Romaine Lettuce Salad Christmas Delight

Description

Embrace the festive spirit with the Romaine Lettuce Salad Christmas Delight, a visually stunning and flavorful salad perfect for holiday gatherings. This recipe resembles a Christmas tree, crafted from fresh, crisp romaine and adorned with a colorful array of vegetables and chickpeas, all brought together with a tangy tahini dressing. It’s a delightful side that is as fun to prepare as it is to eat, ensuring your holiday table is both vibrant and healthy.

Ingredients

• 1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 2–3 heads romaine lettuce
• 1/2 cup small diced tomato
• 1/2 cup sliced kalamata olives
• 1/2 cup diced cucumber
• 1/2 cup diced red onion
• 1/2 cup diced marinated artichoke hearts
• 2 tablespoons fresh herbs, such as dill, parsley, mint, cilantro
• 1/2 cup smashed croutons
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup tahini
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/2 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon dried herbs (e.g., Green Goddess seasoning, Herbs de Provence, or dried oregano)

Step-by-step Directions

1. Prepare the chickpeas

Rinse and drain the chickpeas, and pat them dry with a towel. Heat a large pan over medium heat, add olive oil, chickpeas, granulated garlic, paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Stir to combine and cook until the chickpeas are heated through and crispy, around 10 minutes.

2. Make the tahini dressing

In a medium-sized bowl, combine tahini, olive oil, red wine vinegar, tamari, granulated garlic, dried herbs, salt, and pepper. Mix until creamy and smooth.

3. Prepare the toppings

Dice the tomato, cucumber, red onion, artichoke hearts, and slice the olives. Chop the herbs. Ensure all pieces are small and consistent in size.

4. Assemble the salad

Remove the outer leaves of the romaine lettuce and separate the remaining leaves. Start assembling the salad on a platter, placing larger leaves at the bottom and smaller ones towards the top to resemble a Christmas tree shape. Evenly distribute the chickpeas and vegetables over the leaves. Drizzle with tahini dressing and sprinkle with smashed croutons.

Servings & Preparation Time

Serves: 6-8 people as a side dish
Preparation Time: 25 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes

Tips for Storage & Reheating

• Store the undressed salad components and dressing separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• If the chickpeas lose their crunch, reheat them in a pan over medium heat for a few minutes to crisp them up again before serving.
• The dressing can be rejuvenated by whisking a little more olive oil or red wine vinegar into it if it thickens too much upon refrigeration.

Conclusion

The Romaine Lettuce Salad Christmas Delight offers a perfect balance of health and flavor, making it an ideal addition to your holiday feast. Not only is it nutritious—packed with fresh vegetables and protein-rich chickpeas—but its Christmas tree-like appearance is sure to captivate and impress your guests, underscoring the festive mood of the season.

Romaine Lettuce Salad Christmas Delight

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• Author: Dulcia
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 6-8 people as a side dish 1x

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Description

Embrace the festive spirit with the Romaine Lettuce Salad Christmas Delight, a visually stunning and flavorful salad perfect for holiday gatherings. This recipe resembles a Christmas tree, crafted from fresh, crisp romaine and adorned with a colorful array of vegetables and chickpeas, all brought together with a tangy tahini dressing. It’s a delightful side that is as fun to prepare as it is to eat, ensuring your holiday table is both vibrant and healthy.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 2–3 heads romaine lettuce
• 1/2 cup small diced tomato
• 1/2 cup sliced kalamata olives
• 1/2 cup diced cucumber
• 1/2 cup diced red onion
• 1/2 cup diced marinated artichoke hearts
• 2 tablespoons fresh herbs, such as dill, parsley, mint, cilantro
• 1/2 cup smashed croutons
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup tahini
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/2 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon dried herbs (e.g., Green Goddess seasoning, Herbs de Provence, or dried oregano)

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Instructions

1. Prepare the chickpeas: Rinse and drain the chickpeas, and pat them dry with a towel. Heat a large pan over medium heat, add olive oil, chickpeas, granulated garlic, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook until the chickpeas are heated through and crispy, around 10 minutes.
2. Make the tahini dressing: In a medium-sized bowl, combine tahini, olive oil, red wine vinegar, tamari, granulated garlic, dried herbs, salt, and pepper. Mix until creamy and smooth.
3. Prepare the toppings: Dice the tomato, cucumber, red onion, artichoke hearts, and slice the olives. Chop the herbs. Ensure all pieces are small and consistent in size.
4. Assemble the salad: Remove the outer leaves of the romaine lettuce and separate the remaining leaves. Start assembling the salad on a platter, placing larger leaves at the bottom and smaller ones towards the top to resemble a Christmas tree shape. Evenly distribute the chickpeas and vegetables over the leaves. Drizzle with tahini dressing and sprinkle with smashed croutons.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes