Summer Fresh Salad

I can’t say I’ve always been a creative cook. But, over the last decade or so, I’ve really taken to trying new flavors and feeding my family a variety of nutritious foods. It’s a lot of fun to experiment with flavors in the kitchen! One of the main benefits I’ve found from feeding my family a wide variety of foods and encouraging them to try new and unusual flavors is that my kids really aren’t picky! They consider food just as much an adventure as I do and we have fun eating together. When food is fun + nutritious, that makes for a happy mama! I love to see them get excited about new recipes. This Summer Fresh Salad was inspired by a new salad dressing, Marzetti® Vineyard Dressing Asiago Peppercorn Chardonnay. I knew I wanted to pair the dressing with some different and maybe unexpected flavors and the combination was delicious! Asiago Peppercorn Chardonnay is a beautiful blend of ingredients inspired by the vine. You’ll find a variety of Marzetti® Vineyard Dressings in your local grocery store – in the refrigerated produce section. These dressings add just the right amount of flavor to your own creative salad creations! I remember when I was growing up – a typical 80’s salad was Iceberg lettuce with tomatoes, cucumbers, and ranch dressing. These days, why not try pairing fruits with veggies and herbs like I’ve done in this delicious Summer Fresh Salad?

Summer Fresh Salad

This salad is a hearty meal in and of itself. It’s a perfect main course for lunch or a light supper.

•  1 head green leaf lettuce, washed and torn
• 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 cup sliced strawberries
• 3 oranges, peeled and sliced
• 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
• 4 oz. Edamame soy beans, cooked and cooled
• 8 oz. chopped chicken {I used a vegetarian version}
• 2.5 oz. crumbled Feta cheese
• Marzetti® Vineyard Dressing Asiago Peppercorn Chardonnay

In a large serving bowl, add green leaf lettuce, cilantro, and parsley to the bottom as the base of your salad. Arrange the remaining ingredients across the top of the lettuce mixture, creating a rainbow of colors. When ready to serve, drizzle with Marzetti® Vineyard Dressing  Asiago Peppercorn Chardonnay and toss to coat. You might want to serve this salad with a crusty French roll or baguette and butter. This salad is packed with nutrition!

I made my salad in the morning and left it covered and chilling in the refrigerator until supper time. I tossed the salad with dressing just before serving and everything held up very nicely, so this makes a really simple meal for a busy summer weeknight! Be sure to check out the Marzetti®Vineyard Dressing product locator to find a store near you! And, for more information visit the Marzetti® Vineyard Dressing website.

I am sure you will love this salad! If you decide to try it, let me know!