California Vegetable Salad

So Cal Gal's Note:

A quick, healthy salad with lots of flavor and crunch...and endless possible variations! (Adapted from the salad my family ate when I was growing up in San Diego--plus all of the salad bars I've been to ever since.) Note: Optional items not included in preparation time.

• Total Time: 15 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 0 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 2

• 4 cups lettuce leaves , chopped (red leaf or romaine)
• 1 tomato , chopped
• ½ cucumber , chopped
• 1 carrot , sliced
• 2 green onions , sliced diagonally
• 10 radishes , quartered
• other bite-sized raw vegetable (chopped avocado, broccoli, cauliflower, bell pepper, etc.) (optional)
• bite-sized cooked vegetable (beans, corn, peas, chopped artichoke hearts, etc.) (optional)
• nuts (pistachios, walnuts, pecans, etc.) (optional)
• seeds (pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, etc.) (optional)
• bite-sized pieces cheese (diced or shredded cheddar, feta, jack, etc.) (optional)
• chopped hard-boiled egg (optional)
• crouton (seasoned croutons, tiny crackers, Chinese noodles, etc.) (optional)
• salad dressing (Italian, Thousand Island, Ranch, etc.)

Directions:

1. In a salad bowl, toss together chopped lettuce, tomato, and cucumber, sliced carrot and green onions, quartered radishes, and any desired optional items.
2. OR: Arrange chopped lettuce on salad plates; then top with chopped tomato and cucumber, sliced carrot and green onions, quartered radishes, and any desired optional items.
3. Serve with salad dressing on the side.

Reviews

[Sydney Mike]

I did this recipe up as a salad bar, since I really wanted my guests to include what they most enjoyed eating! Besides the regular ingredients listed, I included peas, corn, cauliflower, broccoli, red & yellow bell peppers, pistachios, almonds, pumpkin seeds, hard-cooked eggs, colby-jack cheese, sharp cheddar, feta, AND some homemade winter & cracked wheat croutons, as well as an aray of dressings! A bit of work (though enjoyable) & a big success, with the final bonus ~ The 2 of us had healthy salads for several days! [Tagged, made & reviewed for one of my adoptees in the current Pick-A-Chef]