Crunchy Lemon-Pesto Garden Salad

Name: Crunchy Lemon-Pesto Garden Salad
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: 5 tablespoons prepared pesto; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest; 1-1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard; 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; 2-1/2 cups yellow summer squash, thinly sliced; 1-3/4 cups mini cucumber, thinly sliced; 3/4 cup fresh peas; 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese; 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions; 5 thick-sliced bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

I love using fresh vegetables straight from the garden to prepare this salad. If I pick the squash and cucumbers early enough, their skins are so tender that there's no need to remove them! Best yet, it's easily adaptable—any fresh veggie from the garden can be swapped in with delicious results! —Carmell Childs, Clawson, Utah

Ingredients

5 tablespoons prepared pesto
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1-1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2-1/2 cups yellow summer squash, thinly sliced
1-3/4 cups mini cucumber, thinly sliced
3/4 cup fresh peas
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
5 thick-sliced bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

Directions

In a bowl, whisk together the first six ingredients until blended. In another bowl, combine squash, cucumber, peas, Parmesan and green onions. Pour dressing over salad; toss to coat. Top with bacon to serve.

Nutrition Facts

3/4 cups: 159 calories, 11g fat (3g saturated fat), 13mg cholesterol, 586mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 8g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 fat, 1 vegetable.

Originally published as Crunchy Lemon-Pesto Garden Salad in Taste of Home Summer 2018