Fresh Zucchini Salad with Lemon-Mint Dressing

Hiding Zucchini In a Recipe

Have you tried this trick?  My husband gets physically ill at the mention of the “Z” word.  He used to pick it out of his mother’s garden and throw it onto the roof of his house just so she wouldn’t make him eat it.  Now that’s extreme!  I have learned over the years that there are several ways to hide and disguise zucchini that even the finickiest eater will never detect. 

• • Grating raw zucchini into a tomato sauce is magical.
  • Grated raw zucchini moistens cakes and muffins.  
  • Finely diced zucchini into chorizo for tacos is a winner.
  • Frozen chunks of zucchini can easily be tossed into a fruit smoothie.  
  • Once again the list can go on and on with a zillion ways to disguise zucchini.

Fresh Zucchini Salad

Have you ever tried raw zucchini?  You are in for a treat with this recipe for a refreshing, bright, and healthy salad.  Ribbons of zucchini become the star of this salad tossed with an addictive lemon-mint vinaigrette.  

• Pick young zucchini that is 3-5 inches in length.  If the beautiful blossom is still intact, save it and toss it into the salad.
• Using a vegetable peeler or mandolin, slice thin ribbons of zucchini running lengthwise of the zucchini.
• Use a blend of fresh leafy greens.  I’m lucky enough to have fresh organic greens delivered to my home from Snuck Farm in Pleasant Grove, Utah.  Fresh, organic, and delicious.
• Choose your favorite fresh herbs.  Try a blend of fresh basil, opal basil, Thai basil, chives, cilantro, dill, parsley.  Toss in edible flowers and greens like nasturtium or pansies.
• Top with a pile of your favorite microgreens.  I’m using radish microgreens from Snuck Farm.  They are always so crisp and fresh.  

Lemon-Mint Vinigrette

This Lemon-Mint dressing is so good you can eat it with a spoon…and I did!

• Juice 1 lemon and pour it into the bowl of a small food processor or blender.
• Add the olive oil, dijon, mint, honey, salt, and pepper and give it a blitz until the fresh mint is finely chopped.  
• Can be made a day in advance. Refrigerate until ready to use.  

Assemble the Salad

Toss the leafy greens and herbs with a drizzle of the Lemon-Mint dressing and arrange in a salad bowl or a platter.  On top of the greens, arrange the ribbons of zucchini and then drizzle with more of the dressing.  Top with a sprinkle of toasted pinenuts, microgreens, and shards of Parmigiano Reggiano.  Devour! 😋

5 from 1 vote

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Fresh Zucchini Salad with Lemon-Mint Dressing

Fresh ribbons of zucchini blended with fresh greens, herbs, and microgreens drizzled with a fresh lemon-mint vinaigrette.

Servings 4

Calories 219 kcal

Author Janet Barton

Ingredients

Zucchini Salad

• 3-5 small zucchinis 3-5 inches in length
• 3-4 cups Leaf lettuce
• 1/2 cup fresh herb mix such as basil, Thai basil, dill, mint, cilantro, nasturtium leaves, and blossoms
• 1 cup microgreens I used Radish
• Parmegiano Reggiano cut into shards or chunky shreds
• 2 tbsp Pine nuts lightly toasted

Lemon-Mint Citrus Vinaigrette

• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons fresh mint leaves
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 dijon mustard heaping
• 1/8-1/4 tsp sea salt
• Fresh ground pepper

Instructions

Zucchini Salad

1. Using a vegetable peeler or mandolin, make long ribbons of zucchini. Toss 2 tablespoons of dressing with the zucchini ribbons. In a large salad bowl add salad greens and fresh herbs, top with the zucchini ribbons and microgreens. Drizzle with an additional 2 tablespoons of dressing or as desired. Serve immediately. Makes 3-4 servings

Lemon-Mint Vinaigrette

1. Blitz all the ingredients in a small food processor or blender until smooth and the mint leaves are finely minced.

Nutrition Facts

Fresh Zucchini Salad with Lemon-Mint Dressing

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 219 Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Fat 14g22%

Saturated Fat 2g10%

Polyunsaturated Fat 2g

Monounsaturated Fat 10g

Sodium 136mg6%

Potassium 1110mg32%

Carbohydrates 21g7%

Fiber 4g16%

Sugar 11g12%

Protein 7g14%

Vitamin A 14663IU293%

Vitamin C 100mg121%

Calcium 119mg12%

Iron 4mg22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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