Farmer’s Market Salad

This bright and crunchy seasonal green salad features all of the best farmer’s market finds like fresh corn, blueberries, radishes and cucumbers. Serve it as-is for a light lunch or top it with your favorite grilled protein for a beautiful summer dinner.

Oh, farmer’s market season… I just love you so much. The best time of the year! It’s always so inspiring to see what looks good at the market and base your dinner menu around whatever you pick up.

And although it varies from month-to-month I tend to grab radishes, corn, greens and herbs all summer long. You just can’t beat the quality.

Salad night is always a favorite meal in our house because no cooking required. And if I can get to some chopping earlier in the day, dinner is basically done, dishes are minimal, and everyone can build their own. Win!

Here’s what you need to recreate this favorite combination of mine:

Farmer’s Market Salad Ingredients

• mixed greens of choice (I like to use a mix of butter and leaf lettuce)
• tender herbs like basil, dill and/or mint – such a good add!
• blueberries & strawberries
• radish, sliced thin or julienned
• cucumber
• avocado
• fresh raw corn, cut right off the cob
• bleu cheese crumbles or another crumbly cheese

I finish this salad with a creamy balsamic vinaigrette dressing (recipe below). It’s on the lighter side, but still super satisfying and the flavors pair just right with the other ingredients. The creaminess actually comes from a touch of dijon mustard that really helps create a thick, pourable dressing. Plus it gives a little extra tang.

The Keys to Making a Better Salad

In my opinion there are three keys to a great salad:

1. variety (in both color/texture)
2. the technique you use to chop your vegetables
3. a great homemade dressing

I hate biting into large chunks of vegetables on a salad, especially if it’s something pungent like onion or radish. Make it more enjoyable by slicing raw vegetables thin. I like to use a mandoline (affiliate link) to prep the radishes, cucumbers and even take the corn off the cob. It is such a fabulous kitchen tool, especially if you’re “still learning” to like to vegetables.

Homemade Dressing Tips

Making a homemade salad dressing is so much easier than you think, and I bet you have all the ingredients on hand already to make a great one. Use jars to shake them up, or if it’s a creamier dressing use an immersion blender to get it perfectly smooth. I promise it’s worth the effort!

My other advice: make one that you really love and use it all week long. Some of my favorites are maple mustard, green tahini, and this insanely good creamy apple cider vinaigrette.

Farmer’s Market Salad FAQs

You might also like:

• The Best Radish Salad
• Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad
• Kale Crunch Salad

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