Traditional Layered Vegetable Salad

🕒 Prep: 20 min
🔥 Cook:
🍽 Serves: 8
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Looking for a salad that’s as hearty as it is vibrant? This Traditional Layered Vegetable Salad is a feast for the eyes and the taste buds, perfect for potlucks or family dinners. It’s all about layers of fresh veggies and savory goodness, creating a beautiful, satisfying dish.

Ingredients for Traditional Layered Vegetable Salad

The base of this salad is a head of iceberg lettuce, providing a cool, crunchy foundation. Cherry tomatoes add a burst of sweetness and color, while cucumber slices bring refreshing crispness. Red onion offers a bit of bite and depth. Frozen peas (thawed) are a sweet, tender layer that contrasts beautifully with the rest of the ingredients. Cheddar cheese brings a sharp, creamy element, and bacon adds a salty, smoky crunch. The mayonnaise dressing, mixed with white sugar and apple cider vinegar, ties everything together with a tangy, slightly sweet finish. Season it with salt and pepper to enhance all the flavors.

Tips & Tricks

  • For extra flavor, try using a smoked cheddar cheese.
  • Ensure the peas are fully thawed and drained to avoid watering down the salad.
  • Feel free to add more bacon if you love a stronger smoky flavor.

Serving Suggestions

This salad is perfect on its own, but it also pairs wonderfully with grilled chicken or fish for a more substantial meal. Consider serving it alongside a light, crisp white wine to complement the freshness of the vegetables.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this salad in advance?
Yes, you can prepare it a day in advance. Just keep it refrigerated and add the dressing shortly before serving.
What can I use instead of iceberg lettuce?
Romaine lettuce or a mix of leafy greens would work well as a substitute.

Traditional Layered Vegetable Salad Recipe Walkthrough

Start by prepping your veggies. Chop the iceberg lettuce into bite-sized pieces and spread it evenly at the bottom of a large glass bowl. This creates a fresh, crunchy base for the salad. Next, halve the cherry tomatoes and layer them on top of the lettuce. Their juicy sweetness will seep down, adding flavor to every bite.

Slice your cucumber thinly and layer these on top of the tomatoes. It’s all about building those layers! Follow with a layer of thinly sliced red onion. The onion’s sharpness adds a nice contrast to the other ingredients. Over the onions, spread the thawed peas. Make sure they’re evenly distributed to get a little taste in every forkful.

Now, sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the peas. The cheese will add richness and a bit of creamy texture. Finally, scatter the crumbled bacon over the cheese. Its smoky flavor ties everything together beautifully.

For the dressing, combine mayonnaise, white sugar, and apple cider vinegar in a small bowl. Mix until smooth, then spread it over the top of the salad, sealing the edges. This keeps the moisture in and the salad fresh. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. This chilling time lets the flavors meld together perfectly.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Vibrant layers create a visually stunning dish that impresses.
  • Combines fresh, crisp vegetables with savory bacon and cheese.
  • Easy to prepare ahead, making it perfect for gatherings.

Ingredients

1 head iceberg lettuce, chopped
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup cucumber, sliced
1 cup red onion, thinly sliced
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup cooked bacon, crumbled
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste

Step-by-step Instructions

1. In a large glass bowl, layer the chopped iceberg lettuce evenly at the bottom.
2. Add a layer of cherry tomatoes on top of the lettuce.
3. Next, add a layer of sliced cucumber, followed by the red onion slices.
4. Spread the thawed peas evenly over the onion layer.
5. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese as the next layer.
6. Scatter the crumbled bacon on top of the cheese.
7. In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, sugar, and apple cider vinegar to create the dressing.
8. Spread the dressing evenly over the top of the salad, sealing all the edges.
9. Cover the salad with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving to allow flavors to meld.

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