Dandelion Greens Lemon Vinaigrette (Printable Version)

Peppery dandelion greens combined with tangy lemon dressing, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese.

# Ingredient List:

→ Salad

01 - 6 cups dandelion greens, washed and roughly chopped
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
04 - 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
05 - 1/3 cup shaved Parmesan cheese

→ Lemon Vinaigrette

06 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
08 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
09 - 1 teaspoon honey
10 - 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
11 - 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# Directions:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
02 - Place the dandelion greens, cherry tomatoes, and red onion in a large salad bowl.
03 - Drizzle the lemon vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Sprinkle the toasted pine nuts and shaved Parmesan over the top.
05 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Dandelion greens have this intoxicating peppery bite that makes every other salad taste timid by comparison.
  • The lemon vinaigrette comes together in under a minute and tastes like you've been whisking for hours.
  • It's elegant enough to serve guests but simple enough that you'll actually make it on a Tuesday night.
02 -
  • Dandelion greens wilt faster than milder lettuces, so prep everything else before you wash and chop them, otherwise you'll be tossing a sad, droopy salad.
  • If your vinaigrette breaks and looks oily instead of emulsified, whisk in another tiny pinch of mustard and it'll come back together—this rescue move has saved me more than once.
03 -
  • Pat your dandelion greens completely dry after washing—any lingering water dilutes the vinaigrette and makes the whole thing taste muted.
  • Toast your pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for three minutes, shaking occasionally, and you'll unlock a buttery depth that's impossible to replicate any other way.
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