Nutrient-dense and delicious, this creamy, cheesy leafy green salad is fantastic as a side dish or a light main, especially with extra protein on top. Made with healthy leafy greens like kale, parsley and rocket (arugula), this salad is brimming with vitamins and antioxidants, and is low-carb, keto and gluten-free.
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Leafy Green Salad With A Difference
Think nutritious leafy green salad but with the most delicious cheesy, creamy and garlicky dressing. That’s what you’ll be getting from this recipe!
I got addicted to this salad while doing the Low-Carb Challenge. I would often make a batch to have for lunch with some protein on top like chicken, shrimp or crispy bacon (hello!). We also had it as a side dish with meatballs and pan-fried fish for dinner.
This leafy salad is low in carbohydrates, high in fibre, and has plenty of fats to keep you satiated. It’s great for vegetarians too as you will get a fair bit of protein from the cheeses in the dressing.
Start With Leafy Greens
These are full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre. Dark leafy greens in particular – like kale or Swiss chard – contain very high amounts of vitamin K (and calcium!). From supporting bone health and protecting from osteoporosis to protecting against cancer, green leafy vegetables are the nutritional superheroes and you want to get a variety of them in your diet regularly.
You can use any leafy greens in this salad. I went with kale, rocket (arugula), iceberg lettuce and parsley (yes, green herbs are concentrated sources of all those nutrients).
Cheesy Creamy Dressing
This creamy dressing is SO SO tasty! It’s thick and heavy, which gives substance to the light, low-calorie greens. With ingredients like Parmesan and Cheddar cheese, mustard, onion powder, garlic and mayo, this dressing is full of umami flavours. It’s a little bit like the Caesar or Ranch dressing but with its own character. If you can’t do dairy, you can try my creamy avocado dressing instead.
How To Make Cheesy Leafy Green Salad
Wash and drain the leafy greens and chop them roughly. If using kale, I recommend massaging it first to break down its fibres and making it less chewy or sturdy, so to speak. It’s going to be more gentle on the tummy. I sprinkle kale with a tiny bit of salt and lemon juice, grab handfuls and scrunch them a few times between my fingers until it is bruised.
In a large bowl, combine the dressing ingredients. It will look quite thick at this stage. Once you add the greens, use your hands to mix everything.
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Ingredients
- 3 large kale leaves separated from the stem
- 1.5 cups iceberg lettuce chopped; Cos, Gem, or Butter lettuce is also great here
- 1.5 cups rocket arugula, roughly chopped
- 1 cup chopped parsley
For the cheesy dressing
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 small clove garlic grated or minced
- 30 grams Parmesan cheese grated finely (1 oz.)
- 30 g cheddar cheese or Tasty, grated (1 oz.)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon or yellow mustard
- 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Wash and drain the leafy greens and chop them roughly. If using kale, I recommend massaging it first to break down its fibres. This will make it softer and less chewy, and gentler on the tummy. To do so, sprinkle kale with a tiny bit of salt and lemon juice (if you like it tangy), grab handfuls and scrunch them a few times between your until wet and bruised.
- In a large bowl, combine the dressing ingredients. It will look quite thick at this stage. Once you add the greens, use your hands to mix everything through.
Notes
Nutrition
More Healthy Salad Recipes
Simple, yet delicious salad recipe Irena! I loved it, thanks!
I;m currently leading a low carb lifestyle so this salad ticks all the right boxes with me.
Glad to hear that it might get on your meal plan 😉
I love using kale in salads and the cheese really makes this salad moreish. Perfect with my bext barbecue
I want to say naughty but nice! Healthy greens and super indulgent cheesy dressing! Our kind of salad – truly delicious!
That’s exactly what I was going for 😉
Can’t wait to try this….this is the type of recipe I love as it’s the only way I can get the kids to eat more kale
This cheesy greeny salad is just fantastic. My family loved it. Thanks for sharing