perfect Garden Salad image

My husband learned to make salad from his mother, so the family has been making salads this way for 50 years. We have this virtually every day. It takes a little practice, because the dressing is made "to taste". If you change type of oil or vinegar, you'll need to experiment a little learn how much to use. Our favorites are olive oil, and balsamic or rice wine vinegars. But other oils and vinegars work too. Parmesan from the can works (and it's what we use for everyday) but fresh grated is even better. Change vegetables to suit your tastes or what's in season. Play with it, and have fun - this is more of a technique than a recipe. For a photo demo, go to http://www.recipezaar.com/bb/viewtopic.zsp?t=301407

Provided by dianegrapegrower

Categories     Low Protein

Time 20m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

1/2 head lettuce (or a combo of iceberg, romaine, butter, spring greens etc)
2 medium tomatoes, diced
1/2 cucumber, peeled as needed and sliced 1/4-inch thick
4 green onions, chopped
1/2 avocado, diced
2 radishes, sliced (optional)
1 celery rib, sliced (optional)
4 mixed mushrooms, sliced (optional)
1 carrot, peeled and diced (optional)
seasoning salt, to taste
seasoned pepper, to taste
garlic powder, to taste
parmesan cheese, grated, to taste
olive oil, to taste
vinegar, to taste

Steps:

  • Tear lettuce into bite sized pieces and wash and dry thoroughly. Place in large salad bowl (wider than it is deep). Top with prepared vegetables.
  • Sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cheese. Go lightly until you learn how much is "to taste" for you.
  • Pour oil over salad, then vinegar. It is important that the oil be first. Quantity requires a bit of practice - go light on the vinegar at first. You can add more if needed. Aim to coat the top layer of vegetables. Toss until well mixed. Taste - add vinegar or oil if needed, and toss again. Do not add dry ingredients (see below). Serve immediately.
  • Note: Your first couple salads may not be perfect. If you find that you didn't add enough salt or pepper, let diners add more as served - you can't get it well dispersed if you add to the salad bowl after the oil and vinegar have been added If you find that you added too much vinegar, a little salt can counteract - again, add as served.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 68.5, Fat 3.9, SaturatedFat 0.6, Sodium 20.6, Carbohydrate 8.3, Fiber 3.6, Sugar 3.1, Protein 2.2

GARDEN FRESH SALAD



Garden Fresh Salad image

Frugal farm women like myself enjoy fixing meals from their own gardens. This is one of the best salads I've ever tried. It tastes like a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich (without the bread)! My whole family loves it.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 15m

Yield 6-8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 bunch leaf lettuce, torn
2 cups packed torn spinach
1 cup cubed part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup sliced celery
6 medium fresh mushrooms, sliced
5 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
1 medium tomato, sliced
DRESSING:
1 cup canola oil
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon ketchup
1/4 teaspoon salt

Steps:

  • In a large salad bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. Chill. Combine dressing ingredients; just before serving, drizzle over salad and toss to coat.

Nutrition Facts :

GARDEN-FRESH CHEF SALAD



Garden-Fresh Chef Salad image

For much of the year, I can use my garden's produce when I make this cool salad. In spring, the salad mix and radishes come from my crop. In summer, I use the tomatoes, cabbage and carrots. What a good feeling! -Evelyn Gubernath, Bucyrus, Ohio

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 25m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

6 cups spring mix salad greens
2 medium tomatoes, coarsely chopped
6 hard-boiled large eggs, coarsely chopped
3 slices deli turkey, cut into thin strips
3 slices deli ham, cut into thin strips
1/2 cup shredded cabbage
4 green onions, sliced
4 fresh baby carrots, sliced
4 radishes, thinly sliced
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup reduced-fat Thousand Island salad dressing or dressing of your choice

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, combine the first 9 ingredients. Sprinkle with garlic powder and pepper; toss to coat. Serve with salad dressing.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 171 calories, Fat 9g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 227mg cholesterol, Sodium 508mg sodium, Carbohydrate 11g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 12g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

CHEF SALAD



Chef Salad image

This salad eats like a full meal and is similar to the one you'd get at a salad bar. Place your toppings in small containers and the leafy greens in a bowl to allow it to be modified to a person's preference.

