Collard Green Salad with Sweet Balsamic Vinaigrette | That Salad Lady

Ingredients

• 1 pound fresh collard greens, finely chopped (about 6 cups)*
• 1 cucumber with skin, seeded, sliced and chopped into bite-sized cubes
• 1 red pepper, cored, sliced and chopped into bite-sized pieces
• 1 yellow pepper, cored, sliced and chopped into bite-sized pieces
• 1-2 cups grape tomatoes, halved (other tomato types also work)
• 1/2 red onion, sliced and chopped or diced
• 4-6 green onions (scallions) with tops and bulbs, thinly sliced
• 8-12 fresh okra pods, cut into 1/4-1/2-inch pieces**
• 1 ripe avocado peeled, pitted and diced or sliced***
• 3/4 cup goat cheese crumbles (optional)****
• 8 strips of bacon, pan-fried or oven-baked, sliced and chopped into tiny bits (optional)*****
• 2-3 tablespoons chia seeds (optional)
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon pure honey
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon parsley
• Sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste