If you're stuck in a salad rut, swap out your tired tossed or chopped salads for a seven layer salad. Seven layer salad consists of lettuce and vegetables that are stacked in even layers in a large bowl, topped with dressing and chilled. If you serve the salad in a glass bowl, the distinct layers give the salad a colorful presentation worthy of a dinner party with the ease of a make-ahead preparation.
Ingredients
Seven layer salad recipes differ among chefs, but the main base is lettuce. Choose a hearty lettuce, such as Romaine, that can hold up under the other layers and not wilt. Shred the lettuce or chop it very finely so you can easily scoop it out for serving. Save preparation time by purchasing bagged salad greens that are already chopped. Choose a combination of six other ingredients for the rest of the salad. You can use all vegetables (such as carrots, radishes, celery, peppers, tomatoes or peas) or a combination of four vegetables, cooked bacon and cheese for a richer salad. Seven layer salad is topped with a creamy mayonnaise-based dressing,. You can use plain mayonnaise or mix it with sour cream or plain yogurt for a lighter flavor.
Equipment
Use a large glass or plastic bowl for the maximum impact. If you use an opaque bowl, no one will be able to see all the colorful layers. Use a sharp knife to cut the ingredients into uniform sizes. If you aren't skilled with a knife, purchase precut ingredients or use your food processor to chop them. Seven layer salad requires small pieces because its servings are scooped out from top to bottom in order to get each layer. Make sure you have a serving spoon that is long enough to reach the bottom of the bowl.
Assembly
When assembling the salad, use your heartiest ingredients at the base and end with the lightest ingredients. Line the bottom of your bowl with enough lettuce to cover the bottom of the bowl, usually about 8 cups or one 10 oz. bag of prepared greens. If you have radishes, peppers or other thicker vegetables, spread them in even layers across the lettuce. Save the lighter, smaller ingredients (such as peas or bacon) for the higher layers. Add the dressing in an even layer for the top. Use a spatula or wide knife to spread the dressing evenly so it completely covers the top of the salad. You'll need 1 to 2 cups dressing to coat the salad without making it soggy. If you're using cheese, do not add it until after you've added all the other ingredients, including the dressing.
Serving
Seven layer salad is the most flavorful after it has chilled in the refrigerator for a minimum of two hours. The chilling time gives the flavors of all the different layers time to combine. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap before storing in the refrigerator. You can store seven layer salad in the refrigerator for up to 12 hours without affecting its texture. When you're ready to serve the salad, use a long-handled spoon to scoop all the way to the bottom of the bowl so each serving has all seven layers. You can also stir the salad before serving. Although it may not look as visually appealing, it may be more convenient for buffets. For the best results, eat any leftovers within one day before they become soggy.
Tags: layer salad, bottom bowl, bowl with, even layers, other ingredients
