Dive into a world of flavors with this vibrant, nutritious and delicious green salad. The mix of fresh leafy greens and ripe cherry tomatoes provides a refreshing base, while the addition of our specialty, garlic crunch lends an exciting twist. The homemade goat cheese dressing, infused with parsley, thyme, and a hint of red wine vinegar, ties all the flavors together in a symphony of taste.
While most ingredients for this salad are commonly found in households, there are a few you might need to pick up. Old fashioned rolled oats, used for the garlic crunch, might not be readily available in your pantry, so do check before you start. Additionally, soft goat cheese forms the base for our creamy dressing and can be found in the dairy section of most supermarkets.
Ingredients for Green Salad with Garlic Crunch
Garlic cloves: These add a robust, savory flavor to the garlic crunch.
Rolled oats: These are baked with garlic to create a crunchy topping.
Butter: It helps the oats brown evenly in the oven.
Honey: Adds a hint of sweetness to the garlic crunch.
Goat cheese: It forms the creamy base for the dressing.
Parsley leaves: They add a fresh, herby flavor to the dressing.
Thyme leaves: They add depth to the dressing.
Red wine vinegar: It gives the dressing a tangy kick.
Scallion: It adds a mild onion flavor to the dressing.
Skim milk: It thins out the dressing.
Olive oil: It adds richness to the dressing.
Boston lettuce leaves: They form the fresh, crisp base of the salad.
Cherry tomatoes: These add a burst of juicy sweetness to the salad.
One reader, Jackqueline Beyer says:
This green salad with garlic crunch recipe is a game-changer! The garlic crunch adds a delightful texture, and the goat cheese dressing is simply divine. The combination of flavors is refreshing and satisfying. It's a must-try for anyone looking to elevate their salad game!
Mastering Salad-Making Techniques
How to make garlic crunch: A method to bake a mixture of garlic, oats, butter, and honey until crisp and golden brown, then letting it cool to achieve a crunchy texture.
How to make goat cheese dressing: A process of blending goat cheese, parsley, thyme, vinegar, scallion, skim milk, and olive oil until smooth, then seasoning it with salt and pepper to create a creamy and flavorful dressing.
How to toss the salad: The technique of combining the lettuce and tomatoes with the prepared dressing, ensuring even coating and distribution of flavors.
How to serve the salad: The process of sprinkling the prepared garlic crunch over the dressed salad before serving, adding a delightful crunch and flavor to the dish.
How To Make Green Salad with Garlic Crunch
Switch up your usual vegetable dish and serve the ultimate crunchy green salad! It’s made with lettuce and cherry tomatoes tossed in goat cheese dressing.
Serves:
Ingredients
- 3large garlic cloves
- 1cupold fashioned rolled oats
- 1tbspunsalted butter,melted
- 2tbsphoney
- salt and freshly ground pepper,to taste
- 5ozsoft goat cheese
- 2tbspflat leaf parsley leaves
- 2tspthyme leaves
- 2tspred wine vinegar
- 1scallion
- ½cupskim milk
- ¼cupextra virgin olive oil
- 8cupsBoston lettuce leaves,(1 large head), packed
- 16cherry tomatoes
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. In a baking pan, toss the garlic with the oats, butter, and honey, and season lightly with salt.
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Spread the oats in an even layer and bake for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Spread the crunch on a plate and let cool completely, until crisp.
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In a blender, combine the goat cheese, parsley, thyme, vinegar, scallion, skim milk, and olive oil and blend until smooth. Scrape the dressing into a bowl and season with salt and pepper.
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In a large bowl, toss the lettuce and tomatoes with ½ cup of the dressing.
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Sprinkle some of the crunch over the salad and serve. Enjoy!
Nutrition
- Calories: 390.95kcal
- Fat: 25.72g
- Saturated Fat: 9.18g
- Trans Fat: 0.12g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 12.75g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.37g
- Carbohydrates: 30.88g
- Fiber: 4.35g
- Sugar: 13.16g
- Protein: 12.91g
- Cholesterol: 24.55mg
- Sodium: 690.78mg
- Calcium: 186.24mg
- Potassium: 593.75mg
- Iron: 3.67mg
- Vitamin A: 387.50µg
- Vitamin C: 17.71mg
Expert Advice for Perfecting the Garlic Crunch
When making the garlic crunch, ensure that the oats are spread evenly on the baking pan. This will allow them to bake uniformly and achieve a consistent golden brown color. Also, stirring occasionally while baking will prevent the oats from burning and sticking to the pan.
Time-Saving Hacks for Preparing Green Salad with Garlic Crunch
Prepare the ingredients: Gather and prepare all your ingredients before you start cooking to save time and make the process more efficient.
Use pre-cut or pre-washed vegetables: Opt for pre-cut or pre-washed vegetables to cut down on prep time and streamline the cooking process.
Multi-task: Look for opportunities to multi-task, such as chopping vegetables while something is simmering, to make the most of your time in the kitchen.
Invest in quality kitchen tools: Quality kitchen tools can make food preparation quicker and easier, so consider investing in good knives, food processors, and other essential equipment.
Plan your meals: Plan your meals in advance to streamline the cooking process and avoid last-minute decision-making, saving time and reducing stress in the kitchen.
Substitute Ingredients For Green Salad with Garlic Crunch Recipe
- garlic cloves - Substitute with shallots: Shallots have a mild, sweet flavor that can provide a similar aromatic quality to the dish.
- old fashioned rolled oats - Substitute with panko breadcrumbs: Panko breadcrumbs will provide a similar crunchy texture when toasted and can be a suitable replacement for the oats.
