The Monica Salad

5 from 1 vote

This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.

The Monica Salad
So, there are certain people in my life that make amazing salads. My sister-in-law, Sarah, is one of these people. It doesn’t matter what is in the salad, this lady has a way with her fresh produce.

Another one of these people is my friend Monica, who, bless her heart, brought me this salad and a lasagna right after I had my baby. The lasagna was very good, but you guys….this salad was AMAZING. It was unique because the combination of ingredients within the salad was something I’ve never had before. So many different textures and flavors going on but it was the parsley dressing that made this salad so incredibly good.

Who knew, right?! Parsley? In salad dressing?

Yes, it’s a thing and yes, it’s good.

Now, this isn’t the *exact* recipe, but more of a copycat version made from my hazy, post-baby, exhausted, doped up memory of what Monica brought me that Sunday night. I did ask her for the recipe, but got a wicked craving for it impatient and less than 24 hours after asking, made my own version.

YOU GUYS. It’s good. The candied walnuts, blue cheese and dressing are what take this salad over the top.

Even my husband was like “this cheese in this salad is amazing!” –>coming from a man who hates smelly cheese! #miracle

Here’s how to make it:

blendtec

So, the first thing you’re going to want to do is grab a high powered blender to make the salad dressing. I used this Mini WildSide Jar with my Blendtec Blender…the perfect size for smaller quantities!

Blender with greens in it

Into your blender, add in some parsley. 3 cups loosely packed. This is a parsley dressing after all.

Blender with greens and garlic in it

Add in some garlic,

Squeezing a lime

lime juice,

Pouring Oil

olive oil,

Blender with greens and other ingredients in it

sugar, salt and pepper.

Oh, and I added vinegar too. Lets pretend I didn’t forget to take a picture of that step.

Blender with greens in it and other ingredients

So, now comes the fun part…add the lid and blend!

Blended greens in the blender

You can’t tell but this blender is on, working it’s magic 🙂

Blended greens in the blender

30 seconds later and we have some awfully green, awfully amazing dressing.

Monica Salad Dressing

So, grab your dressing and assemble your salad.

The Monica Salad

Into a large bowl {or two}, add in some lettuce, mushrooms, gorgonzola cheese, candied walnuts, red onion, avocado and celery. Weird combo, I know, but trust me! It’s good.

The Monica Salad

Drizzle with the dressing and get ready to LIVE. Forreals.

The Monica Salad Dressing

Store any extra dressing in an air tight container in the fridge.

Printable recipe below, friends! Have a great weekend 🙂

The Monica Salad
PrintPrint Pin ItPin It
5 from 1 vote

The Monica Salad

A yummy salad topped with candied walnuts, blue cheese, avocado, mushrooms, red onion and drizzled with a parsley vinaigrette.
servings 4 side servings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

For the parsley vinaigrette:

  • 3 cups curly parsley loosely packed
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice or lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
  • 1 large clove garlic chopped roughly
  • 1/3-1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • salt & pepper to taste

For the salad:

  • 5 oz pre washed lettuce I used a super greens blend
  • 1 ripe avocado diced
  • 4 large baby bella mushrooms sliced
  • 1/4 cup red onion finely diced
  • 1/3 cup roughly chopped candied walnuts plain walnuts are ok too!
  • 1/3 cup crumbled gorgonzola
  • 1 stalk celery finely diced

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients for dressing into a high powered blender. Blitz until completely smooth. You may need to shake the blender a time or two to get things moving and drizzle in an extra tablespoon of olive oil. Once completely smooth, set aside.
  • For the salad, add pre washed lettuce to a large bowl. Top with remaining ingredients and then drizzle generously with dressing. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 367kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 217mg | Potassium: 706mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 4159IU | Vitamin C: 69mg | Calcium: 137mg | Iron: 4mg
Course: Lunch, Salad
Cuisine: American
Keyword: monica salad
5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

Share a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

Recipe Rating




244 Responses
  1. Julie Kroske

    Oh My, I would make this parsley dressing for sure. My husband and I take salads to work 5 days a week. I am always looking for ways to change them up! This Mini Wildside Jar and blender would make packing salads fun again! The blender I have now is at least 20yeas old. I am afraid that because of its age and size, it doesn’t get much use. There are only 2 of us in the house and getting the monster out is just not going to happen!

