For those who’re on the lookout for a light-weight and refreshing salad that skips the lettuce however not the flavour, this No Lettuce Salad is your reply. Filled with garbanzo beans, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and a zesty dressing on a mattress of cottage cheese, it’s a satisfying and healthful salad that’s excellent 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 on the lookout for a conventional lettuce salad.
It’s such a Match Foodie Studio staple when there’s “nothing to eat for lunch.” We really suppose you’ll love this lettuce-free, flavor-packed salad as a lot as we do!
No Lettuce Salad Components
- Garbanzo beans: These give our salad a pleasant, hearty base and herald some protein energy.
- Cherry tomatoes: These little gems herald freshness and a touch of sweetness, plus they make the salad look vibrant.
- Crimson onion: Provides a pointy and savory kick that takes the flavour up a notch.
- Mini cucumbers: They offer the salad that satisfying crunch all of us love and add a refreshing vibe.
- Balsamic vinegar: These things 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.
- Recent 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: Just a little kick of spiciness that performs properly with all the opposite flavors.
- All the things 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’ve got available, so this recipe really is only one variation of an excellent 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 could be a simple swap for the cherry tomatoes and pink onion this recipe requires. Equally, it’s also possible to 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 will 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.
High Ideas for No Lettuce Salad
Serve instantly or retailer individually: plate this salad with the cottage cheese for those who’re planning to serve it instantly, however for those who’re hoping to meal prep it for later, we advocate storing the veggies and dressing individually from the cottage cheese.
Make it your individual: don’t have all these veggies available? No downside! This no lettuce salad is tremendous versatile. Try a few of our simple substitutions above.
Methods to Serve This No Lettuce Salad
You possibly can serve this salad as a primary meal or a aspect. My household not too long ago had this with grilled steak and baked potatoes and it was an ideal recent pairing. For dessert, strive an in-season fruit crisp akin to cherry crisp or triple berry crisp.
As for how you can eat this salad itself, you may completely take pleasure in it as is with a fork, BUT the dipping choices are additionally infinite, 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 for those who’re meal prepping or saving for later, we advocate holding the recent elements on high of the cottage cheese layer, and even higher, in a separate container.
By avoiding mixing the recent elements into the cottage cheese layer, you’ll hold the attractive 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.