My Favorite House Salad

This nourishing House Salad recipe is one of my favorite tossed salad recipes to make! It’s crowded with immune boosting foods like asparagus, beets, peas, blueberries, avocado, tomatoes, cucumber, with added chickpeas and Marcona almonds to make it meal-worthy.

One of the things I really love about making this salad is that I can prep the ingredients ahead of time.  The beets, asparagus and peas are lightly steamed, so I can prep them then chill them in the refrigerator until I’m ready to pull the salad together.  As for the vinaigrette recipe, it’s a simple one to make and it comes together in a pinch.

This delicious salad features healthy whole foods that are rich with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber and plant protein.  You’ll want to add this recipe to your daily wellness plan to boost your immunity, protect your heart and aid with weight loss goals. 

What is a House Salad

A house salad, specifically at a restaurant, is is their signature salad that they’re known for.  I’ve made this gorgeous salad so many times over the years for family and friends, that it has become my house salad.

House Salad Recipe

Here’s the list of salad ingredients that you’ll need to make this delicious and super healthy house salad recipe:

• Lettuce – I use Romaine lettuce for this salad, but you could use a spring mix if you prefer.  
• Beets – We peel and cut the beets into little cubes then the cubed pieces are steamed until they’re fork tender.
• Asparagus – Asparagus makes a delicious and nutritious addition to this salad
• Peas – We toss in some lightly steamed frozen peas to this salad.
• Cucumber – You can use English cucumber, Persian or garden cucumber for this salad. The skin on garden cucumbers are thicker and more bitter, so you’ll want to peel them and remove the seeds using a spoon if you add them to this salad. 
• Blueberries – Blueberries adds flavor and a lot of nutrition to this healthy salad.
• Cooked chickpeas –  You can use canned chickpeas or these homemade chickpeas for this recipe.
• Avocado – Ripe avocado adds delicious flavor and good fats to this salad. 
• Marcona almonds – I love to add Marcona almonds to salads. Sliced almonds or pistachios will work as well.
• Herb Vinaigrette – We toss this salad with a homemade herb vinaigrette.

Find the printable recipe with measurements below.

Variations

This house salad recipe is already chock full of healthy ingredients. But if you’re looking for a few variations to work with, here’s a few ideas.

• Corn (fresh or frozen) – add corn in addition to or instead of peas
• Broccoli or shaved Brussels sprouts – the asparagus works really well in this salad, but you can sub it with broccoli or Brussels sprouts if you prefer
• Crumbled hardboiled egg – adding crumbled hardboiled egg adds protein and makes this salad a little more substantial and filling
• Grapes instead of blueberries – I love the blueberries in this salad, but grapes make a delicious sweet addition as well
• Regular almonds, macadamia nuts or pecans instead of Marcona almonds – I love Marcona almonds, but feel free to add regular almonds, macadamia nuts or pecans instead
• Citrus vinaigrette instead of herb vinaigrette – I’ve tossed this house salad with my citrus vinaigrette and the hint of orange adds a nice pop of flavor to this salad

Herb Vinaigrette

This simple herb vinaigrette comes together in a pinch. It’s made with fresh herbs that gives this house salad a delicious pop of flavor!

• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Lemon juice
• Dijon mustard
• Garlic 
• Fresh herbs 

How to Make House Salad

This tossed salad recipe can feed 4-6 if serving as a salad main, or 6-8 if serving as a starter salad.

• Make dressing:  Put the olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic and chopped herbs in a mason jar and seal the lid.  Shake well.  You can also add the ingredients to a blender and pulse a few times to blend.
• Steam asparagus, beets and peas:  Remove woody ends of asparagus and steam in a steamer on the stovetop.  Separately steam the beets and then the peas.
• Chop lettuce and cucumber:  Chop lettuce and place in salad spinner colander and rinse under cold water then spin to dry.  Add lettuce and chopped cucumber to large bowl.  
• Toss ingredients:  Add chopped avocado, asparagus, beets, peas, chickpeas, almonds, cucumber and tomato to lettuce and toss.  Drizzle about 1/4 – 1/2 cup mixed dressing over the ingredients and lightly toss again.  

How to Cook Fresh Asparagus

Trim the woody tough ends off of the asparagus.  Cut the asparagus spears in half.  Place asparagus in a steamer basket set inside a saucepan filled with 2 inches of water.  Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a low simmer.  Cover saucepan with lid and steam for about 5-7 minutes (depending on thickness of asparagus spears) or until the asparagus is barely fork tender.  Stop the asparagus from cooking further by placing in a bowl with ice, or place in a bowl and set in the freezer for a minute or two.

How to Cook Fresh Beets

Cut the beet stems away and discard.  Place beets in a steamer basket set inside a saucepan filled with 2 inches of water.  Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a low simmer.  Cover saucepan with lid and steam for about 20 minutes or until beets are fork tender.  Cool beets then using a paper towel rub away the peel of the beets and cut into bite-sized cubes.   You can cut the beets in quarters to reduce amount of steaming time.

Looking for more healthy salad recipes to make?

• Kale Salad with Cranberries
• Romaine Salad
• Asian Cucumber Salad
• Everyday Tossed Salad
• Quinoa Kale Salad
• Italian Chopped Salad
• Crunchy Detox Salad
• Everyday Detox Salad
• Immune Boosting Berry Arugula Salad

Still want more ideas?  Check out all my salad recipes.