My Favorite Summer Salad

July 12, 2023
To me, summer is salad season. Homegrown produce and warmer weather is a winning combo. Since the end of June, I’ve made this particular salad six times (I just did the calculation), so clearly I’m smitten. My whole family likes it too. I thought I’d share it with you. It’s simple and requires zero cooking. All you need is a touch of patience as you peel, slice and dice. Here it is: Crunchy Summer Salad
Ingredients
1 yellow or red pepper, diced
1 cucumber, diced
1 red onion, diced
1 head of romaine lettuce, chopped
1 can of chickpeas, rinsed and patted dry
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
a few sprigs of cilantro or fresh parsley, finely chopped (optional)

Dressing:
1/3 cup dijon mustard
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup white vinegar,
1/4 cup olive oil
salt and pepper to season

Directions: 
Add all of the salad ingredients to a large bowl and toss together. In a small bowl, whisk together all of the dressing ingredients. Add the dressing to the salad when ready to serve. Here are a few subtler things:  
1 The salad is best at room temperature, so take the ingredients out of the fridge beforehand.
2. You can replace the feta cheese with gorgonzola cheese, or skip the cheese all together and make the salad vegan. 
3. I eat this salad as the main course, but it’s a great side dish too! Bon Appétit!