Simple, healthy, delicious & beautiful. Believe it or not you can absolutely create this amazing looking salad in about 20 minutes (your first time might be a little longer). Your guests will think you spent hours putting this together and they will be wowed!
3 -4cupsof Spring Mix or your choice of baby lettuces
12Strawberries cored and cut into slices
2Cucumber thinly sliced lengthwise until seeds begin to show - do not use the core - I use a mandolin to make this super easy
1/4cupsliced almonds
1Tomato thinly sliced
1/4small red onion
For the dressing
1clovegarlic - finely chopped
2tablespoonsDijon Mustard
1/4cupchampagne vinegar
2tablespoonsfresh lemon juice
2tablespoonshoney
2or 3 dashes hot sauce
1/2teaspoonsalt
1/2teaspoonfreshly ground black pepper
1/2cupextra virgin olive oil
Instructions
To assemble the salad:
You'll be plating this as you go so grab 4 salad plates and let's get started putting this together.
Arrange 4 thinly sliced tomatoes on the plate.
On top of tomato slices create round rings with the cucumber slices Making sure they overlap about an inch so you can tick and end inside to keep them together - you'll probably use 2 or 3 slices per ring depending on the size of salad you want to serve. Tip: if you are having trouble keeping the cucumber rounds together, don't stress - just use a toothpick. Make sure you warn your guests
Mound baby lettuces inside cucumber ring
Arrange sliced strawberries
Add Almond Slices
Drizzle dressing over salad.
Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Tip: While this is an impressive presentation sure to make your guests say "Wow!" to takes just as good if you throw everything in a bowl and serve like any other salad. Remember - this is about casual, low stress entertaining. So make it easy on yourself.
For the Dressing:
If you have a food processor or blender you can combine all the ingredients in a blender or a food processor and puree until smooth.
Alternatively, whisk together all ingredients except the oil in a medium sized bowl or small dressing bottle add oil slowly until well combined. For the bottle method you just shake to combine.
Notes
No Stress Tip: While this is an impressive presentation sure to make your guests say "Wow!" it tastes just as good if you throw everything in a bowl and serve like any other salad. Remember - this is about casual, low stress entertaining. So make it easy on yourself.