I’m not exactly a chef. Salads used to mean just lettuce and some sad dressing. But this one? This one is different. It’s a simple greens and grains salad that looks like you put in way more effort than you really did. Nutrition, flavor, and it’s filling enough that it doesn’t feel like you’re cheating on dinner.

Why This Recipe Works

✅ Quick and easy (under 30 min)
✅ Nutritious and well-balanced
✅ Minimal cleanup (one bowl and one small pot)
✅ Simple homemade dressing

Ingredients (serves 3-4)

• 4 cups mixed greens (spinach, arugula, or spring mix)
• 1 cup cooked quinoa or brown rice (about 1/3 cup uncooked)
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup cucumber, chopped
• 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 avocado, cubed
• 1/2 cup feta cheese (optional)
• 1/4 cup toasted nuts or seeds (almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds)
• Dressing: 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup, salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Cook the grains
Cook quinoa or brown rice according to package instructions. If you already have some cooked grains in the fridge, this speeds things up a lot.

Prep the veggies
Wash your mixed greens. Halve the cherry tomatoes, chop the cucumber, thinly slice the red onion, and cube the avocado.

Make the dressing
In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper until combined.

Toss it all together
In a large bowl, combine the cooked grains, mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, avocado, and feta. Drizzle the dressing on top and toss gently to coat. Sprinkle with toasted nuts or seeds for crunch.

Serve right away or chill
You can serve immediately or pop it in the fridge for 15-20 minutes to let the flavors meld. Perfect for a quick lunch or a light dinner.

Simple. Healthy. Filling. And no fancy cooking skills required!