  2. Tracy Sweet

    Oh my….I would absolutely make that dressing first! I might even have some salad with it…LOL
    I was just diagnosed as pre-diabetic so I really do need to get serious about the food I eat!

  3. Colette Lapeyre

    Just saved your recipe. The 1st thing I would make is that yummy salad dressing with the Blendtec blender & mini wide side jar. Looks amazing!!

  4. Ivanka Slominski

    My husband, who is a FINE chef when he applies himself, absolutely LOVES the creamy caesar salad dressing from our local ‘pizza’ restaurant. He has purchased it from them many times, since it is not available in our local grocery store. (mind you we live in a very small town.) But after reading the details of this recipe, mostly the dressing, a thought came to mind! What if I could experiment with this blender and make him his favorite salad dressing?! Wouldn’t that make me the bomb????? I’m thinking so! What fun it would be to try! But first things first. This recipe for the Monica Salad sounds amazing, and will be on this weekends menu. Thanks Lauren!

  5. Sheri

    I love the taste of parsley in anything so this dressing must be amazing! The first thing I would make in my Blendtec blender would be the copycat recipe for Cafe Rio’s Tomatillo Cilantro Lime Ranch dressing…yum!

  6. Susan

    Ahh… If it were in season, the first thing I would make with this blender is luscious, luscious gauzpacho, with fresh ripe tomatoes, red pepper, sherry vinegar, garlic and some stale bread. Because my blender isn’t strong enough for that silky texture. But it were right now, I would make this parsley vinaigrette, the thought of which is driving me crazy.

  7. Paula C

    I would make this salad and dressing! But I gotta say a mango and strawberry smoothie would tie for the first thing made.

    **love your blog!

  8. Rhonda Smith

    The first thing I’d make is the parsley dressing for the Monica salad!!!! It looks fantastic and I’m always trying new combinations in my salads. This is one I haven’t tried before.
    Thanks!

  9. jan morey

    never have owned his type of blender, and the dressing looks to be a wonderful choice for a new salad dressing, I would surely make this the very first thing in the blender offered.

  10. MJ Hansen

    All salad dressing should be made in that mini Blendtec blender! Goodby chopping garlic and herbs into minuscule pieces, and farewell wisk! The flavors must meld together so mush better and faster! Parsley dressing today–well I guess I will still be chopping and wisking!

  11. Tina Fike

    That salad does look amazing! Never wold have considered using parsley as a base for a dressing, but that’s probably why I’m not a chef… 🙂
    The first thing I would make in this lovely little blender if i won would be probably a smoothie or twelve!

  12. Diane Williams

    First thing I would make with the Blendtec Blender using the Mini WildSide Jar would be The Monica Salad. This recipe looks easy and like something that my boyfriend and daughter would love.

  13. Cherie L

    This dressing sounds amazing – it would be really easy to make with the Blendtec and the Wildside Jar, hoping to win…

  14. Heather B.

    Homemade almond butter, for sure! My food processor does an amazing job, but I’m sure a Blendtec would make it even smoother:)

  15. Michelle Sommers

    The first thing I would make in my Blendtec Blender would be this amazing salad dressing you just posted about! Yum!! (Along with the salad of course).

  16. Kathy R.

    Hi Lauren, This looks totally delicious!
    How long do you think the dressing would stay fresh in the fridge? Thanks for your awesome blog!

  17. Rebecca Gooden

    This salad sounds amazing. If I had the Blendtex Blender with the mini wild side jar, the first thing I would make is a Blended Coffee Smoothie using Bolthouse Farms Blended Coffee Prtein drink, Silk Almond Milk and some crushed ice. Yum!

  18. Leann Henderson

    I would make the dressing to this awesome looking salad….and use it for any other things from your fabulous recipes….Lauren, your posts and email is the highlight of my day..

“logos”