_Sips iced tea_ Ladies (and gents), let me tell you about a salad thatโs going to make your afternoon absolutely fabulous! Trust me, this isnโt your basic lettuce and tomato situation โ this is what I call my โQueenโs Jewel Mediterranean Salad,โ and itโs about to become your new obsession.
Can we talk about how tired we are of boring lunch salads? Girl, I feel you! Thatโs why I created this gorgeous masterpiece thatโs literally bursting with colors and flavors thatโll make your taste buds dance.
Hereโs what youโll need (and no, I wonโt judge if you dance while making it โ I totally do! ๐):
โข Baby spinach and arugula mix (2 cups)
โข Cherry tomatoes, halved (1 cup)
โข Persian cucumbers, diced (2)
โข Kalamata olives, pitted (1/2 cup)
โข Crumbled feta cheese (1/3 cup)
โข Red onion, thinly sliced (1/4)
โข Chickpeas, drained and rinsed (1/2 cup)
โข Fresh mint leaves (handful)
โข Pine nuts, toasted (2 tablespoons)
For the to-die-for dressing:
โข Extra virgin olive oil (1/4 cup)
โข Fresh lemon juice (2 tablespoons)
โข Honey (1 teaspoon)
โข Dijon mustard (1 teaspoon)
โข Minced garlic (1 clove)
โข Salt and pepper to taste
Okay, honey, letโs make this happen! First, let me say โ if youโre loving this recipe already, make sure to follow me on NewsBreak for daily doses of deliciousness!
Now, letโs get cooking (or should I say, assembling):
1. Toast those pine nuts in a dry pan until golden brown โ but watch them like a hawk! They go from perfect to burned faster than your ex moves on, just saying! ๐
1. Whisk together all the dressing ingredients in a bowl. Take a taste โ it should make you do a little happy dance.
1. In a large bowl, combine your greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onion.
1. Add the chickpeas and olives (I sometimes add extra olives because, hello, theyโre amazing!).
1. Drizzle that heavenly dressing over everything and toss gently.
1. Top with feta cheese, toasted pine nuts, and fresh mint leaves.
Pro tip: For extra pizzazz, chill the salad for about 15 minutes before serving. This lets all those gorgeous flavors get to know each other better!
Yโall, this salad is seriously Instagram-worthy! The combination of crunchy, creamy, tangy, and fresh elements will have you feeling like youโre dining at a fancy cafรฉ on the Mediterranean coast โ minus the expensive plane ticket!
Are you drooling yet? Because I totally am! If you loved this recipe as much as I do, pretty please drop a comment below and let me know your thoughts! And donโt forget to follow me on NewsBreak for more mouthwatering recipes thatโll make your kitchen the place to be!
Remember, cooking should be fun, fabulous, and a little bit sassy โ just like us! Now go forth and create this masterpiece, and donโt forget to take a gorgeous pic before diving in!
XOXO,
Your favorite recipe girl ๐
P.S. Seriously though, hit that follow button for more recipes thatโll make your taste buds (and your Instagram feed) very happy! Letโs cook something amazing together! ๐ฅโจ
