The Ultimate Crunchy Vegetable Salad 🥗 with Toasted Walnuts & Pecorino Romano Cheese | Lei's Kitchen

If there is one recipe that I am repeatedly asked to make, it would be this salad with its infinite incarnations of ingredients. This vibrant and refreshing salad combines crisp petite romaine lettuce, crunchy cucumbers, colorful bell peppers, sweet bomb tomatoes, julienned carrots, and apples, all tossed in a refreshing homemade vinaigrette. Topped with shaved Pecorino Romano cheese and toasted nuts, it’s the perfect balance of salty, sweet, tangy, and nutty flavors!

00:00 Welcome & Salad Intro
00:17 Signature Dressing Source
00:28 Ingredients & Flavor Profile
01:01 Prep Lettuce (Ice Bath)
01:20 Slice Cucumber
01:27 Dice Bell Peppers
01:35 Halve Tomatoes
01:41 Slice Apple + Lemon
02:01 Julienne Carrots
02:10 Make Vinaigrette (Jar)
02:30 Shake to Emulsify
02:46 Pecorino & Toasted Nuts
02:57 Dress & Toss Salad
03:10 Pro Tips: Protein & Swaps
03:28 Flavor & Texture Notes
03:53 Outro & Links

🛒 INGREDIENTS:
Salad:
• 1 head petite romaine lettuce, chopped or hand torn
• 1 English cucumber, peeled and sliced
• 1 cup bell peppers, sliced (red, yellow, orange)
• 1 cup sweet bomb tomatoes, halved
• ½ cup julienned carrots
• ½ apple, julienned (for a touch of sweetness) (or citrus fruit, fresh berries)
• 1/3 cup Pecorino Romano cheese, grated or shaved
• ¼ cup toasted nuts (walnuts, almonds, or pecans)

Homemade Vinaigrette Dressing:
• 2/3 cup virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup + 2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 Tbsp sugar (adjust to taste)
• 3 cloves of garlic, crushed
• Salt & black pepper to taste

👩‍🍳 STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS:
1️. Prepare the Salad:
• Soak the lettuce leaves in an ice bath to awake the crunchiness
• Wash, drain and chop or tear the romaine lettuce and place it in a large salad bowl.
• Peel and slice the cucumber, dice the bell peppers, and halve the sweet bomb tomatoes.
• Julienne the carrots and apple for a crisp, fresh bite. Toss the apple slices with a tsp of lemon juice to prevent browning.
• Add all the ingredients to the bowl.
2️. Make the Vinaigrette:
• In a mason jar, combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, sugar, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper, close the lid tight and shake the jar until well mixed.
3️. Toss & Serve:
• Sprinkle with grated Pecorino Romano cheese and toasted nuts for extra crunch and flavor.
• Drizzle the vinaigrette dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all the ingredients.

💡 Pro Tips:
✔️ Add grilled chicken or shrimp for a protein-packed meal.
✔️ Swap apples for pears, citrus fruit or fresh berries for a slightly different sweetness.

Salad Dressing Recipe on All Recipes.com
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/346...

FTC DISCLAIMER: This video contains affiliate links through which I may earn a small commission, but at no cost to you.

Products and Ingredients Frequently Used in My Videos:

1. Kuhn Rikon Julienne Peeler with Blade Protector, Stainless Steel Handle

Products and Ingredients Frequently Used in My Videos:
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