Layered Blueberry Salad
Layered salads are one of my go-to recipes for get-togethers. Since there are so many ingredient combos you can make when it comes to salads, the recipe possibilities are endless! You're going to love the combination of crunchy lettuce, creamy dressing, and sweet berries in this Layered Blueberry Salad. This delicious recipe combo is the perfect side dish for any spring celebration.
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What Do I Need to Make Blueberry Salad?
This simple salad is made of a variety of delicious, fresh ingredients. After building your layered salad, you can top it with a creamy buttermilk dressing that pairs perfectly with the fresh fruits and vegetables. To make blueberry salad, you will need:
- Romaine lettuce
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Toasted pecans
- Red onion
- Crumbled blue cheese
In addition to the salad ingredients, you'll also need a handful of supplies for your homemade dressing. To make this dressing, you will need:
- Buttermilk
- Mayonnaise
- Sour cream
- White vinegar
- Low carb sweetener or sugar
- Garlic powder
- Salt and pepper
*You will also need a trifle bowl to assemble the salad in.
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How Do I Make Blueberry Strawberry Salad?
The hardest part about making this salad is preparing all your ingredients. Before you can start building the layers of your blueberry salad, you will need to wash all your produce. Slice your strawberries and red onion, then shred the romaine lettuce.
Step One: Layer the salad
Use a trifle bowl to build your salad, starting with a layer of half the lettuce in the bottom. Press down the lettuce and top it with one layer each of strawberries, blueberries, toasted pecans, red onion, and blue cheese. Repeat the layers a second time to fill up the top half of the dish. As you add each layer, make sure to lightly press down the ingredients to ensure everything fits in the bowl.
Step Two: Make the dressing
Once your salad is prepared, make the dressing by combining the buttermilk, mayonnaise, sour cream, white vinegar, sweetener, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a bowl or jar. Whisk all the ingredients until they are smooth and combined.
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Step Three: Dress the salad
If you plan on tossing and eating the salad right away, pour the dressing over the top, then toss to combine all the ingredients. Otherwise, cover both the salad and dressing and chill until you're ready to serve. The dressing can also be served on the side.
How to Serve Blueberry Strawberry Salad
There are two ways to serve this pretty salad: tossed with dressing or with the dressing on the side. The option you choose will depend on how you want your salad to look when it's served. For the best presentation, consider keeping the layers in tact and place the dressing in a mason jar for your guests to drizzle over the salad after putting it on their plate.
However, if presentation doesn't matter to you, tossing the dressing with the salad ingredients will give you the best flavor. This method allows the dressing to fully coat the ingredients, ensuring you get the most flavor out of the salad and dressing combo.
Salad Substitutions
My favorite thing about making salads is how adaptable they are! There are so many simple variations you can make to the recipe to suit your tastes and dietary needs. Try these simple substitutions in your blueberry salad recipe:
- Mix in more greens: Fill out your salad by adding more greens to the lettuce layer. Before creating the layer, combine your romaine lettuce with other greens, like spinach, arugula, or iceberg lettuce.
- Add more veggies: Another great way to enhance your salad is to add more vegetables to the mix. Stir in chopped tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, green onions, chopped carrots, or sliced celery.
- Layer more cheese: Try adding more cheese to your salad to add to the flavor. Neutral cheeses, like goat cheese or feta, are a great option. Or sprinkle some parmesan or cheddar cheese on your salad for a different taste.
- Toss in some nuts: Add more crunch to your salad with the help of more nuts. Sliced almonds, chopped walnuts, or sunflower seeds are all great options for your berry salad.
- Try a different dressing:If you don't have time to make your own dressing, a pre-made dressing could be a good option. Try using a simple vinaigrette or poppyseed dressing to add some sweetness to the salad without overpowering the flavor of the ingredients.
What can you substitute for buttermilk in salad dressing?
Buttermilk isn't the most common ingredient, which means you may not have any on hand. Don't let that keep you from making this delicious dressing! There are a few different substitutions you can make to the dressing recipe if you don't have buttermilk.
The simplest substitute for buttermilk is milk combined with an acidic ingredient. To make your own buttermilk, combine three tablespoons of milk with half a teaspoon of lemon juice or white vinegar. Stir the ingredients together and allow them to sit for five minutes, giving the milk a chance to sour and thicken. Then, add the mixture to the rest of your dressing ingredients.
Another great substitute for butter milk in dressing is yogurt or sour cream. Use the same amount of plain yogurt or sour cream as buttermilk, then whisk all the ingredients together to form a smooth dressing.
Layered Blueberry Salad
Equipment
- Trifle Bowl
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 3 stalks romaine lettuce washed and torn into pieces
- 2 pounds strawberries washed and sliced
- 18 ounces blueberries
- 1 ½ cups toasted pecans
- ½ cup sliced red onion
- 5 ounces crumbled blue cheese
For the Dressing:
- 3 tablespoons buttermilk
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons sour cream
- 2 teaspoons white vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon low carb sweetener or sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
For the Salad:
- Before you can start building the layers of your blueberry salad, you’ll need to wash all your produce. Slice your strawberries and red onion, then shred the romaine lettuce.
- Use a trifle bowl to build your salad, starting with a layer of half the lettuce in the bottom. Press down the lettuce, and top it with one layer each of strawberries, blueberries, toasted pecans, red onion, and blue cheese. Repeat the layers a second time to fill up the top half of the dish. As you add each layer, make sure to lightly press down the ingredients to ensure everything fits in the bowl.
For the Dressing:
- Make the dressing by combining the buttermilk, mayonnaise, sour cream, white vinegar, sweetener, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl or jar. Whisk all the ingredients until they’re smooth and combined.
- If you plan on tossing and eating the salad right away, pour the dressing over the top, then toss to combine all the ingredients. Otherwise, cover both the salad and dressing and chill until you’re ready to serve. The dressing can also be served on the side.
