This dandelion salad recipe is a delicious and nutritious dish that can be ready in just 25 minutes. It's a great option for a quick and healthy meal, packed with the unique flavor of dandelion greens.
This dandelion salad is a great alternative to traditional green salads like spinach and arugula. The best part? It pairs wonderfully with couscous, adding a refreshing twist to this classic grain.
With a balanced mix of healthy fats from avocado, crunchy veggies, and hearty couscous, this salad is a balanced meal that the whole family will love.
If you're a fan of this recipe, I recommend trying out my heirloom tomato salad or radicchio salad with homemade dressing, both of which are packed with fresh ingredients and vibrant flavors.
Why This Is The Best Dandelion Salad Recipe
- Quick and Easy: This recipe is a cinch to prepare. With a total time of just 25 minutes, you'll have a delicious meal ready in no time.
- Surprisingly Delicious: Dandelion greens may not be a common ingredient in your kitchen, but they add a unique, slightly bitter flavor that works wonderfully in this salad.
- Family Favorite: This salad is a hit with the whole family. With creamy avocado, crunchy cucumbers, and sweet bell peppers, it's a balanced meal that everyone will love.
- Unique Flavors: This recipe introduces you to the unique flavor of dandelion greens. Paired with creamy avocado and tangy yogurt, it's a flavor you won't soon forget.
Key Ingredients
Here's an overview of some key ingredients for this recipe. For the full list of ingredients and measurements, please scroll to the recipe card below.
- Couscous: This tiny pasta will add a hearty, comforting element to our salad.
- Dandelion Greens: These slightly bitter greens are the star of our salad, providing a unique flavor and plenty of nutrients.
- Avocado: We'll use ripe avocados to add a creamy texture and rich, buttery flavor to our salad.
- Almond Yogurt: This dairy-free alternative adds a tangy, creamy element to our dressing.
- Red Bell Pepper: Julienne, diced and added to our salad, this pepper provides a sweet, crunchy contrast.
- Garlic: Push through a garlic press, this ingredient infuses our avocado dressing with its unique, aromatic flavor.
- Red Wine Vinegar: This tangy vinegar helps to balance the rich flavors in our salad.
How to Make Dandelion Salad
Making this incredible dandelion salad recipe at home is super easy and will give you great results every single time. Here's how to make it step by step:
Prepare the couscous: In a medium pot, combine water, olive oil, and a pinch of salt. Bring it to a boil, stir in the couscous, then remove from the heat and cover.
Make the avocado dressing: In a medium bowl, mash the avocado and then add garlic, yogurt, vinegar, and salt and pepper to your liking. Mix until the dressing is smooth and creamy. You can adjust the tanginess by adding more vinegar if you prefer.
Prep the dandelion greens: Remove the dandelion leaves from the stems and discard the stems. Chop the leaves into bite-size pieces.
Combine the salad ingredients: Fluff the couscous with a fork and add it to the bowl of dandelion greens. Add in the cucumber, bell pepper, and green onion as well.
Assemble the salad: Pour the avocado dressing over the salad and toss until everything is evenly coated. Serve your dandelion salad immediately and enjoy this healthy, delicious meal!
For a full list of ingredients and instructions, see the recipe card below.
Tips For Making the Best Dandelion Salad
- Choose Fresh Dandelion Greens: When making this dandelion salad, it's important to choose fresh dandelion greens. Look for ones that are vibrant green and free from wilting. Fresh dandelion greens will give your salad a crisp and refreshing flavor.
- Prepare the Dandelion Greens: Before adding the dandelion greens to your salad, make sure to properly prepare them. This means pulling the leaves off from the tough stems and discarding the stems. Then, use a knife to chop the leaves into bite-size pieces. This will make the greens easier to eat and enjoy in your salad.
- Master the Avocado Dressing: The avocado dressing is a key component of this salad. To make sure it's smooth and creamy, mash the avocado well and mix it with the garlic, yogurt, and red wine vinegar. Season with salt and pepper to your liking.
