This simple Homemade Salad is the kind of thing you throw together when your fridge is basically just a cucumber, half a head of lettuce, and a dream.
It’s one of those basic salad recipes that somehow ends up tasting way better than it has any right to. I started making this as a backup side dish for “real” meals, but now it shows up at dinner more often than my social life does.
The tossed salad ingredients are painfully basic (in the best way), and the homemade vinaigrette dressing? It’s so easy, you’ll wonder why you ever bought the bottle with the mystery sludge.
If you’re wondering how to make salad dressing without turning your kitchen into a science lab—this non creamy salad dressing is your answer. It’s fast, fresh, and the kind of quick salad dressing that actually clings to your greens instead of sliding off like your motivation on a Monday.
Homemade Salad
EQUIPMENT (PAID LINKS)
- Box grater
- Jar with lid or small bowl and whisk
Ingredients
- 1 small head of iceberg lettuce or 5 to 6 big handfuls of leafy greens chopped into bite-size pieces
- 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes halved (or 2 medium tomatoes, chopped)
- 1 medium cucumber sliced
- 1 medium carrot peeled and grated
- 1 teaspoon chopped parsley or chives optional
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or any vinegar or lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon kosher or coarse salt or ¼ teaspoon table salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Make the Dressing: Add the vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper to a jar. Shake it like you mean it until it’s smooth and blended. Taste and adjust—add more vinegar for a tangier punch, a pinch of sugar if it's too sharp, or more oil to mellow it out.
- Prep the Veggies: Chop the lettuce, slice the cucumber, halve the tomatoes, and grate the carrot. If you're feeling a little extra, toss in the parsley or chives.
- Toss the Salad: Add all the veggies to a large bowl. Pour the dressing over the top and toss everything well until evenly coated. Pro tip: don’t overdress—start small, then add more if needed.
- Serve: Transfer the salad to a serving bowl and dig in while it's still fresh and crisp. Leftovers? Not likely.
Homemade Salad Hacks (From a Pro Who’s Tossed More Greens Than a Rabbit )
🥬 Lettuce Keep It Real
Iceberg might be the sweatpants of lettuce—basic, a little out of style, but insanely comfortable. If you’ve got romaine, spinach, or even that random bag of mixed greens you panic-bought last week, use ‘em.
🍅 Tomatoes: The Good, The Bad, and the Mushy
Cherry tomatoes are ideal—no slicing stress. But if you’re dealing with big, squishy ones that look like they’ve seen better days, chop around the soft spots and act like rustic is your thing.
🥕 Carrot Optional, Sass Mandatory
Grating a carrot takes 30 seconds, but adds color, crunch, and “I tried” energy. No box grater? Use a veggie peeler and make it fashion.
🥒 Cucumber Check-In
Use Persian or English cucumbers if you’ve got them—they’re fancy and don’t need peeling. But if you’ve got the chunky waxed ones? Peel, de-seed, and pretend you always meant to be this meticulous.
🌿 Herb Your Enthusiasm
Chives or parsley are cute, but no one will notice if you forget them. Use them when you’re trying to impress someone or pretend you’re on a cooking show.
🫙 The Dressing Truth Bomb
This homemade vinaigrette dressing is so simple it’s basically salad magic. Dijon helps it cling to your greens instead of puddling at the bottom like your will to cook. No Dijon? Try yellow mustard. No mustard at all? Shake harder and fake it.
🧂 Salt + Pepper = Mandatory
Don’t skip this. A salad without salt and pepper is like reality TV without drama—bland and unnecessary.
🍋 Add-Ins for Overachievers
Want to feel like a salad genius? Add a squeeze of lemon, a pinch of dried oregano, or a clove of garlic (grated, not just tossed in whole like a monster).
⏳ Toss Right Before Serving
This is not a meal prep salad. Toss it too early and it’ll go limp faster than your motivation on a Monday morning. Keep your dressing and veggies separate until it’s go-time.
