Yummy 7 Layer Salad
Quick Easy and if your lucky enough (left overs are the best)! Make sure to slice the red onion super super thin (I use the mandolin). Oh!!!! Print the recipe youll be asked for it. This doesnt get soggy so you can make the day before. This is great for pot lucks. Just layer all in a foil pan. If vegetarian you can use imitation bacon made of soy, you can change the fillings to anything you enjoy but I do suggest keeping the iceberg you can use romaine successfully and the peas and celery are a must in this recipe.
Quick Easy and if your lucky enough (left overs are the best)! Make sure to slice the red onion super super thin (I use the mandolin). Oh!!!! Print the recipe youll be asked for it. This doesnt get soggy so you can make the day before. This is great for pot lucks. Just layer all in a foil pan. If vegetarian you can use imitation bacon made of soy, you can change the fillings to anything you enjoy but I do suggest keeping the iceberg you can use romaine successfully and the peas and celery are a must in this recipe.
- 2 cups mayonnaise
- 1 head iceberg lettuce cored and cut into pieces
- 1 cucumber seeded and sliced
- 1 cup frozen peas rinsed and drained
- 1 1/2 cups celery thinly sliced
- 1 slice d or 4 scallions slice thin
- 6 ounces sharp cheddar cheese (add more to taste)
- 1/2 lb bacon cooked nice and crisp crumbled into pieces
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped (optional)
- 2 tablespoons sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 cup sour cream or 1/2 cup yogurt
- 1 teaspoon lawry's seasoned salt (adjust to taste)
- Carbohydrate 9.31286779443629 g
- Cholesterol 40.2776757427524 mg
- Fat 32.6592736696872 g
- Fiber 1.53750002782276 g
- Protein 5.04156187030433 g
- Saturated Fat 7.2732074421673 g
- Serving Size 1 1 -10 serving(s) (185g)
- Sodium 741.629028035497 mg
- Sugar 7.77536776661353 g
- Trans Fat 18.1924271762887 g
- Calories 351 calories
Step-by-step
- Layer first 5 ingredients, one at a time, in a large glass bowl so you can see each layer. Don't mix the ingredients.
- Mix the dressing ingredients together and pour evenly over the salad in the bowl.
- Add a layer of cheese, then a layer of bacon.
- Then top with egg if using.
Slicing the red onion on a mandoline to a thickness of 1.5 millimeters prevents the raw sulfur compounds from dominating the milder vegetables. Clear glass vessels serve a functional purpose here beyond aesthetics; visual inspection through the walls ensures uniform depth across every tier. Iceberg lettuce retains structural rigidity far longer than tender greens because its cellular walls possess high water retention coupled with thick fibrous strands. Thawing frozen peas thoroughly in cold water before incorporation stops excess moisture from pooling at the base of the dish during refrigeration. Whisking the mayonnaise, sour cream, and sugar until completely emulsified prevents the dressing from separating into oily pockets when it contacts the salt.
The Chemistry of Overnight Resting
Resting the assembled components in the refrigerator for twelve to twenty-four hours allows the seasoned mayonnaise barrier to seal the upper tiers from ambient air. Osmosis draws small amounts of moisture upward from the cucumbers and celery, softening their crunch just enough without turning the surrounding ingredients limp. Sharp cheddar cheese releases hydrophobic dairy fats into the dressing layer slowly over a span of eight hours, deepening the savory profile of the mayonnaise mixture.
- Prevent soggy lettuce by patting washed leaves completely dry with lint-free kitchen towels before building the initial base.
- Adjust the seasoning salt incrementally because sharp cheddar and crispy bacon both contribute high baseline levels of sodium.
- Store covered tightly with plastic wrap at a consistent refrigerator temperature between 34 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit for up to two days.
