Spring Green Salad Honey Mustard (Printable)

Crisp spring greens with honey mustard dressing and toasted almonds create a refreshing, light dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad

01 - 4 cups mixed spring greens (arugula, baby spinach, watercress, baby lettuce)
02 - 1 cup snap peas, trimmed and sliced
03 - 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
04 - 4 radishes, thinly sliced
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, roughly chopped
07 - 1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted

→ Honey Mustard Dressing

08 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
09 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
10 - 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
11 - 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
12 - 1½ teaspoons honey
13 - 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Add sliced almonds and toast for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant. Transfer to a plate to cool.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, and minced garlic. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
03 - In a large salad bowl, combine spring greens, snap peas, cucumber, radishes, chives, and parsley.
04 - Drizzle honey mustard dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
05 - Sprinkle toasted almonds on top immediately before serving to maintain maximum crunchiness and freshness.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 20 minutes, which means lunch doesn't derail your whole afternoon.
  • The honey mustard dressing tastes intentional and complex, but you're literally just whisking five ingredients together.
  • Toasted almonds add a textural surprise that transforms ordinary greens into something you actually crave.
02 -
  • Don't dress this salad more than 10 minutes before serving or your greens will wilt into a sad puddle—freshness is the entire point here.
  • Toasting your own almonds changes everything, but if you're in a rush, good quality pre-roasted almonds work in a pinch.
03 -
  • Use the coldest greens and vegetables you can find—store them in ice water for 10 minutes before using and they'll be impossibly crisp.
  • Don't be shy with the dressing; greens need enough to make them interesting, so err toward generosity rather than caution.
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