Little Gem Salad
Little Gem Salad is crunchy, fresh, and super easy to make. This simple salad uses seasonal little gems lettuce and is perfect for a light lunch or an easy side, and is full of fresh ingredients!
Servings: 4
Calories: 563kcal
Ingredients
Herb Ranch Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 3 tbsps fresh chopped dill
- 2 tbsps fresh chopped chives
- 3 tbsps fresh chopped parsley
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 3/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsps fresh squeezed lemon juice
Salad Ingredients
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 4 cups little gem lettuce, or butter lettuce
- 3/4 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
Instructions
Herb Ranch Dressing
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, and lemon juice until smooth.
- Add the chopped dill, chives, parsley, minced garlic, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine.
- Taste the dressing and adjust the seasoning as needed. Cover and refrigerate for 30-60 minutes to let the flavors meld together.
Salad Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a medium sized skillet over medium heat. Then add the panko and toss to coat. Spread it out in an even layer to toast in the pan, tossing occasionally for 3-5 minutes, or until it turns golden brown.
- Add the lettuce to a large mixing bowl and mix with as much dressing as you like.
- Add the cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, and half the panko to the mixing bowl with the lettuce. Toss until the salad ingredients are fully incorporated, and add more dressing if needed. Top the salad with the remaining panko and serve.
Notes
- If you're feeling fancy, add a little lemon zest to the pan while toasting the panko. It adds a nice citrus flavor to the salad.
- The dressing recipe makes more than you will need for this salad. Leftovers will keep in the fridge for 5-6 days. If you don't want leftovers, you can halve the recipe but I suggest using the same amount of herbs even if you halve the recipe.
- If you're in a rush, you can use toasted sunflower seeds instead of toasting panko breadcrumbs. you can buy them already toasted in the store. They are called pepitas.
Nutrition
Calories: 563kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 56g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 26g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 1079mg | Potassium: 205mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 823IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 183mg | Iron: 1mg