Provided by thedailygourmet

Categories     Romaine Lettuce Salad

Time 15m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 11

6 ounces romaine lettuce
1 medium head butter lettuce
6 ounces deli turkey, cubed
3 ounces turkey ham, cubed
3 ounces Swiss cheese, julienned
3 ounces Cheddar cheese, julienned
½ cup sliced cherry tomatoes
1 baby cucumber, sliced
½ cup croutons
4 large hard-boiled eggs, quartered
¼ cup ranch dressing, or to taste

Steps:

  • Combine romaine and butter lettuce in a large bowl and tear into bite-sized pieces. Toss to mix.
  • Add turkey, turkey ham, Swiss cheese, Cheddar cheese, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, croutons, and eggs; mix to combine. Drizzle with ranch dressing and toss to combine. Another option is to place all the ingredients into individual dishes to allow guests to customize their chef salads to taste.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 346.6 calories, Carbohydrate 11.7 g, Cholesterol 78.3 mg, Fat 23.1 g, Fiber 2.2 g, Protein 24 g, SaturatedFat 10.3 g, Sodium 1084.9 mg

OLIVE GARDEN FRESH GARDEN SALAD COPYCAT RECIPE



Olive Garden Fresh Garden Salad Copycat Recipe image

All the goodness of Olive Garden Fresh Garden Salad at home! This copycat recipe is so easy and delicious!

Provided by Camille Beckstrand

Categories     Salad

Time 5m

Number Of Ingredients 17

12 ounces American Salad Blend ((1 bag, I use Dole brand))
⅓ red onion (sliced)
12-15 black olives ((more or less, Olive Garden doesn't use too many, but you can add as many as you want))
2-4 whole banana peppers
½ cup croutons
1 tomato (quartered, (you can cut into smaller pieces if you prefer))
freshly grated parmesan cheese (for topping)
½ cup mayonnaise
⅓ cup white vinegar
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
2 Tablespoons corn syrup
2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese
2 Tablespoons Romano cheese
¼ teaspoon garlic salt ((or one clove garlic minced))
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon parsley flakes
1 Tablespoon lemon juice

Steps:

  • Place bag of salad in a large bowl.
  • Place red onion, black olives, banana peppers, tomatoes, and croutons on top of salad. Add some freshly grated Parmesan cheese if you like, and add plenty of Olive Garden salad dressing on top. You can add more or less of each ingredient depending on your preference.
  • Blend all ingredients together and chill until ready to use. The dressing will be more of a white color, but will taste very similar to Olive Garden's House Dressing.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 164 kcal, Carbohydrate 17 g, Protein 3 g, Fat 10 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, TransFat 0.01 g, Cholesterol 9 mg, Sodium 670 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 11 g, UnsaturatedFat 7 g, ServingSize 1 serving

Tips:

  • To maintain freshness, store the Fresh Chef Salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Feel free to customize the salad by adding or removing ingredients based on your preferences. For instance, you can add cherry tomatoes, croutons, or avocado slices.
  • If you're following a vegan diet, substitute the feta cheese with a plant-based alternative like crumbled tofu or nutritional yeast.
  • To enhance the dressing's flavor, use freshly squeezed lemon juice and zest.
  • For a more substantial salad, add cooked protein such as grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu.

Conclusion:

This Fresh Chef Salad is a vibrant, flavorful, and nutritious meal that is perfect for lunch, dinner, or a light snack. With its colorful mix of fresh vegetables, tangy dressing, and optional protein, this salad offers a well-balanced and delicious option for health-conscious individuals. The combination of flavors and textures creates a satisfying and refreshing dish that is sure to please your taste buds and keep you feeling energized. So, gather your ingredients, follow the simple steps, and indulge in the goodness of this delightful Fresh Chef Salad. Happy eating!

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