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    The Life Jolie » Sides » Marinated Vegetable Salad

    Marinated Vegetable Salad

    Published: Jun 14, 2021 · Modified: Aug 31, 2022 by Jessy Freimann · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Marinated Vegetable Salad is a seriously delicious make-ahead salad option that will have everyone coming back for more!

    closeup of a bowl with marinated vegetable salad

    Marinated Vegetable Salad

    This post contains Affiliate Links. Please see the disclaimer here.

    This summer salad is filled with plump, juicy tomatoes, fresh cucumbers, cauliflower florets, carrots, celery, and onions in a zesty homemade marinade.

    We can all thank my cousin Maryann for graciously agreeing to share this irresistible vegetarian salad. After the first forkful hits your mouth you'll feel like you've died and gone to veggie heaven!

    We have salads galore that will either complete your meal or can be served as the main course, like my Copycat Panera Bread BBQ Chicken Salad, Crab Macaroni Salad, and Pesto Tortellini Salad.

    Why You'll Love This Veggie Salad

    • Simple & healthy
    • A potluck and picnic staple
    • Packed with nutrients
    • Perfect side for holidays
    • Easily customized
    • Bursting with vibrant fresh veggies
    marinated vegetable salad in a wooden bowl

    How To Make Marinated Vegetable Salad

    Step 1: Prep the vegetables

    Slice, cut or dice the veggies and add them to a large bowl.

    Step 2: Prepare the marinade

    Combine all of the marinade ingredients in a small bowl and whisk.

    Step 3: Toss and Chill

    Toss the fresh vegetables in the homemade marinade. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours or overnight.

    Tips for making marinated vegetable salad

    • Make ahead veggie salad - This is a great make ahead option and one that can be easily doubled or tripled for a crowd!
    • Easily customizable - You can totally alter the amounts of veggies to your taste.
    • Save time - For an easy shortcut, buy bags of pre-chopped vegetables. They are typically delicious no matter what season you buy them.
    • Don't forget to stir - Be sure to give the vegetarian salad a good stir before serving as the marinade tends to settle to the bottom of the bowl.
    • Add protein - This is a fantastically healthy option to make at the beginning of the week and serve for lunch with your protein of choice!
    • Don't skip the marinade - Give yourself enough time- you want to let it marinate for at least 2 hours, although overnight is better.
    overhead closeup of veggie salad

    Summer Salad Variations

    • Cheese | Add a sprinkle of your favorite shreds! Cheddar, mozzarella, and even pepper jack will taste great. Or add some goat cheese, feta, or parmesan for a fun spin on this marinated vegetable salad!
    • Protein | Grilled chicken, bacon, tuna, shrimp, or sirloin steak are great protein options. Diced eggs would also be great!
    • Herbs | Diced oregano, parsley, dill, or cilantro are refreshing and add a pop of color and vibrant flavor.

    Helpful tools:

    1. Mixing bowl
    2. Wooden spoon
    3. Chef's knife
    4. Cutting board
    5. Whisk
    6. Measuring cups
    7. Measuring spoons
    wooden bowl filled with vegetable salad

    Can this be made ahead?

    Yes and it should be! You want to give it at least 2 hours to marinate, but overnight is preferred.

    Do I have to let the vegetarian salad marinade for 2 hours?

    Yes, to get the ultimate results you must let it marinate for a minimum of 2 hours. This will help tenderize the vegetables and infuse the flavors of the marinade.

    How long do leftovers last?

    This will last covered in the fridge for up to 5 days. For best results, store the veggie salad in a glass container. Glass tends to keep the summer salad, fresh longer.

    Mason jars work great, especially when you are eating it on the go.

    What are some more vegetables I can add?

    Go crazy and add all the extra veggies you want to this summer salad. I base what I add depending on what is on sale and what's in season. Here are my top go to vegetables:

    • Zucchini
    • Bell Peppers - I like red because they are sweeter!
    • Broccoli Florets
    • Mushrooms
    • Snow Peas
    • Radish

    A square close up overhead image zooming in on the veggies in the marinated vegetables salad including cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, carrots, celery, cucumbers and onion.

