We’re kicking it old-fashioned at present with a Southern favourite that was a staple at our summer season gatherings rising up: 7 Layer Salad.
A stunner on the subject of presentation, conventional 7 layer salad is made with lettuce (normally iceberg lettuce), peas, tomatoes, bacon, a candy mayo-based dressing, cheddar cheese, and exhausting boiled eggs.
- Layer salad will not be tossed.
- As an alternative, visitors use lengthy tongs to succeed in down by way of the salad from the highest and seize a few of each layer.
- A salad you stack in an important massive trifle bowl would possibly sound odd, however at a sizzling summer season potluck, it hits the spot.
If you happen to grew up within the Midwest, seeing a “salad” that accommodates extra bacon, eggs, cheese, and mayo than precise greens most likely gained’t shock you (proper this solution to Wholesome Potato Salad, Ramen Salad, and Shrimp Pasta Salad in case you please).
If you happen to’re a longtime lover of layer salad, I do know you’ll respect the contemporary take I’ve on it right here.
- I swapped the iceberg for extra flavorful and nutritious romaine.
- I added additional veggies for colour and crunch.
- The normally bland dressing is amped up with Parmesan and garlic.
For many who respect their salads on the lighter/extra wholesome facet, you’ll love my model too.
- As an alternative of mayo (or Miracle Whip) and sugar within the dressing, I used Greek yogurt and honey.
- I reduce down on the bacon a bit. The unique requires a full pound, which (belief me, I by no means thought I’d say this) actually was an excessive amount of. It disrupted the concord of the opposite components.
- For cheese, this recipe opts for an additional sharp cheddar. You will get away with much less however nonetheless have the full-on style impact.
Methods to Make 7 Layer Salad
You’ll discover totally different variations of traditional 7 layer salads on-line.
Even “conventional” sources for a layered salad recipe (Kraft, Betty Crocker, Pioneer Lady) don’t completely agree.
The beneath relies on the model my household ate rising up at picnics.
Use it as a place to begin and be happy to swap in different greens for the layers.
You’ll be able to even have variations with greater than 7 layers in case you please!
- For instance, you are able to do a 7 layer salad with cauliflower florets for extra diet and crunch (swap it for the peas to scale back the carbs).
- For extra creaminess, a layer of diced avocado wouldn’t be remiss.
- Much more layer concepts: broccoli, celery, cucumber, corn, purple bell peppers. Use what you’re keen on!
The Components
- Romaine. Crisp, cool, and durable, romaine is the perfect selection for this salad. Its texture can stand as much as the hefty load of different components and gained’t grow to be soggy as rapidly.
- Bacon. Crispy, smoky bacon is a must have part of this salad. Bacon additionally helps make this salad extra filling. You can also swap the bacon for diced ham for the same impact.
- Laborious Boiled Eggs. A creamy complement to the crispy bacon. The eggs add wealthy taste, protein, and wholesome fat. (You need to use my On the spot Pot Boiled Eggs recipe to simply make them!)
- Crimson Onion. Soaking the purple onion in water first removes its harshness, leaving only a trace of chunk. You can even swap inexperienced onions, no have to soak.
- Tomatoes. Juicy cherry tomatoes add an exquisite sweetness to the salad and style incredible with the eggs and bacon.
- Frozen Peas. A simple means so as to add extra veggies. Whereas not everybody loves inexperienced peas in salad, right here they work.
- Additional Sharp Cheddar Cheese. The daring, tacky taste of additional sharp cheddar doesn’t get misplaced amongst the opposite components.
- Greek Yogurt Dressing. A easy mixture of nonfat Greek yogurt, Parmesan, honey (my swap for white sugar), apple cider vinegar, salt, and garlic powder. It’s creamy, tacky, tangy, salty, and a bit candy.
The Instructions
- Prepare dinner and crumble the bacon. Soak the purple onion, then pat it dry. Laborious boil the eggs, then peel and chop them.
- Stir the dressing components collectively.
- Add the romaine to a serving bowl.
