This easy Spring Mix Salad with Champagne Dressing is elegant, flavorful, and unique. Best of all, it only takes minutes to prepare and is a nutrient-rich, paleo, plant-based recipe!
A Festive, Gorgeous Spring Mix Salad Recipe!
A few years back, I found that I was really struggling with sleep, and with poor sleep, came poor eating habits. That took a toll on my gut health, which in turn, made my sleeping problems even worse! I’m sure a lot of you can relate.
For me, one of the keys to getting back on track was to focus on eating a better diet, including loads of vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, herbs, and healthy fats. Soon, I was sleeping better and also noticing positive mood changes!
If you have difficulty sleeping, I really recommend keeping a food journal to help you change your diet as needed. It can help you get a clearer picture of your sugar intake, nutrients, and more.
Why You’ll Crave This Easy Spring Mix Salad
- Get Those Veggies (and Fruits!). If you like salad but feel bored with your usual recipes, this is a great one to try! It’s loaded with healthy ingredients, all put together in a way that’s tasty and out of the box.
- Clean Eating. Nothing artificial here – just simple, clean ingredients with a fresh clean taste.
- Easy Prep. Although it sounds fancy, this spring mix salad with champagne dressing is easy to throw together, even when you’re short on time.
What Is in Spring Mix?
Spring mix is also sold as “mixed greens” or “mesclun.” It’s basically a combination of different baby greens, using the young, tender leaves of various lettuces and leafy greens. What’s actually in your spring mix will vary depending on your region and producer. Green leaf lettuce, red leaf lettuce, baby spinach, arugula, tatsoi, mustard greens, and even baby kale might make an appearance in spring mix.
What Is Spring Mix Salad Made Of?
This spring mix salad with champagne dressing is made with a medley of colorful, flavorful ingredients – here’s the list. (Be sure to scroll down to the printable recipe card for the ingredient amounts and instructions.)
For the Salad
- Mixed Greens: Whatever spring mix you like.
- Sprouts: Or microgreens – any kind. I like kale in this recipe.
- Blueberries: I always recommend organic produce where possible!
- Cucumber: Diced.
- Pistachios: Salted pistachios, shelled.
- Feta: Crumbled. If you’re opting for paleo or a vegan diet, the feta can be omitted.
For the Dressing
- Champagne Vinegar: If you don’t have champagne vinegar, that’s okay too – you could use white wine vinegar, rice wine vinegar, or even apple cider vinegar.
- Mustard: Dijon mustard’s subtle wine-like flavor is lovely here, but feel free to use whatever mustard you like.
- Salt and Pepper
- Olive Oil: Extra-virgin olive oil is the most flavorful, but lighter olive oil will also work.
How to Make Spring Mix Salad with Champagne Dressing
Okay, now for the fun part – pulling it all together. This is so simple, you honestly don’t even need instructions! Just mix it all up, and enjoy:
- Combine the Salad Ingredients. Grab a large serving bowl, and toss all of the ingredients together in there.
- Make the Dressing. In a small bowl, whisk the champagne vinegar, mustard, salt, and pepper. Gradually whisk in the olive oil to make a well-blended dressing.
- Dress the Salad. Add as much (or as little) dressing as you like to the salad, and toss to combine.
- Enjoy!
Helpful Tips and Tricks
Before you start washing your produce, I hope you’ll take a minute to look over these simple tips and tricks. They’ll help you create a flavorful, balanced spring mix salad:
- Freshness Is Key: Be sure to start with fresh, crisp, greens – since many commercial veggies are grown in depleted soils, I recommend using organic, carefully grown ingredients whenever possible, especially if you can check out the farm personally.
- Thoroughly Wash the Produce. Make sure to thoroughly rinse the salad greens, sprouts, blueberries, and cucumber well before using them. A salad spinner is a quick and effective way to get them dry again, but you can also just pat dry with a clean kitchen towel.
- Go Light on the Dressing. Use the dressing sparingly to start with – it’s very flavorful and you don’t want to overwhelm the delicate flavors of the spring mix, cucumber, and blueberries. Also, if you know that you will be storing leftover salad, then it’s best to add the dressing to each serving separately. That way, you can store the leftovers without dressing, which will help them last longer.
- Make It a Meal. You can easily take this from salad course to main course, just by adding some protein! Anything from grilled chicken, to shrimp, to chickpeas or hard-cooked eggs would be delicious.
- Mix Gently. Use salad tongs or your hands to gently toss the ingredients without tearing or bruising the greens and toppings.
What to Serve with Spring Mix Salad
This gorgeous salad will pair well with all kinds of main dishes, adding a special and flavorful note to almost any meal. Here are just a few ideas to get you started.
- Steak: Wholesome Pan-Seared Steak Recipe with Vegetables is a simple, protein-packed meal that goes beautifully with the flavors of this salad.
- Chicken: For a lighter option, serve your spring mix salad with grilled or baked chicken, or these savory Chicken Meatballs. Their light but meaty flavor works well with the fresh greens.
- Eggs: Eggs are a great protein option, and not just for breakfast. Baked Egg Ricotta Thyme Cups make a beautiful lunch or dinner, and a fresh salad is just the thing to round it out.
How to Store Leftover Salad
Storing leftover salad is easy – just place it in an airtight container or zip-top bag, and store it in the refrigerator for up to three days or so. Leftover salad dressing can be stored in an airtight container (a jar works well) for up to one week in the refrigerator.
Can I Freeze This?
Sadly, green salads like this one don’t freeze well. The delicate ingredients tend to become mushy and watery after freezing and thawing, so be sure to enjoy this one fresh! If the recipe makes too much for you to use up in time, I recommend cutting the ingredient amounts in half to make a smaller salad that you can consume within a couple of days.
Spring Mix Salad Recipe with Champagne Dressing
Ingredients
Salad
- 4 cups mixed greens
- 1/2 cup of sprouts or microgreens I use kale
- 1/2 cup of blueberries
- 1/2 cup of diced cucumber
- 1/4 cup of salted pistachios shelled
- 1/2 cup of crumbled feta omit for paleo and vegan diets
Dressing
- 3 tbsp. champagne vinegar
- 2 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
Salad
- Place ingredients in a large serving bowl.
- Add as much dressing as you like to taste, toss and enjoy.
Dressing
- Whisk together vinegar, Dijon mustard, kosher salt, and freshly ground pepper in a small bowl. Gradually whisk in olive oil until blended.
- Store in refrigerator for up to one week in an air tight container.
Notes
