French Bistro Salad Recipe

No ratings yet

This easy French Bistro Salad combines fresh, crisp greens with a delicious Dijon mustard vinaigrette for a simple yet elegant French-inspired salad. Perfect as a light lunch or a refreshing side dish to go with heavy, rich meals.

Prep Time10

Total Time10

Course: Lunch

Cuisine: French

Keyword: simple side dish

Servings: servings

Calories: 127kcal

Author: Tara Noland

Equipment

Ingredients

Salad

8-10 oz bag of mixed greens
½ small red onion very thinly sliced
1 small cucumber
2 tbsp fresh dill chopped
1 tbsp fresh chives chopped
Flaky sea salt and black pepper to finish

Lemon Vinaigrette

3 tbsp fresh lemon juice about 1 large lemon
1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp runny honey
½ tsp fine sea salt
¼ tsp black pepper freshly ground
3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

Soak the sliced red onion in a bowl of cold water for 10 minutes, then drain and pat dry. This mellows its sharp bite and keeps it crisp.
Add the vinaigrette ingredients to a small jar, close the lid, and shake until the dressing looks creamy and well blended.
Taste and adjust. It should taste a little sharp, since the greens will mellow it out. Add more salt or a splash of lemon juice if needed.
Wash and dry the greens really well. Any water left on the leaves keeps the dressing from sticking and pools at the bottom of the bowl. A salad spinner works best, followed by a few minutes on a clean towel.
Add the greens, onion, cucumber, dill, and chives to a large, wide bowl. Drizzle about two-thirds of the vinaigrette over the top and gently toss with your hands, lifting from the bottom, until every leaf is lightly coated.
Taste a leaf and add more dressing if needed. Finish with flaky salt and a few cracks of black pepper, and serve right away.

Notes

See the post for more information, photos and tips.

Nutrition