Mediterranean Zucchini Salad
A bright and colorful salad using in-season summer veggies, green olives, herbs, and feta cheese. Tossed with a simple lemony Dijon dressing for a healthy and delicious side dish.
Ingredients
Salad ingredients:
- 4 cups zucchini sliced in 1/4 inch moon shapes, about 2 large zucchini
- 1 1/2 cups corn, fresh off the cob, about 1 cob
- 3/4 cup celery sliced thin, about 2 large sticks
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1/2 cup sliced green olives I use pimento stuffed
- 1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes halved cherry tomatoes work great
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh Italian parsley
- 1/4-1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled I like tomato basil feta cheese- see recipe notes for cheese substitutes
Dressing ingredients:
- 1/4 cup avocado or olive oil
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp agave nectar or honey
- 1 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar white or red wine vinegar will work
- 1 small lemon, juiced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
For the dressing
- Add all the dressing ingredients to a small bowl or mason jar with fitted lid, and whisk or shake until combined. Taste for seasoning and set aside until ready to use.
Assemble salad
- Add prepared veggies and olives to a large bowl and top with feta cheese. Pour over all the dressing and toss gently until veggies are coated well. Refrigerate 1-2 hours before serving.
Notes
Tips:
Additional ingredients you can substitute or add-in-
- Cucumbers- This can be in-addition or in place of the zucchini. Although, zucchini holds up nicely and wont fall flat even after a day in the fridge.
- Bell peppers- Red, yellow, and orange work best for this recipe. They are mild in flavor and offer a pop of crunch and color.
- Minced garlic- Add one minced clove to the dressing for a subtle garlic flavor.
- Parmesan cheese- If you don't like feta cheese, parmesan is a nice substitute. Shaved or small chunks blend well with the salad.
- Chickpeas- Add in 1 can of drained and rinsed chickpeas (garbanzo beans) for texture and a boost of protein. The legumes make it filling and more like a complete meal.
- Pine nuts- Toasted pine nuts are wonderful in this salad and really elevate the flavor and texture.
- Kalamata olives- I happen to like green olives better, but you can use kalamata, or even black olives.