Description
A fresh and vibrant chopped salad featuring crisp romaine, crunchy vegetables, and a creamy buttermilk dressing infused with herbs and a hint of tang. Perfect as a light side or a base for your choice of protein, this salad is quick to prepare and bursting with flavor and texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon minced celery
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Salad
- 3 romaine lettuce hearts, chopped
- 1 medium cucumber, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 cup cauliflower florets, chopped
- 1 medium carrot, chopped
- 2 stalks celery with leaves, chopped
- 3 green onions, sliced
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Prepare the Dressing: In a bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, minced celery, chopped fresh parsley, chopped fresh dill, Dijon mustard, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the chopped romaine lettuce, cucumber, red bell pepper, cauliflower florets, carrot, celery with leaves, sliced green onions, chopped fresh parsley, and sunflower seeds. Toss gently to mix the ingredients evenly.
- Serve: You can serve the dressing on the side to allow guests to dress their salad individually or drizzle it evenly over the salad and toss just before serving to maintain the crunchy texture of the vegetables.
- Optional Protein Addition: To transform this salad into a complete meal, top it with grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu as preferred.
Notes
- To keep the salad crisp, add the dressing just before serving.
- Sunflower seeds add a nice crunch but can be replaced with toasted nuts if preferred.
- Fresh herbs can be adjusted based on availability or taste preferences.
- This salad is highly versatile and can be customized with other fresh vegetables or proteins.
- Leftover dressing can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
