That Good Salad

The next time you need a simple green salad for a refreshing lunch or a veggie-loaded dinner side, whip up this quick and simple salad with dressing. The story behind the name “That Good Salad” is a testament to how beloved it is. Reader Betty Lamb, who shared this simple salad recipe with us, says, “When a friend shared this salad recipe, it had a fancy French name. Our children could never remember it, so they’d say, ‘Mom, please make that good salad.'” We know if it’s good enough for kids to request, it’s good enough for us!

Ingredients for Simple Salad

• Dressing: This simple green salad has just as simple of a dressing that’s made from canola oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt and pepper. Shake the ingredients all together in a jar and that’s it!
• Romaine: Start the simple salad recipe with a bed of romaine lettuce. Make sure to wash the lettuce properly and thoroughly to remove any dirt or bacteria.
• Tomatoes: Wash and chop 2 cups worth of tomatoes. My favorite types of tomatoes for a salad are cherry tomatoes because of their super sweet taste and gorgeous multitude of colors.
• Swiss cheese: While you can totally go the easy route with pre-shredded Swiss cheese, we highly recommend taking a few extra minutes to grate your cheese fresh from the block. Pre-shredded cheese is tossed with cellulose to prevent the cheese from sticking together, but this preservative diminishes the flavor and quality of the cheese.
• Almonds: Toast the nuts to bring out their nutty, rich flavor.
• Parmesan: In Europe, Parmigiano-Reggiano and Parmesan are considered the same cheese. But in the U.S., Parmesan is a generic term for cheese that may not come from Italy’s Parmigiano-Reggiano region. Using authentic Italian cheese (in a lesser amount than the original’s 1/2 cup) ensures a cheesy richness.
• Bacon: Cook the bacon until it’s super crispy so it’s easier to crumble and provides crunchy bits in the salad.
• Croutons: Use your favorite store-bought brand of croutons or make your own croutons at home.

Directions

Step 1: Make the dressing

In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the canola oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper. Screw the lid back on tightly and shake everything together well. Chill the dressing in the fridge while you assemble the salad.

Step 2: Assemble the salad

In a large serving bowl, toss together the romaine, tomatoes, Swiss cheese, almonds, Parmesan cheese and crumbled bacon until everything is evenly dispersed.

Step 3: Pour on the dressing

The dressing might have separated a bit in the fridge (totally normal!) so give the dressing another really good shake. Pour the dressing all over the salad and toss everything together. Scatter the croutons on top and serve the simple green salad immediately.

Recipe Variations

• Use your favorite leafy greens: Substitute your favorite leafy green for the romaine lettuce. Arugula, kale, iceberg, spring mix and spinach would all be delicious in this simple salad with dressing.
• Change the protein: For leaner meat than bacon, use grilled or roasted chicken.
• Swap in olive oil: Canola oil is high in monounsaturated fat, a fat type that helps decrease blood cholesterol levels, and low in saturated fat, which can increase blood cholesterol. Olive oil has slightly better healthy-fat properties and would also taste great in this recipe.
• Add sweet and crunchy bits: Dried cranberries, golden raisins, fresh berries or stone fruit slices can be included to sweeten the simple salad recipe. For extra crunch, sprinkle in sesame seeds or pepitas.

How to Store Simple Salad

Store leftover simple salad with dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a day. Just know that the romaine lettuce will wilt after a few hours, so it won’t be quite as crisp the next day.

Can you make this ahead of time?

Yes, you can assemble the salad and make the dressing a few hours ahead of time, but wait to add the dressing to the salad until just before serving. Otherwise, the salad will turn limp and soggy after sitting for a few hours.

Simple Salad Tips

What can I serve with this simple salad recipe?

A simple salad can be served alongside any main entrée that needs a refreshing vegetable element. For lunch options, serve this simple salad next to quiche, crab cakes, fritters or a piled-high sandwich. For dinner, this salad will break up the heavy richness of a hearty casserole or pasta dishes like lasagna or mostaccioli. It’s also nice next to burgers, salmon or chicken dishes.

Can I make this simple salad gluten-free? What about dairy-free?

You absolutely can make this salad gluten-free or dairy-free! To make it gluten-free, swap the croutons for crispy roasted chickpeas or make your own croutons out of gluten-free bread. Also, double-check that all the packaged goods are certified gluten-free.

To make this salad dairy-free, omit the Swiss cheese and Parmesan. You can replace the cheeses with your favorite vegan cheese if preferred. Nutritional yeast is a nice dairy-free replacement for Parmesan too.

What other dressings can I try?

The simple green salad can be paired with pretty much any of your favorite salad dressing recipes. Whether a simple Italian dressing, a classic Caesar, a honey mustard dressing, or a bright and refreshing citrus vinaigrette, this simple salad recipe can handle almost any flavor profile.