Save to Pinterest I stumbled on this combination during a particularly hot July when cooking felt impossible. My apartment had no AC, and I lived on things that required zero heat. This salad started as a cleaning-out-the-fridge situation and ended up being the lunch I made three times that week.
My roommate kept walking through the kitchen asking what smelled so bright. Turns out it was just lemon and olive oil, but something about the proportions here makes the dressing sing. We ate it on the fire escape with wine and agreed it tasted like something wed pay twenty dollars for at a café.
Ingredients
- Romaine lettuce: Stays crunchy longer than other greens and holds up to dressing without wilting
- Cucumber: Thin slices are key here they curl slightly and add refreshing water content
- Sweet bell pepper: Red or yellow brings natural sweetness that balances the tangy feta
- Feta cheese: Creamy salty pockets that make simple vegetables feel special
- Extra-virgin olive oil: Use something you like the taste of since it shines through
- Fresh lemon juice: Brightens everything and cuts through the richness of the cheese
- Dijon mustard: Emulsifies the dressing so it coats every leaf evenly
- Honey: Just a hint rounds out the acidity and balances the peppers sweetness
Instructions
- Whisk the dressing:
- Combine olive oil lemon juice Dijon honey salt and pepper in a small bowl until the mixture thickens slightly and turns opaque
- Prep the vegetables:
- Chop the romaine into bite sized pieces slice the cucumber as thin as you can and cut the bell pepper into strips
- Combine the crunch:
- Add all the vegetables to a large bowl and toss them gently with your hands to distribute everything evenly
- Dress it up:
- Drizzle about three quarters of the dressing over the salad and toss again then add more if the leaves seem dry
- Finish with feta:
- Sprinkle the crumbled cheese over the top so some stays in larger clumps for those perfect salty bites
Save to Pinterest This became my go to for impromptu porch hangouts that summer. Someone would show up unexpectedly and Id throw this together while we caught up about our days. It never failed to make the moment feel intentional.
Making It Your Own
The base formula is crunchy vegetables plus creamy cheese plus bright dressing and you can swap any element. Ive tried this with mixed greens when I was out of romaine and it worked just needed a lighter hand with the dressing.
Adding Protein
Chickpeas turn this into a proper meal and their creaminess plays nicely with the feta. Grilled chicken or shrimp work too but keep seasonings simple so you dont compete with the lemony dressing.
Timing Is Everything
The magic happens in the first five minutes after dressing so have your plates ready and people at the table. This salad waits for no one but thats kind of what makes it feel like such a treat.
- Toast some nuts or seeds if you want extra crunch and sprinkle them right before serving
- Avocado works beautifully here add it sliced right after tossing so it does not get mashed
- Leftover dressing keeps in the fridge for a week and is great on grain bowls too
Save to Pinterest Simple food hit different when you take the time to do each step with care. This salad taught me that fresh ingredients and a good dressing are sometimes all you need.