Description
Paula Deen’s 7 layer salad combines crisp lettuce, bacon, peas, cheese, and creamy dressing in a delightful Southern classic. Layers of flavor and texture create a crowd-pleasing dish you’ll crave at potlucks and family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (16 oz/454 g) package thawed frozen baby peas
- 6 cups (1.4 L) chopped romaine lettuce
- 4 cups (950 mL) seeded and chopped tomatoes
- 4 cups (950 mL) seeded and chopped cucumbers
- 2 cups (475 mL) sliced radishes
- ½ cup (120 mL) sliced green onions
- 1½ cups (360 mL) shredded reduced fat cheddar cheese
- 2 cups (475 mL) sour cream or light sour cream
- 1 cup (240 mL) mayonnaise or light mayonnaise
- 6 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
- ¼ cup (60 mL) lemon juice
- 2 tsps salt
- ¼ cup (60 mL) sugar, optional
Instructions
- Foundation Layer: Create a crisp base by spreading romaine lettuce across the bottom of a transparent glass container, ensuring even, complete coverage.
- Vegetable Stratification: Layer chopped tomatoes, diced cucumbers, fresh green peas, and thinly sliced green onions methodically, building a colorful and textured landscape.
- Radish Accent: Arrange thinly sliced radishes to add a peppery crunch and vibrant visual contrast to the vegetable arrangement.
- Creamy Dressing Preparation: Whisk sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, kosher salt, and optional sugar until achieving a smooth, silky consistency.
- Dressing Application: Gently pour the prepared dressing over the vegetable layers, ensuring complete and uniform coverage.
- Cheese and Bacon Finale: Generously sprinkle sharp cheddar cheese and crumble bacon across the top, creating a rich, flavorful topping.
- Flavor Development: Seal the container with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8-24 hours, allowing ingredients to harmonize and intensify their collective taste profile.
- Serving Preparation: Remove from refrigerator 15 minutes before serving, letting the salad reach a slightly tempered temperature to enhance overall flavor and texture.
Notes
- Chill for Flavor Fusion: Refrigerate the salad for at least 8 hours to allow ingredients to blend and develop a richer, more complex taste.
- Layer with Precision: Use a clear glass dish to showcase the beautiful layers and ensure even distribution of ingredients.
- Prep Ahead Advantage: Can be made a day in advance, making it perfect for potlucks and parties with minimal last-minute preparation.
- Texture Balance: Wait 15 minutes before serving to soften the ingredients and bring out the most vibrant flavors and textures.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 830 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 11 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg