A salad is only as good as its dressing, and this one is all about flavor-forward balance. Grainy mustard brings texture and bite, soy sauce adds savory depth, garlic gives it backbone, and lemon keeps everything bright. The result is a dressing that turns simple little gem lettuce into something genuinely exciting.
This is intentionally a simple salad, because sometimes that’s exactly what a menu needs. When you’ve got heavier dishes on the table — rich bean gratins, fluffy focaccia, buttery mains, you want something crisp and refreshing to cut through it all. Texture and contrast matter, especially once you’re a few bites in.
Little gems are ideal here: crunchy, sturdy, and perfectly sized for soaking up dressing without wilting. Tossed lightly and finished with an extra drizzle, this salad looks good, and balances out a meal without trying to steal the spotlight. Bonus: the vinaigrette also makes a great marinade!
Little Gem Salad with Mustard Soy Vinaigrette
Ingredients
Salad
- 6 heads little gem lettuce washed and dried
Mustard Soy Vinaigrette
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup grainy mustard
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 garlic cloves grated
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon about 2 tablespoons juice
- Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together the grainy mustard, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, grated garlic, lemon zest, and lemon juice until smooth.
- Slowly stream in the olive oil while whisking continuously to emulsify the vinaigrette.
- Taste and season with kosher salt and black pepper as needed.
- Toss the little gem lettuce with about two-thirds of the vinaigrette until evenly coated.
- Transfer to a shallow serving bowl and drizzle the remaining vinaigrette over the top just before serving.
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