If you happen to’re in search of a light-weight and refreshing salad that skips the lettuce however not the flavour, this No Lettuce Salad is your reply. Full of garbanzo beans, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and a zesty dressing on a mattress of cottage cheese, it’s a satisfying and healthful salad that’s good for any meal.
Whether or not you’re having fun with this salad as a light-weight lunch or a aspect dish, it’s a easy and nutritious possibility that’s something however boring. We’ve been making a model of this salad for YEARS after we’re hungry for veggies, however not in search of a conventional lettuce salad. We really assume you’ll love this lettuce-free, flavor-packed salad as a lot as we do!
No Lettuce Salad Substances
- Garbanzo beans: These give our salad a pleasant, hearty base and usher in some protein energy.
- Cherry tomatoes: These little gems usher in freshness and a touch of sweetness, plus they make the salad look vibrant.
- Pink onion: Provides a pointy and savory kick that takes the flavour up a notch.
- Mini cucumbers: They provide the salad that satisfying crunch all of us love and add a refreshing vibe.
- Balsamic vinegar: These items provides a little bit of candy and tangy goodness to our dressing, making it oh-so-tasty.
- Olive oil: It pairs completely with the balsamic vinegar for a easy but flavorful dressing.
- Contemporary lemon juice: This zesty addition brings a burst of citrusy freshness that brightens up the entire dish.
- Sea salt: Only a pinch of this magical seasoning enhances the flavors and makes every part style even higher.
- Freshly floor pepper: A bit kick of spiciness that performs properly with all the opposite flavors.
- All the pieces bagel seasoning: That is the key ingredient that makes our salad distinctive and savory.
- Cottage cheese: It’s the creamy, protein-packed base that makes this salad satisfying and scrumptious.
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Straightforward Ingredient Swaps
This salad is tremendous versatile! We’re at all times utilizing the veggies we now have readily available, so this recipe really is only one variation of a brilliant versatile salad. Straightforward ingredient swaps embrace:
Cheese: we used 2% cottage cheese, however be at liberty to make use of any number of cottage cheese you’d like!
Veggies: any number of tomatoes or onion can be a simple swap for the cherry tomatoes and purple onion this recipe requires. Equally, you may also use any number of cucumber.
Canned beans: the garbanzo beans on this recipe add good taste and protein, however one other white bean like cannellini beans may even work.
Nuts & seasonings: we love the savory taste of every part bagel seasoning, however pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds or a chopped nut like almonds or pecans would additionally complement this recipe nicely.
Prime Suggestions for No Lettuce Salad
Serve instantly or retailer individually: plate this salad with the cottage cheese should you’re planning to serve it instantly, however should you’re hoping to meal prep it for later, we suggest storing the veggies and dressing individually from the cottage cheese.
Make it your individual: don’t have all these veggies readily available? No drawback! This no lettuce salad is tremendous versatile. Take a look at a few of our straightforward substitutions above.
How one can Serve This No Lettuce Salad
You possibly can serve this salad as a foremost meal or a aspect. My household lately had this with grilled steak and baked potatoes and it was an ideal contemporary pairing. For dessert, attempt an in-season fruit crisp similar to cherry crisp or triple berry crisp.
As for easy methods to eat this salad itself, you possibly can completely get pleasure from it as is with a fork, BUT the dipping choices are additionally countless, and a few of our favorites embrace:
- Toasted slices of French bread
- Crackers
- Tortilla chips
- Pita
- Naan
Storage Directions
This salad is finest made and served instantly, however should you’re meal prepping or saving for later, we suggest retaining the contemporary elements on high of the cottage cheese layer, and even higher, in a separate container.
By avoiding mixing the contemporary elements into the cottage cheese layer, you’ll maintain the beautiful look of this salad and keep away from the dairy separating from the moisture of the veggies.
Retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 48 hours.
Pictures: images taken on this submit are by Ashley McGlaughlin from The Edible Perspective.