Golden Ratio Salad Creation (Printer-Friendly)

A vibrant mix of greens, fruits, nuts, and zesty dressing, artfully arranged to delight both taste and sight.

# What You Need:

→ Greens

01 - 4 cups mixed baby greens (arugula, spinach, watercress)

→ Vegetables & Fruits

02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 ripe avocado, sliced
04 - 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
05 - 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
06 - ½ cup pomegranate seeds

→ Cheese & Nuts

07 - ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
08 - ¼ cup toasted pine nuts

→ Dressing

09 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
11 - 1 teaspoon honey
12 - ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Arrange mixed baby greens on a large serving platter, forming a subtle spiral or sweeping curve resembling the Golden Ratio.
02 - Place cherry tomatoes, avocado slices, yellow bell pepper, cucumber, and pomegranate seeds along the spiral, starting with larger elements at the focal point and tapering outward.
03 - Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese and toasted pine nuts over the salad, focusing slightly more at the spiral's focal area for visual emphasis.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until fully emulsified.
05 - Drizzle the dressing evenly over the arranged salad just before serving.
06 - Serve immediately to maintain the integrity of the arrangement and showcase the presentation.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes as good as it looks, and watching people's faces light up when you set it down is honestly half the joy.
  • Zero cooking means you can make this on the busiest weeknight and still feel like you've created something special.
  • Every bite has a different combination of textures and flavors because nothing gets lost in a bowl—every ingredient shines.
02 -
  • Slice your avocado at the last possible moment—right before you plate or right over the salad itself—or it'll brown and lose that luminous green color that makes this whole thing sing.
  • The dressing is best made just before serving, but if you must make it ahead, don't add it to the salad until the moment you're about to serve, or your greens will wilt and lose their crispness.
03 -
  • Chill your platter for a few minutes before assembling if you have time—everything stays crisper longer, and cold dishes are more refreshing on warm days.
  • Make your dressing in a small jar with a tight lid so you can shake it up right before serving, emulsifying it all over again just as you pour.
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