Serve this simple spring salad as a healthy side dish to your favorite protein! It goes really well with meat, fish and vegetarian dishes. If you’re in the mood for a light and fresh spring veggie salad, grab some lettuce, radishes and onions and chop them up. You’ll have this simple side dish on the table in 5 minutes!
You’ll Love This Fresh Spring Salad
Because it’s
- super easy to make
- ready in no time
- refreshing and light
- the perfect vegetable side dish
- perfect for tacos / or in wraps of any kind
- a great base for healthy bowls
So, when I was a kid, which was a LONG time ago, my grandma used to make a salad similar to this one all the time during spring. She of course, didn’t have any avocados in it, because where would you get avocados in the 80s in Bulgaria? Bananas were a luxury. Ham and cheese? Only on special occasions. And yet, life was good somehow. Light. Real. Probably because I was a child. I don’t think I had an avocado until I was 19, when I moved to Germany.
But let’s get back to the spring salad! I can say, from the bottom of my heart, I hated it when I was a kid. I don’t think there are many children who love eating salads, let alone lettuce-based salads like this one. Grown-ups on the other hand – they couldn’t get enough of it. Paired with some bread, cheese or eggs and with some rakia (the Bulgarian version of vodka/tequila – as you can tell I know nothing about alcohol) in the evening.
Now that I’ve gotten older, this salad is basically made for me. I love it and actually had it on its own for lunch when I took the pictures. I was craving something lighter and this spring salad recipe did the job!
Simple Spring Salad Ingredients
- Lettuce. I had some curly lettuce in my fridge, but honestly, any kind of lettuce will do here! Don’t overthink it – use whatever leafy greens you have and love!
- Radishes. Spring is their primetime – so grab some crunchy spicy radishes and slice them up! I actually think of radishes as the spring version of a cucumber – because they’re crunchy. I know, they don’t have much else in common. One is also a fruit, guess which one! A recipe and a quiz – you’re welcome!
- Onions or even better – scallions. Scallions have a milder flavor, but if you only have onions – a little bit will do!
- Avocado. I used half an avocado to add a bit more substance and creaminess to the salad.
- Olives. Now, this is optional, but if you love olives, chop some thinly and throw them into the mix.
- Fresh parsley for extra freshness!
And that’s it! We’re keeping it simple. That’s the secret to a good salad like this one – simplicity! Additionally, we’ll add salt, lemon juice and some olive oil to taste.
How To Make A Healthy Spring Salad
The main things you need to do are chop and toss! Here’s the step-by-step:
- Wash the lettuce, parsley and radishes thoroughly! And I mean this from the bottom of my heart. One time, I didn’t rinse the lettuce super thoroughly and I saw a snail crawling out of the bowl while I was eating my salad. After I screamed and scared the snail, I’ve been washing vegetables super thoroughly. Separate into leaves and wash each leaf. Also, wash the scallions if you’re using them. If using the onion, peel it.
- Chop everything finely – the lettuce, parsley, the scallions/onion, the olives, and the avocado. Slice the radishes.
- Add all the vegetables into a large bowl, add some olive oil, lemon juice and salt and toss. Have a taste and adjust for salt and pepper.
How To Serve
This super fresh spring salad with lettuce and radishes is perfect as a:
- side dish for grilled chicken, meatballs, pan-seared salmon or shrimp
- base for power bowls like falafel bowls or chicken bowls
- filling for different wraps like these or these
Here I served it with hummus, tzatziki, baked chicken and a few leftover chickpea patties (basically whatever was leftover from the week). It was delicious!
More Options
Here are some changes you can make to the salad:
- add some toasted seeds like sesame, pumpkin or sesame seeds
- throw in some hard-boiled eggs or tuna for a more filling low-carb salad
- add in some arugula, dill or fresh basil for more flavor and added nutrition
More Easy Spring Recipes
I truly hope you try and enjoy this simple spring salad recipe! If you’re as excited about spring as myself, here are some more delicious spring recipes to try:
Spring Salad
A light and fresh spring vegetable salad with lettuce, radishes and avocado! The perfect healthy side dish that goes really well with meat, fish and vegetarian mains!
Ingredients
- 3 cups lettuce
- ½ avocado
- 1 cup radishes, sliced
- 1/2 small onion, thinly chopped*
- 1 tbsp olives, thinly chopped
- 1/4 cup parsley, thinly chopped
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash lettuce, radishes, parsley and scallions thoroughly. If using - peel the onion.
- Thinly chop the lettuce, parsley, onion (scallions), avocado and olives. Slice the radishes, so that they're still crunchy.
- Add salt, pepper, olive oil and lemon juice to taste and toss.
- Enjoy with your favorite mains!
Notes
*or 1-2 scallions
Nutrition Information
Yield 2 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 137Total Fat 10gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 8gCholesterol 0mgSodium 216mgCarbohydrates 11gFiber 6gSugar 3gProtein 3g
Originally published in April 2023, last updated in April 2026.