Authentic 1977 Vans Style 36 Salad

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-02 · Updated 2026-04-02

A vibrant, layered salad inspired by the 1977 Vans Style 36, featuring precise ingredient placement and multi-textured components that mirror the shoe's authentic construction. This mediterranean-inspired salads ready in about 20 minutes pairs Mixed greens, Cherry tomatoes, Cucumber into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 6 cups Mixed greens
• 1 cup, halved Cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 cup, thinly sliced Cucumber
• 1/4 cup, thinly sliced Red onion
• 1/2, diced Avocado
• 1/2 cup, drained Chickpeas
• 2 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
• 3 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp Honey
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1/4 tsp Sea salt
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar, 3 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp honey, 1/4 tsp sea salt, and 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper until emulsified and smooth.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, combine 6 cups mixed greens, 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, 1/2 cup thinly sliced cucumber, 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion, 1/2 diced avocado, and 1/2 cup drained chickpeas.
3. Step 3: Drizzle 3/4 of the dressing over the salad mixture and toss gently with tongs until all ingredients are evenly coated and the greens are lightly dressed.
4. Step 4: Arrange the dressed salad on a chilled plate, creating distinct layers: place the avocado pieces in the center, surround with tomatoes, then arrange cucumber and red onion around the perimeter, and finally scatter chickpeas over the top.
5. Step 5: Drizzle the remaining dressing over the salad just before serving, creating a beautiful visual contrast that mirrors the authentic layered construction of vintage footwear.