- High the chopped lettuce with tomatoes and onions.
- Sprinkle on the peas and eggs.
- Unfold the dressing excessive, ending with shredded cheese and bacon. Chill for not less than 1 hour.
- Serve utilizing salad tongs and ENJOY!
Storage Suggestions
- To Retailer. Cowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate leftover salad for as much as 2 days.
Meal Prep Tip
As much as 1 day prematurely, exhausting boil the eggs, prepare dinner the bacon, and soak/chop the purple onion. You can even chop the tomatoes and romaine and shred the cheddar cheese. Refrigerate every ingredient till you’re prepared to complete the recipe.
What to Serve with 7 Layer Salad
Really useful Instruments to Make this Recipe
Present-Stopping Trifle Bowl
This trifle bowl is dishwasher, microwave, freezer, and fridge secure. Use it to point out off layered salads, desserts, or fill it with sweet for a enjoyable social gathering favor.
Layer on the love!
Continuously Requested Questions
I believe the perfect dish for a 7 layer salad is a trifle bowl (like this one). If you happen to don’t personal a trifle bowl, any massive, flat-bottomed clear glass bowl (like this enjoyable choice) will work tremendous.
To hurry up the prep time for this salad, you should purchase exhausting boiled eggs from the grocery retailer.
For the Salad:
- 8 ounces center-cut bacon
- 4 massive eggs
- 2/3 cup chopped purple onion
- 8 cups chopped romaine lettuce from about 2 romaine hearts (12 ounces chopped romaine)
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 (10-ounce) package deal frozen peas thawed
- 2/3 cup freshly shredded additional sharp cheddar cheese use yellow cheddar for probably the most colour distinction
For the Dressing:
- 1 1/4 cups nonfat plain Greek yogurt use low fats or entire for a extra decadent salad
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
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Prepare dinner and crumble or chop the bacon (see Baked Bacon within the Oven and Air Fryer Bacon for simple strategies). Place the purple onion in a small bowl and canopy with chilly water. Let sit 5 to 10 minutes, then drain and pat dry.
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Laborious boil the eggs: Convey a medium pot of salted water to a boil. With a slotted spoon, gently decrease the eggs into the boiling water. Alter the warmth to keep up a delicate, regular simmer. Let the eggs simmer at this low, mild boil for 8 minutes for barely jammy yolks (or prepare dinner as much as 9 minutes for absolutely set yolks). Within the meantime, put together a big ice tub. Use the slotted spoon to fastidiously switch the eggs to the ice tub. Gently crack the shells with the again of the spoon, then return them to the water (this makes them simpler to peel). Peel and chop.
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Put together the dressing: in a medium bowl, stir collectively the Greek yogurt, Parmesan, honey, vinegar, salt, and garlic powder. Style and alter seasoning as desired.
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Place the romaine within the backside of a LARGE, flat, clear serving bowl—you need to have the ability to see the layers and unfold them evenly; a trifle bowl works nicely when you’ve got one.
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Subsequent, construct the salad layers, spreading every evenly. Begin with the tomatoes and purple onions.
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Add the peas and eggs.
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Unfold the dressing evenly excessive. Layer on the cheese, then the bacon. Refrigerate for not less than 1 hour (or in a single day).
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To serve, use lengthy salad tongs or the same lengthy spoon that may can help you attain down by way of the layers. Ensure that every serving has a bit of all the things.
- TIP: Relying upon the scale of your serving bowl, chances are you’ll want to regulate the portions of every layer. Use your judgment and have enjoyable with it.
- TO STORE: Cowl and refrigerate leftover 7 layer salad for as much as 2 days. Any unused dressing could also be saved for 2-3 days within the fridge in an hermetic container or mason jar.
Serving: 1(of 10)Energy: 236kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 13gFats: 15gSaturated Fats: 6gPolyunsaturated Fats: 2gMonounsaturated Fats: 6gTrans Fats: 0.04gLdl cholesterol: 94mgPotassium: 404mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 3947IUVitamin C: 24mgCalcium: 164mgIron: 2mg
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