- unsalted butter - Substitute with olive oil: Olive oil can add a rich flavor and moisture to the dish, similar to butter.
- honey - Substitute with maple syrup: Maple syrup can offer a similar sweetness and depth of flavor to the dish.
- goat cheese - Substitute with feta cheese: Feta cheese has a tangy flavor and creamy texture that can be a good alternative to goat cheese.
- flat leaf parsley leaves - Substitute with cilantro: Cilantro can provide a fresh, herbaceous flavor similar to parsley.
- thyme leaves - Substitute with rosemary: Rosemary can add a similar earthy and aromatic flavor to the dish.
- red wine vinegar - Substitute with balsamic vinegar: Balsamic vinegar can offer a slightly sweeter and more complex flavor compared to red wine vinegar.
- skim milk - Substitute with almond milk: Almond milk can provide a creamy texture and a slightly nutty flavor similar to skim milk.
- extra virgin olive oil - Substitute with avocado oil: Avocado oil has a mild flavor and high smoke point, making it a good substitute for extra virgin olive oil.
- boston lettuce leaves - Substitute with baby spinach leaves: Baby spinach leaves can offer a similar tender texture and mild flavor to boston lettuce.
- cherry tomatoes - Substitute with grape tomatoes: Grape tomatoes are small and sweet, similar to cherry tomatoes, and can be used as a substitute in the recipe.
Elevate Your Salad Presentation
Elevate the garlic crunch: Create a delicate and crispy garlic crunch by infusing the oats with the rich flavors of garlic, honey, and butter. This will add a delightful texture and depth to the salad.
Artful arrangement of lettuce and tomatoes: Carefully arrange the Boston lettuce leaves and cherry tomatoes on the plate, ensuring a visually appealing and balanced presentation.
Drizzle the goat cheese dressing: Artfully drizzle the smooth and creamy goat cheese dressing over the salad, ensuring each leaf is lightly coated for a burst of flavor in every bite.
Garnish with garlic crunch: Sprinkle the crispy garlic crunch over the salad, adding a final touch of texture and flavor to the dish.
Use elegant serving ware: Present the green salad with garlic crunch on elegant, minimalist serving ware to showcase the vibrant colors and textures of the dish.
Essential Kitchen Tools for Making a Delicious Salad
- Baking pan: A shallow, rectangular metal pan used for baking and roasting a variety of dishes.
- Blender: A kitchen appliance used to mix, purée, or emulsify food and other substances.
- Large bowl: A deep, wide container used for mixing ingredients or serving food.
- Oven: A kitchen appliance used for baking, roasting, and heating food.
- Plate: A flat, round dish used for serving food.
Surprising Trivia About Green Salads
The recipe for green salad with garlic crunch is a great source of fiber and nutrients.
Budget-Friendly Salad Recipe for Home Cooks
This green salad with garlic crunch recipe is quite cost-effective for a household. The ingredients are fairly affordable and accessible, with staples like garlic, oats, lettuce, and tomatoes. The use of simple, everyday ingredients keeps the cost down, making it a budget-friendly option for families. The overall verdict rating for this recipe would be an 8 out of 10 for its balance of cost, flavor, and nutritional value. The approximate cost for a household of 4 people would be around $15-$20, making it an economical choice for a healthy and satisfying meal.
Is This Salad Recipe Healthy?
This green salad with garlic crunch recipe has both healthy and unhealthy elements. Let's break it down:
Healthy aspects:
- The salad base consists of nutrient-rich Boston lettuce and cherry tomatoes, providing vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- The dressing includes goat cheese, which is a good source of protein and calcium, as well as herbs like parsley and thyme that offer additional health benefits.
- The recipe uses skim milk and a moderate amount of extra virgin olive oil, which are healthier choices compared to high-fat dairy and excessive oil.
Unhealthy aspects:
- The garlic crunch topping, while delicious, is made with butter and honey, which can add unnecessary calories and sugar to the dish.
- The oats in the crunch are a healthy ingredient, but the preparation method (baking with butter and honey) diminishes their nutritional value.
To make this recipe healthier, I would suggest the following modifications:
- Reduce the amount of butter and honey used in the garlic crunch, or replace them with healthier alternatives like coconut oil and a natural sweetener such as stevia or monk fruit.
- Increase the proportion of vegetables in the salad, such as adding cucumbers, carrots, or bell peppers, to boost the fiber and nutrient content.
- Experiment with using Greek yogurt in place of some of the goat cheese in the dressing to reduce the fat content while maintaining a creamy texture.
- Consider adding a lean protein source, like grilled chicken or chickpeas, to make the salad more satiating and balanced.
Editor's Take: A Fresh Twist on a Classic Salad
The combination of the garlic crunch and the creamy goat cheese dressing adds a delightful contrast of textures and flavors to the fresh greens and tomatoes. The use of oats in the crunch adds a unique twist, providing a nutty and satisfying element. The dressing is well-balanced and complements the salad beautifully. Overall, this recipe offers a refreshing and satisfying green salad with a delightful crunch and creamy dressing that is sure to impress.
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Why trust this Green Salad with Garlic Crunch Recipe:
This recipe offers a delightful combination of fresh, vibrant flavors and wholesome ingredients. The goat cheese dressing provides a creamy and tangy element, perfectly complementing the crisp, refreshing lettuce and juicy cherry tomatoes. The addition of the homemade garlic crunch brings a delightful texture and depth to the salad. With the use of quality ingredients such as thyme, red wine vinegar, and honey, this recipe promises a harmonious blend of flavors that will surely elevate any meal.
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