Romaine Salad Recipe

You can already tell from the name that romaine lettuce is going to be the star of this recipe. Romaine salad crispy texture and refreshing taste lay a perfect base for other veggies like radish, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers to be added to. 

Even though this salad features classic vegetables that you already know, it’s far from boring. This is thanks to the slightly spicy and garlicky Cajun-based dressing that drizzles the salad with excitement. Give this recipe a try and discover another effortlessly good way to enjoy familiar ingredients. 

Is Romaine Salad Healthy?

With vegetables and nuts taking up the majority of the ingredients, this salad is quite healthy. It contains a large amount of vitamin C and other nutrients, while sodium and saturated fat are kept at a minimum (both of which take up less than 12% of the daily intake limit.) It’s also moderate in calories, with only 205 per serving. 

Additionally, with romaine lettuce as the main ingredient, this salad is high in water content and important minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium, along with various vitamins. This gives it many potential health benefits, such as maintaining cardiovascular and eye health. 

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Main Ingredients

In addition to being healthy, this colorful salad makes everyday vegetables more exciting with the use of seasonings and spices. The ingredients are mostly staples, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding or putting them together. 

1. For the Salad:

• Lettuce

Romaine lettuce was chosen for this salad because of its neutral taste and crispy texture that makes a good base for other ingredients to go on top. For this recipe, you should chop the leaves into bite-sized pieces, starting from the ends and moving towards the core. 

When choosing this lettuce, you should pick out ones with dark green leaves that still appear fresh with no brown spots on the white ribs. Texture-wise, the leaves should be firm and crisp, not wilted and limp. 

• Cucumber

This veggie is also pretty neutral in flavor, but it adds a crunchy and juicy texture to the salad that’s fun to munch on. Look for firm dark green cucumbers with no blemishes or soft spots to get the freshest taste.

• Radish

This root vegetable adds a subtle spicy and peppery flavor to the dish. Just a few slices are enough to diversify the salad and bring some thrilling flavors to the taste buds. 

• Mint

This miraculous herb adds a cooling sensation with a sweet undertone that instantly brightens the salad. You don’t have to worry about it overpowering the other ingredients as we only use a small amount.

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• Other vegetables

This salad’s pop of color that captures your attention right away comes from the cherry tomatoes and red bell peppers. They provide a delightful sweetness that perfectly balances out the remaining ingredients. 

• Eggs

We decided to include two hard-boiled eggs to add some protein to the dish. They also add a buttery texture that makes it all the more enjoyable to eat. 

• Nuts

We decided to use almonds and pine nuts to garnish this salad. They bring some crunchiness that nicely contrasts with the soft and tender veggies. As pine nuts can be quite pricey, you can go for more affordable alternatives such as cashews or pistachios instead. 

2. For the Dressing:

• Cajun seasoning

Bold and spicy, this seasoning mix helps to intensify the flavors of all the veggies in this salad. It’s also especially great for infusing the dish with a smoky taste that would work very well for cookouts and BBQs. 

• Garlic powder

As this salad already contains so many different flavors, we decided to opt for garlic powder instead of actual minced garlic. This powder has a similar taste, but it’s milder and less aggressive than the fresh type. 

• Other ingredients

Dressing classics such as salt, pepper, honey, olive oil, chopped parsley, and lemon juice are essential for creating a zesty dressing that ties the whole dish together. 

What to Serve With

This gorgeous salad may appear simple, but that’s what makes it so versatile and easy to eat. If you’re looking for ways to make the most of it, here are a few types of food to pair it with:

• Meat

This salad is a fantastic side for all your flavorful main dishes, especially at cookouts and BBQs. The dressing’s hearty seasonings complement grilled or roasted dishes exceptionally well.

• Bread

Leftovers from this salad can be utilized as fillings for sandwiches, baguettes, and burgers. It makes an effortless and delicious breakfast or lunch that you can have on the go during busy days. 

As for a topping, croutons or breadcrumbs are excellent choices. These foods have a crunchy, crispy texture that makes the salad much more filling.

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How to Store the Leftovers

When kept in an airtight container in the fridge, this salad usually lasts well for a day. If possible, keep the dressing separate from the veggies to preserve their textures and flavors. At room temperature, it will be good for around two hours.

How to Make Romaine Salad

5 from 1 vote

This Romaine Salad recipe puts a peppery, Cajun-inspired twist on familiar vegetables that make it the perfect side dish for all your summer meals.

- by Tuyet Pham, Luna Regina, 2022-07-30

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• cook TIME 5 mins
• prep TIME 12 mins
• total TIME 12 mins

• COURSE Side Dish
• CUISINE American
• SERVINGS
  4

  servings
• CALORIES 205 kcal

INGREDIENTS

1x2x3x

• 4 oz romaine lettuce (chopped)
• 2 oz cucumbers (sliced)
• 1 oz radish (sliced)
• 4 oz cherry tomatoes (halved)
• 4 oz red bell peppers (diced)
• 2 tbsp mint leaves (chopped)
• 2 tbsp parsley (chopped)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 2 large eggs (hard-boiled)
• 0.5 oz pine nuts
• 1 oz almonds

INSTRUCTIONS

Image instructions

1

Make the dressing by mixing 2 tbsp parsley, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp Cajun seasoning, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper until combined.

2

In a large bowl, toss 4 oz romaine lettuce, 2 oz cucumbers, 1 oz radish, 4 oz cherry tomatoes, 4 oz red bell peppers, 2 tbsp mint leaves, 0.5 oz pine nuts, and 1 oz almonds with the dressing. Scoop the ingredients onto a serving plate, then add 2 large eggs on top.

3

Enjoy.

NUTRITION

Nutrition Facts

How to Make Romaine Salad

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 205Calories from Fat 144

% Daily Value*

Fat 16g

25%

Saturated Fat 2g

13%

Polyunsaturated Fat 3g

Monounsaturated Fat 9g

Cholesterol 93mg

31%

Sodium 267mg

12%

Potassium 378mg

11%

Carbohydrate 13g

4%

Fiber 3g

13%

Sugar 8g

9%

Protein 7g

14%

Vitamin A 3918IU

78%

Vitamin C 50mg

61%

Calcium 62mg

6%

Iron 2mg

11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Keywords: how to make romaine salad, romaine salad, romaine salad ercipe