Description
A vibrant and refreshing Rainbow Salad featuring a colorful mix of fresh vegetables, bocconcini, and toasted nuts, all tossed in a tangy balsamic dressing. Perfect for a quick and healthy meal or side, this salad combines crunchy textures and bold flavors in just 15 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 1 cup arugula
- 1 cup radicchio, thinly sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup bocconcini (mini mozzarella balls)
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- ½ cup red pepper, diced
- ½ cup yellow pepper, diced
- ½ cup corn kernels (fresh or thawed if frozen)
- ¼ cup black olives, pitted
- ¼ cup nuts (such as almonds, walnuts, or pecans), toasted
Dressing Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the salad dressing: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil and balsamic vinegar until well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Prepare the salad ingredients: Wash and thoroughly dry the arugula and radicchio. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the red and yellow peppers, and shred the carrots. If desired, toast the nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
- Combine the salad: In a large salad bowl, add the arugula, radicchio, cherry tomatoes, bocconcini, shredded carrots, diced red and yellow peppers, corn kernels, black olives, and toasted nuts.
- Toss the salad with dressing: Drizzle the prepared balsamic dressing over the salad ingredients. Gently toss the salad using salad tongs or two large spoons to evenly coat all ingredients with the dressing.
- Season and serve: Taste the salad and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately to enjoy the fresh and vibrant flavors.
Notes
- Toasting the nuts enhances their flavor but can be omitted if you’re short on time.
- Use fresh corn kernels for best texture; frozen corn can be thawed and drained before adding.
- Bocconcini can be substituted with fresh mozzarella if mini balls are unavailable.
- For a vegan version, omit bocconcini or substitute with a plant-based cheese.
- Serve this salad immediately to maintain the crispness of the greens and vegetables.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: rainbow salad, balsamic dressing, vegetarian salad, healthy salad, quick salad, fresh vegetables, bocconcini, arugula salad
