Crunchy Lettuce Salad Recipes

CRUNCHY LETTUCE SALAD

Steps:

• Combine almonds, chow mein noodles and sesame seeds in a baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until lightly toasted; set aside. , In a jar with tight-fitting lid, combine oil, sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper; shake well. In a large bowl, toss lettuce, onions and bacon. Just before serving, add almond mixture and dressing; toss.

MEXICAN CAESAR SALAD WITH SHRIMP

Steps:

• Toast the pepitas in a medium dry skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl; set aside.
• Heat 1/4 inch of vegetable oil in the skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add the tortilla strips and fry, turning as needed, until golden, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel¿lined plate; season with salt and pepper. Let cool, then break each strip in half.
• Make the dressing: Combine the crema, Cotija cheese, 1/4 cup cilantro, 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, the lime juice and garlic in a food processor; pulse until smooth, adding 1 to 2 tablespoons water if needed to loosen. Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer the dressing to a large bowl; add the romaine, pickled jalapenos, pepitas, shrimp, the remaining 1/4 cup cilantro and half of the tortilla strips. Season with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Top each serving of salad with the remaining tortilla strips and more cheese.

CRUNCHY ROMAINE SALAD

Steps:

• Combine sugar, oil, vinegar, soy sauce, salt, and pepper in a jar with a tight-fitting lid; shake until well blended. Break ramen noodles into small pieces, discarding flavor packet.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir noodles and pecans until browned, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels and allow to cool.
• Combine noodles, pecans, broccoli, romaine lettuce, and green onions in a bowl; toss gently. Dress with 1 cup, or more, of dressing; toss to coat.

CRUNCHY TOSSED SALAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk the oil, sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper; shake well. Chill for 1 hour. , Just before serving, in a salad bowl, combine the lettuce, bacon, almonds, sesame seeds and onions in a large bowl. Whisk dressing and pour over salad; toss to coat. Top with chow mein noodles.

SPICY-CRUNCHY CHICKEN SALAD IN LETTUCE CUPS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, sugar, fish sauce, and chile paste. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ginger and garlic and stir-fry, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the chicken and salt, and stir-fry the meat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until just cooked through, about 6 minutes. Stir in the scallions, carrot, and water chestnuts. Transfer the chicken mixture to a bowl and cool. Stir in the lime juice mixture, mint, and coriander. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Arrange the lettuce leaves on a platter and fill each with some of the chicken salad. Serve with lime wedges.

CRUNCHY ROMAINE SALAD

Steps:

• Wash romaine and cut into bite size pieces.
• Roll up in a clean dry towel and refrigerate for several hours.
• (This makes the lettuce super crisp) Slice the green onion into thin rings.
• Chop the broccoli, stems and flowers, into small pieces.
• Break the ramen noodles up into small pieces.
• (I leave it in the bag and whack it with a kitchen mallet.) Remove flavor envelope from ramen packet and throw away.
• Melt butter in a large deep skillet.
• Add ramen noodles and walnuts and stir and cook over medium heat until light brown.
• Be sure to watch carefully and stir constantly- they will burn easily.
• Turn out onto a double thickness of paper towels and cool.
• Put romaine into a LARGE bowl and add broccoli, onions, ramen noodles and walnuts.
• Toss.
• Mix dressing ingredients together and add to salad.
• You make not want to use it all- I don't but some people like"wetter" salads than I do.
• Use your own taste as a guideline.

CRUNCHY SPRING ICEBERG SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare the salad: Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to the boil. Add the frozen peas and asparagus, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until the asparagus and peas are bright green and crisp tender. Drain and run under cold water until they are cold. Leave to drain.
• Prepare the lettuce: Run a sharp paring knife around the core and gently pull it out. Remove the outer layer of the lettuce and discard. Tear the lettuce into large chunks. Wash the leaves and allow them to dry in a colander. Pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel.
• Prepare the spicy cilantro yogurt: To a blender or small food processor, add the yogurt, cilantro, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt and 1 jalapeño. Blitz until smooth. (Add a teaspoon of water at a time to get the mixture moving in the blender if necessary.) Taste and add the second jalapeño if you would like it spicier.
• Serve as one large salad or divide among four individual serving plates: Add the lettuce chunks to the plate, and scatter the asparagus and peas on top and around the lettuce. Spoon the spicy cilantro yogurt all over the vegetables, dot with feta and squeeze the juice from the lemon half over everything. Season with salt and black pepper, and top with a few cilantro leaves.