Need a fast and easy salad recipe? Try this Spring Mix Salad! Grab a box or bag of spring mix at the store, and you barely need to think to make this salad recipe. We’ve customized it to be simple with items you might already have on hand! Add a quick homemade salad dressing, like a light and tangy vinaigrette which compliments the delicate leaves perfectly. You’ll go from zero to salad in no time! Here’s what to know.
What is spring mix?
Spring mix is a mix of baby greens that’s sold packaged at many grocery stores. The mix general contains baby greens, which are harvested before they reach maturity. This gives them a mild and delicate flavor: perfect for salads! Every brand of spring mix has different greens, but varieties you might find in most mixes include:
Baby lettuceBaby spinachRed or green romaine lettuceRed or green oak leaf lettuceBaby chard or arugulaBaby endive or radicchio
Pros and cons to spring mix
Some people don’t love spring mix, but it’s nice for a quick and easy salad! Here are some pros and cons to this packaged salad mix:
Pro: Spring mix is convenient for a quick side dish. There’s nothing faster than this boxed mix, and it usually comes pre-washed. Score!Con: The flavor is variable and the leaves can be flimsy. Sometimes the combination of baby greens can be on the bitter side. The leaves can be flimsy, instead of giving a nice hearty crunch like romaine. Con: Spring mix can become slimy quickly. Ever bought a box or bag of spring mix and it’s slimy before you get to eating it? Because the leaves are young and detached from the plant, they’re more delicate and easy to bruise.
But if you’ve got a great box of fresh spring mix: let’s go ahead and make a salad! Tip: You can also combine it with other hearty greens like romaine to get a nice mix of textures and flavors.
Components in this spring mix salad
You can pair just about anything with spring mix. But for this Spring Mix Salad, we wanted it to be incredibly simple with ingredients you might already have on hand. Here’s what you’ll need:
Spring mix: Of course! Again, pair with another green like romaine to round out the flavors and textures, if you preferOnion or shallot: Use shallot for a delicate flavor, or red onion for a more bold choice! To round out the spicy flavor, you can soak it in cold water while you prepare the rest of the salad. Carrot: Carrots are stable for weeks, and they’re great in salads. Peel them into long ribbons for an interesting texture!Feta cheese: Salty cheese takes a salad from blah to irresistible! Substitute goat cheese or Parmesan shavings. Chopped nuts: Use whatever you have on hand: good choices are pecans, walnuts, pistachios or almondsSliced apple (optional): Add a pop of sweet with a sliced or diced apple!
Homemade dressing ideas
A spring mix doesn’t hold up to every dressing: try something heavy and creamy like ranch and it gets completely smothered! Here are some of the top homemade dressing recipes we’d pair with this to make a standout salad:
Best Balsamic Vinaigrette is one of the best salad dressings you’ll make: classic, tangy, and easyOrange Vinaigrette Salad Dressing brings a citrus burst to any saladDijon Mustard Dressing is creamy and perfectly balancedGinger Dressing is ultra zingy, with spicy pop from the gingerPoppy Seed Dressing is tangy sweet and studded with seeds
More easy salad recipes
Sometimes salads can take quite a while to prepare: so we love recipes that are quick and simple! Here are some more easy salad recipes:
Try this ultra Easy Arugula Salad: you don’t even need to make a dressing!Grab deliciously easy Butter Lettuce Salad with Parmesan Dressing, or this Romaine Salad with Green GoddessThis Goat Cheese Apple Salad or Watercress Salad are quick and simpleMake this Perfect Italian Salad with purchased croutons for quickest prepGo for fresh and tasty Edamame SaladClassic Wedge Salad is fun and simple to put together
This spring mix salad recipe is…
Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based and dairy-free, omit the feta cheese. 5 from 1 review
