Sometimes you need a simple salad to make at home, like this chopped salad. Crunchy crispy romaine, spicy baby arugula, dried cranberries, sliced apples, and toasted walnuts tossed with a citrus vinaigrette. 

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I’ve been making this chopped salad for years for my clients, but sometimes simple is for the win. It seems to be a constant contender with menu selections over time. It’s gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and you can easily leave the nuts on the side to accommodate any nut allergies.

So, you most likely have some of the chopped salad ingredients inside your pantry, and if not, we have options for you to get creative below!

Chopped Salad greens

For the greens, the chopped salad is made with crunchy romaine and spicy baby arugula. Use what you might have in the refrigerator if you can’t run to the store. Some great combinations are kale & arugula, butter lettuce & spinach, baby greens & romaine, and arugula & spinach

Going nuts over nuts!

I love nuts in salads. Walnuts are great, but use anything that you have some of my go to’s in salads are pine nuts, slivered almonds, maple glazed pecans (yes I have a recipe for that), and also pumpkin seeds. But any nut you like will do! 

Dried fruit for your chopped salad

No cranberries, no problem. Dried raisins, dried cherries, dried figs, or even dried apricots will do in this salad.  

I use whole organic dried cranberries that are only sweetened with apple juice. I these found on Thrive Market. No added sugar, just how I like it!

Simple citrus vinaigrette

So for the vinaigrette, use freshly squeezed orange juice and good olive oil. Season with salt and fresh cracked pepper. Tada!

Fresh squeezed orange juice is key to making a tasty vinaigrette because its fresh and tastes better than the container stuff you find at the grocery store.

Don’t have oranges laying around the house why not try using lemon, lime, or even pomegranate juice. Add a little honey if it’s too tart.

 Like most of my cooking, get creative and get in the kitchen. Because you just need to eat tasty food! 

LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS IF YOU ENJOYED THIS RECIPE!