This simple salad makes a delicious side dish for any type of Mediterranean cuisine—including Greek, Italian, Spanish, Provençal, Moroccan or Turkish. What's more, a generous serve of this salad provides you with a healthy dose of phytochemicals, essential vitamins and minerals, dietary fiber and antioxidants.

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1½ tablespoons lemon juice

½ clove garlic—minced (crushed)

¼ teaspoon sea salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 handfuls roughly torn romaine (Cos) lettuce leaves

2 fresh Roma tomatoes—cut into ½-inch rounds (you can also use regular tomatoes and cut them into wedges)

½ green pepper (capsicum)—julienned

¼ small red onion—thinly sliced (you can vary this amount depending on how much you like raw red onions)

Variations: There are lots of possible additions to this basic salad, but keep in mind that it should remain a simple and light salad to accompany a meal. Toss through some garlic-rubbed croutons or a handful of chopped toasted nuts (like walnuts, pine nuts or hazelnuts), finely chopped capers, olives, sun-dried tomatoes or chopped anchovies, or a small amount of shaved or crumbled cheese.

Greek Salad. Classic Greek salad (horiatiki) with juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumber, sliced red onion, green pepper, crumbly feta cheese and plump kalamata olives.   Tuscan Peasant Salad. A rough country salad of torn romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cannellini beans, mushrooms, ham and hard-boiled eggs dressed with a tangy vinaigrette.   Mixed Greens, Cherry Tomato & Pine Nut Salad. An assortment of leafy greens combined with cherry tomatoes, pine nuts and a simple olive oil and lemon dressing.   Avocado, Tomato & Basil Salad. Roughly torn romaine lettuce, juicy tomatoes, red onion rings, cubes of creamy avocado, sliced black olives and fresh basil tossed with an Italian vinaigrette.

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