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Baby Lettuce Greens with Feta, Pine Nuts & Grape Tomatoes

Baby Lettuce Greens with Feta, Pine Nuts & Grape Tomatoes
A quick, versatile fresh summer salad as either a light side or a meal.

Dinner doesn’t need to be complicated. Adding a side salad with fresh greens, vegetables, nuts and cheeses is not only a healthier choice, it’s quickly do-able even after a long day. Summer welcomes lighter fare and the opportunity to enjoy seasonal produce to create a myriad of different salads as either a meal or an accompaniment to larger meals.

I happened upon a generously packed clam shell of sweet grape tomatoes and some organic greens of baby lettuces perfect for versatile salads.  This is the type of salad that serves well with practically anything you pair it with (well, just about everything!). The juicy sweet grape tomatoes, pungent flavors of feta cheese and delicate buttery pine nuts rounds a balance of flavors served amongst fresh baby greens and lettuces.   Drizzle a light vinaigrette on the salad and maybe toss a few dried cranberries and this salad could be a light meal in and of itself.

The eclectic combination of flavorful ingredients for this salad was perfect with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes and some beautiful filet mignons we enjoyed a couple of nights ago.

Teenie Notes

  • No pine nuts on hand?   Substitute sunflower seeds, candied pecans or walnuts.
  • Roasting the pine nuts is optional. However, the creaminess and natural buttery flavors of the pine nuts really come through when roasted. If you’re going to roast them, save yourself some time for future salads and prepare more than you need. Store them in a sealed baggy or air-tight container in the fridge and they’ll be ready for your next dish or snacking!
  • No feta cheese in the fridge?   Blue cheese is a good substitute!
  • Dried cranberries sprinkled in the salad would be a nice addition.
  • Leftover roasted chicken or steak, warmed, sliced thin and fanned out on top of the salad would be wonderful too.

Roasted Pine Nuts
Roasted Pine Nuts (pignolias)

Baby Lettuce Greens with Feta, Pine Nuts & Grape Tomatoes
source Cristina from TeenieCakes.com

Serves 2

Ingredients

2 1/2 – 3 cups of mixed lettuce greens, loosely packed
10-12 sweet grape tomatoes, sliced lengthwise
2 – 3 tablespoons feta cheese, crumbled
3 tablespoons pine nuts (pignolias), roasted

Dried cranberries (optional)

Light Vinaigrette, or 1 whole lemon

Tellicherry peppercorns, grind to taste

Directions

Roasting pine nuts:   Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spread pine nuts on a baking sheet and place in oven for 10-13 minutes.   Keep an eye on them as you don’t want them to burn.

Place mixed lettuce greens in the middle of each plate.    Arrange the grape tomatoes around the salad.  Sprinkle feta cheese, pine nuts and optional dried cranberries on salad.   

Drizzle a light vinaigrette OR squeeze a fresh lemon on salad and finish it off with freshly ground peppercorns, to taste.

Sweet Grape Tomatoes
Sweet Grape Tomatoes

Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. The Duo Dishes says

    There’s something weird going on with pine nuts in LA! Where’d you find them? TJs is totally out, and they’re totally expensive in other stores. That’s too bad because they are awesome and make a great addition to anything!

    • Cristina - Teenie Cakes says

      Thanks for the heads up, Duo Dishes. We’ve been having a Twitter conversation about the lack of and pricey issues currently surrounding pine nuts. Must be concerning for sure if Trader Joe’s is out. Hurry… head over to Costco! =)

  7. Kristi Rimkus says

    This is the perfect time of year for these light salads. There’s plenty of fresh vegetables in the farmers markets, and my garden is starting to produce an abundance of lettuces.

    • Cristina - Teenie Cakes says

      Hi Kristi – I’m so enjoying produce shopping right now! I luv marveling at the new produce and smelling everything. Wish we had better Farmer’s Markets around here. Oh! You must have a gorgeous garden. Please help me with mine (I’m a bit challenged!) =)

  10. The Cilantropist says

    I couldn’t agree with you more, I make salads like this for dinner ALL the time!!! These types of dishes are my saving grace when it comes to eating a healthy dinner. This one looks especially beautiful with the bright greens and sunny grape tomatoes. 🙂

    • Cristina - Teenie Cakes says

      Cilantropist…I think because we enjoy such beautious weather more often than not in our neck of the woods, there’s just something about the warmer weather and not wanting to feel bogged down from being full. There’s too much more of a gorgeous day to enjoy and feeling full from a meal can be a kill-joy (even if it’s tasty!) =)

  11. Chef Dennis says

    I like the idea of the candied walnuts, much better than pine nuts….the salad looks wonderful with the feta and until the real tomatoes come in grape tomatoes are the best choice!
    Great salad!

  17. Laura says

    This dish looks absolutely delicious! I will definitely get these ingredients to make this on my next visit to the market =)

    • Cristina - Teenie Cakes says

      LOL! Monet … I can’t tell you how I heart feta. If I can toss feta in it…I will! I even found a recipe for muffins that use feta (it was sooo good too). We’re both happy!

  20. Samantha says

    Adding chicken or meat like you mentioned makes it a meal! Great ingredients and ideas. I could have this for lunch today!!

  22. redkathy says

    Glorious display! Great tips too. I serve salad every night and you are right, it doesn’t have to be complicated to be delish!

    • Cristina - Teenie Cakes says

      Hi Viviane – toasted nuts…aren’t they just the icing? I really enjoy adding ’em in dishes, especially baked goods. Best of all, they’re good for you – in moderation! 🙂

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