Firefly Garden Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-05 · Updated 2026-04-05

A crisp and colorful salad that mimics the flicker of fireflies, featuring a medley of fresh greens, citrus, and a zesty vinaigrette. This american-inspired salads ready in about 15 minutes pairs mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, red onion 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 180 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

• 4 cups mixed greens
• 1/2 cup, halved cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 cup, thinly sliced red onion
• 1/4 cup, diced cucumber
• 1/4 cup, diced avocado
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp, juiced lemon
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 4 cups mixed greens, 1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes, 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion, 1/4 cup diced cucumber, and 1/4 cup diced avocado.
2. Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp honey, 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp black pepper until emulsified.
3. Step 3: Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently to coat evenly, then sprinkle with 1/4 cup sunflower seeds before serving.