everyday butter lettuce salad

prep: 10 MINUTES | total: 10 MINUTES | serves 4

Everyone should have a recipe for a great basic salad in their back pocket, whether you need something light and fresh to go alongside a dinner or lunch entrée or a simple foundation for layering in other ingredients. With its bright lemon vinaigrette, crunchy almonds, creamy avocado, and a sprinkle of salty Parmesan, this salad is simple and versatile—but not boring. You can make it into a meal by adding heartier ingredients like chicken, shrimp, or canned beans. And I highly recommend taking a few minutes to whisk together the lemon vinaigrette to stash in the fridge because it is more delicious (and nutritious) than anything you can buy at the store, plus it pairs well with just about everything. You could even drizzle it over a plate of steamed, sautéed, roasted, or grilled veggies and call it a dish.

LEMON VINAIGRETTE

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (1 large lemon)

1 tablespoon golden balsamic vinegar or Champagne vinegar

1 teaspoon honey

1 garlic clove, minced

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

BUTTER LETTUCE SALAD

8 cups chopped butter lettuce (2 large heads)

2 ripe avocados, pitted, peeled, and sliced

⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese

¼ cup sliced almonds

1 Make the vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, honey, and garlic. You could also combine all of the ingredients in a jar, cover with a lid, and shake. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

2 Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, avocado slices, Parmesan, and almonds. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and toss. Serve immediately.