Erickson Garden Salad
This is our simple everyday garden salad. We usually serve it just as a fresh salad with our homemade ranch dressing, but it is easy to turn into a fuller meal by adding chicken, bacon, eggs, or another protein we have on hand.
Ingredients
Mixed leafy greens, as needed — use any combination of romaine, iceberg, spinach, arugula, or other greens we like
Green onions, sliced, to taste
Red onion, thinly sliced, optional
Black olives, optional
Croutons, optional
Almonds, walnuts, or pecans, optional
Erickson Homemade Ranch Dressing, for serving
Optional protein additions:
Sliced or cubed chicken breast
Cooked bacon, chopped
Hard-boiled eggs
Any other preferred cooked protein
Directions
1. Wash the lettuce thoroughly, then tear it into bite-size pieces and place it in a large salad bowl.
2. Wash and chop the onions and any other vegetables you want to add to the salad.
3. Add the prepared vegetables to the lettuce along with any optional toppings we want, such as black olives, croutons, or nuts.
4. If we are serving this as a full meal, add sliced chicken, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, or another cooked protein.
5. Serve with our homemade ranch dressing on the side, or add just enough dressing to lightly coat the salad immediately before serving.
6. Toss gently and serve right away.