Layered Summertime Salad

Bright, colorful, and bursting with fresh flavor, this Layered Summertime Salad is the ultimate crowd-pleaser for warm weather gatherings. Featuring crisp romaine lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, sweet red bell peppers, and a sprinkle of thawed peas, this salad layers up all the best seasonal vegetables for a stunning presentation in a clear glass bowl. A rich, tangy dressing made with mayonnaise, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, and a touch of sugar is spread on top, sealing in the flavors. Topped with shredded cheddar cheese, crispy bacon crumbles, and a hint of fresh parsley (optional), this make-ahead recipe is as visually appealing as it is delicious. Ideal for potlucks, barbecues, or casual family dinners, this chilled salad pairs perfectly with grilled dishes and serves up a bite of summer in every layer.

Nutriscore Rating: 69/100

Prep Time:25 mins

Cook Time:5 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 4 cups Romaine lettuce
• 2 cups Cherry tomatoes
• 1 large Cucumber
• 1 medium Red bell pepper
• 1 cup Frozen peas
• 0.5 medium Red onion
• 1 cup Shredded cheddar cheese
• 6 slices Cooked bacon
• 0.5 cup Mayonnaise
• 0.5 cup Sour cream
• 1 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Sugar
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
• 2 tablespoons Chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Directions

Step 1

Prepare the vegetables: Chop the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Halve the cherry tomatoes. Peel and slice the cucumber into thin rounds. Dice the red bell pepper. Finely slice the red onion.

Step 2

Microwave the frozen peas for 2-3 minutes or until thawed, then drain and let them cool.

Step 3

Prepare the bacon: Cook the bacon strips until crispy, then crumble them into small pieces and set aside.

Step 4

In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.

Step 5

In a large, clear glass bowl or trifle dish, begin to layer the salad: Start with the romaine lettuce as the base, followed by a layer of cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, red bell peppers, thawed peas, and sliced red onion.

Step 6

Spread the dressing evenly over the top layer of vegetables. Use the back of a spoon to smooth it out so the dressing forms a sealed layer.

Step 7

Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the dressing, followed by the crumbled bacon.

Step 8

For an optional garnish, sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top for a pop of color.

Step 9

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld.

Step 10

Serve chilled. Use a large serving spoon to scoop down through all the layers when serving to ensure each portion gets a mix of every ingredient.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1603.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2111.7

Total Fat 164.8g	0%
Saturated Fat 53.5g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3.2g
Cholesterol 343.7mg	0%
Sodium 3145.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 107.3g	0%
Dietary Fiber 19.5g	0%
Total Sugars 43.6g
Protein 66.2g	0%

Vitamin D 7.7IU	0%
Calcium 1185.6mg	0%
Iron 7.1mg	0%
Potassium 2584.7mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 68.1%

Protein: 12.2%

Carbs: 19.7%