Claire's Mixed Green Salad with Feta Vinaigrette

From EatingWell: July/August 2009 — Subscribe Now!

This salad was inspired by one served during the peak of summer at Claire's Restaurant & Bar in Hardwick. Chef Steven Obranovich of Claire's likes the soft crumbly sheep's-milk feta for this recipe. He cautions that the subtle briny notes of feta can sometimes be overpowered by too much lemon or an olive oil that's too fruity. Saltiness varies from feta to feta too. Add the ingredients a little at a time and taste as you go.

Claire's Mixed Green Salad with Feta Vinaigrette Recipe

6 servings, about 1 1/2 cups each

Active Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Nutrition Profile

Ingredients

Feta Vinaigrette

3 tablespoons sunflower oil, or canola oil
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, preferably mild-flavored
1/4 cup finely crumbled feta cheese
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar
2 teaspoons lemon juice, or to taste
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Salad

8 cups lightly packed mixed salad greens, or arugula, any tough stems removed
2 cups sliced cucumbers
1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
5 radishes, thinly sliced
1/4 cup very thinly sliced red onion

Preparation

To prepare vinaigrette: Place sunflower (or canola) oil, olive oil, feta, cider vinegar, red-wine vinegar, lemon juice, pepper and salt in a blender and puree until combined. Adjust seasoning with additional lemon juice, salt or pepper, if desired.
To prepare salad: Toss greens (or arugula) in a large bowl with half the vinaigrette. Mound on a large platter. Arrange cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes and onion on top of the greens. Drizzle the remaining vinaigrette over the salad.

Nutrition

Per serving: 165 calories; 16 g fat (3 g sat, 7 g mono); 6 mg cholesterol; 6 g carbohydrates; 3 g protein; 3 g fiber; 189 mg sodium; 415 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (50% daily value), Vitamin C (35% dv), Folate (23% dv).

1/2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 3 fat