    Marinated Vegetable Salad

    Jessy Freimann
    Marinated Vegetable Salad is a seriously delicious make-ahead salad option that will have everyone coming back for more!
    4.95 from 18 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Marinating time 2 hrs
    Total Time 10 mins
    Course Salad
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 ¾ cup servings

    Ingredients
      

    Vegetable Salad

    • 2 cups cauliflower florets, thinly sliced
    • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
    • 2 cups carrots thinly sliced
    • 2 cups celery thinly sliced
    • 2 cups cucumbers, thinly sliced (you could also substitute zucchini for this if you prefer, or a combo of both)
    • 1 medium onion, thinly sliced

    Marinade

    • ¾ cup olive oil
    • ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
    • 3 Tablespoons white wine vinegar
    • 1 clove garlic, minced
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon, ground mustard powder
    • ⅛ teaspoon pepper (I used white pepper)

    Instructions
     

    • Combine all veggies in a large bowl.
    • In a smaller bowl, whisk together marinade ingredients until well combined.
    • Pour the marinade over the veggies and gently toss to fully coat.
    • Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours (or better if overnight!).

    Notes

    This lasts up to a week in the refrigerator.
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    If you tried this recipe please comment and rate it 🙂 I love hearing your feedback and answering your questions!

    Looking for some other awesome salad recipes?

    • Cajun Black Bean and Corn Salad
    • Crunchy Red Cabbage Salad
    • Green Bean Salad

    You can find a full index of my recipes here.

    Don’t forget to follow The Life Jolie on Pinterest for more recipe inspiration!

    Or if Pinterest isn’t your style, bookmark this post!

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    Comments

    1. Tiffany says

      January 15, 2019 at 1:23 pm

      Omg! I was a little worried when I didn't see any comments (not good experiences with no comment pins 😵) but WOW! It hasn't even marinated for the two hours yet and I'm amazed at how wonderful this tastes! This recipe is my new favorite! Thanks so much! Ps- this is my first ever food review comment 🤦
      Reply
      • Jessy Freimann says

        January 15, 2019 at 5:52 pm

        Thanks Tiffany- that was my exact reaction when I tried it at a family picnic- I'm so glad you love it! I think people comment less on blogs now that they're more active on social media. But I'm so grateful for your feedback!
        Reply
    2. Bubbles says

      June 06, 2019 at 7:36 am

      Does the marinade soften the vegetables? I was thinking of blanching the cauliflower and carrots since I don’t like them super hard. What do you think?
      Reply
      • Jessy Freimann says

        June 07, 2019 at 3:02 pm

        Hi- They soften slightly but they're still pretty crispy. If you prefer them softer I'd encourage you to blanch them for a couple minutes and plunge them into an ice bath to stop the cooking and cool completely before marinating. enjoy :)
        Reply
        • Bubbles says

          June 30, 2019 at 3:59 pm

          I decided to try the recipe exactly as is and decided (for us) there is no need to blanch the veggies. They kept their crunch but because I chopped them thinly, as recommended, everything was perfect. Will be making this again.
          Reply
          • Jessy Freimann says

            July 06, 2019 at 2:01 pm

            I'm so glad it worked out so well!
            Reply
    3. Rachel says

      August 01, 2021 at 5:36 pm

      Do you add honey in the marinade ? I see it says honey in the description of the marinade before you get to the ingredients, but it’s not listed as an ingredient.
      Reply
      • Jessy Freimann says

        August 16, 2021 at 10:43 am

        Hi Rachel- Thanks for pointing that out- it was definitely a typo and I'm off to fix it now. Sorry for the confusion.
        Reply
        • Brenda says

          December 19, 2021 at 3:18 pm

          I don’t see anything about honey in this marinate. Saw it in a comment. You mentioned you fixed it. Does it have honey and if so how much?
          Reply
          • Jessy Freimann says

            December 23, 2021 at 4:01 pm

            Hi Brenda- that had been a previous typo but it's not part of the recipe. Enjoy!
            Reply
    4. Lacee says

      March 04, 2022 at 1:50 pm

      Hi! Weird question, Is the ground mustard in powder form (seasoning) or actual mustard? Thanks!
      Reply
      • Jessy Freimann says

        March 08, 2022 at 10:25 am

        Hi Lacee- Sorry, I should have been more clear- it's ground mustard powder. I'll go update the recipe now.
        Reply

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