- Perfect the Couscous: For the couscous, bring water, olive oil, and a pinch of salt to a boil in a medium pot. Stir in the couscous, then close the lid and remove from the heat. Fluff the couscous with a fork before adding it to the salad. This will make sure that your couscous is light and fluffy, not clumpy.
Serving Suggestions
- For a light lunch, pair this dandelion salad with a side of grilled chicken or oven-baked chicken thighs. The protein will make this already-filling salad even more satisfying.
- For a picnic or potluck, serve this dandelion salad alongside some crusty bread and a selection of cheeses. It's a unique dish that's guaranteed to impress!
- This dandelion salad also makes a great side dish. Pair it with your favorite grilled steak or fish for a complete and delicious meal.
Recipe Variation Ideas
- Fruity: Add a handful of fresh berries such as raspberries or strawberries to the salad. The fruity burst will add a refreshing twist to the earthy dandelion greens.
- Mediterranean: For a Mediterranean twist, try adding crumbled feta cheese and Kalamata olives to the salad. The salty tang of the feta and olives pairs beautifully with the creamy avocado dressing and adds a depth of flavor to the dish.
- Protein-Packed: Mix in some cooked quinoa or chickpeas. Not only will this make the salad more filling, but it will also add a nutty flavor that compliments the other ingredients.
Frequently Asked Questions
The dandelion is a part of the sunflower family. Green dandelion leaves are edible and they have a slightly bitter taste. To me, they resemble radicchio, which has a very similar taste but its texture is more crunchy.
Absolutely! This dandelion salad can be prepared ahead of time. The avocado-yogurt dressing as well as the cooked couscous can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
The best way to prepare the dandelion greens for this salad is to pull the leaves off from the tough stems and discard them. Then, use a knife to chop the leaves into bite-size pieces. This will make the greens easier to eat and enjoy in your salad.
If you don't have almond yogurt, you can use regular yogurt or sour cream as a substitute in the avocado dressing. Just make sure to adjust the amount to your liking and check the consistency.
How to Store Leftovers
- Refrigerating: After enjoying this delicious dandelion salad, you may have some leftovers. Don't worry, you can store this salad in the fridge. Simply place it in an airtight container and it will keep fresh for up to 2 days.
- Freezing: Unfortunately, this salad is not suitable for freezing. Freezing can alter the texture and flavor of the dandelion greens, avocado, and other fresh ingredients in the salad.
Try These Delicious Salads
Recipe
Dandelion Greens Salad With Couscous
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ c water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 c couscous
- 1 bunch (about 4 cups) Dandelion greens washed
- 2 ripe avocado
- 2 cloves garlic pushed through a garlic press
- 6 tablespoon almond yogurt
- 1-2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- ½ English cucumber julienned or diced
- 1 red bell pepper julienned or diced
- 4 green onion finely chopped
- salt, pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a medium pot combine water, olive oil and a pinch of salt. Bring it to a boil, add stir in couscous, close the lid and remove from the heat.
- In a medium bowl mash the avocado, add garlic, yogurt, 1 tablespoon vinegar, salt and pepper to taste. Mix the dressing until smooth and creamy. You may wish to stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon of vinegar.
- Pull the dandelion leaves off from the tough stems and discard the stems. Use a knife to chop the leaves into bite-size pieces. Transfer the dandelion to a big salad bowl.
- Fluff couscous with a fork and add it to a bowl with dandelion greens along with cucumber, bell pepper and green onion.
- Pour the avocado dressing over the salad. Toss until the salad is coated with dressing. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Iryna Bychkiv is the founder and writer of the culinary website Lavender & Macarons, where she shares clean, European-inspired recipes that are delicious, easy to prepare, and made with wholesome ingredients. Iryna loves creating meals that are simple yet healthy and unique, including vegan and vegetarian recipes.
Iryna is also a freelance writer for MSN and Associated Press Wire.
Billie says
Anxious to try some of these yummy sounding & healthy ideas, especially now that it's almost impossible to afford to eat anything.
Iryna says
Billie, I hope you'll have a chance to try some of my recipes:)