Simple Feta and Toasted Almond Salad Recipe
A refreshing and simple salad featuring crisp Romaine lettuce, tangy crumbled Feta cheese, and crunchy toasted almonds, all brought together with a lightly sweet and tangy rice vinegar vinaigrette.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Vinaigrette
- 1/4 cup canola oil (or sunflower, vegetable oil, or other neutral-tasting oil)
- 1/4 cup unseasoned rice vinegar (or seasoned rice vinegar and reduce the brown sugar by half)
- 4 teaspoons brown sugar (packed)
- 1 teaspoon fresh garlic (finely grated, loosely packed)
Salad
- 3 – 4 cups Romaine lettuce (chopped)
- 1/3 cup Feta Cheese (crumbled)
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds (toasted)
- Salt and freshly ground pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Toast the almonds: Toast the sliced almonds until they turn lightly golden. You can do this in the oven, on the stovetop in a dry skillet, or in the microwave. This process enhances their flavor and adds a satisfying crunch to the salad.
- Mix the vinaigrette: In a small jar or bowl, combine canola oil, rice vinegar, brown sugar, and finely grated garlic. Shake or whisk vigorously until all the ingredients are well blended and the sugar is dissolved. Set the vinaigrette aside to allow the flavors to meld.
- Prepare the salad: Place the chopped Romaine lettuce into a large bowl. Sprinkle the crumbled Feta cheese and toasted almonds evenly over the lettuce. Toss the ingredients quickly to mix.
- Add the vinaigrette: Drizzle enough vinaigrette over the salad to moisten it to your liking. Toss well to ensure the dressing coats all the ingredients evenly.
- Season and serve: Season with freshly ground pepper and salt to taste if desired. Serve immediately to enjoy the crispness of the lettuce and the freshness of the flavors.
Notes
- To toast almonds in the oven: Spread sliced almonds on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally until golden.
- To toast almonds on the stovetop: Heat a dry skillet over medium heat, add the almonds, and stir frequently for 3-5 minutes until golden and fragrant.
- To toast almonds in the microwave: Spread almonds evenly on a microwave-safe plate and microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until lightly browned.
- Use seasoned rice vinegar if you prefer a bit more flavor, but reduce the amount of brown sugar to half to balance the sweetness.
- This salad is best served fresh to maintain crispness of lettuce and crunch of almonds.
Keywords: Simple Salad, Feta Cheese Salad, Toasted Almonds, Romaine Lettuce, Quick Salad, Mediterranean Salad, Healthy Salad
