Recipe Name: Overnight Buffet Salad
Cook Time: Not specified
Prep Time: 49 hours
Total Time: 49 hours
Description:
This Overnight Buffet Salad is a culinary gem perfect for your next potluck gathering or as a delightful addition to any dinner party spread. Not only does it boast a delicious taste that will satisfy even the most discerning palates, but it also conveniently serves a large group of people with minimal effort required. The preparation time includes a crucial step of refrigerating the greens after washing, allowing the lettuce to crisp up over the course of 24 hours, ensuring optimal texture and freshness. Additionally, the completed salad is refrigerated for an additional 24 hours, allowing the flavors to meld together beautifully, resulting in a dish that’s bursting with vibrant flavors and textures.
Recipe Category: Lunch/Snacks
Keywords: Vegetable, Potluck, Weeknight, No Cook, Refrigerator, Easy
Nutritional Information (Per Serving):
- Calories: 195.6
- Fat Content: 15g
- Saturated Fat Content: 6g
- Cholesterol Content: 87.6mg
- Sodium Content: 259.4mg
- Carbohydrate Content: 7.7g
- Fiber Content: 2.3g
- Sugar Content: 3.6g
- Protein Content: 8.2g
Ingredients:
- 1 bunch spinach
- 1 head red leaf lettuce
- 1 head butter lettuce
- 1 bunch green onion
- 4-5 hard-boiled eggs, grated
- 1/2 cup bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 tablespoon plain yogurt
Instructions:
- Prepare Greens: Begin by washing the spinach and lettuce thoroughly, then spin dry to remove excess moisture.
- Crisp Greens: Tear the washed greens into small, bite-sized pieces. Wrap them in paper towels and refrigerate for several hours, or preferably overnight, until they are dry and crisp.
- Layer Ingredients: In a deep dish, preferably a 13″x9″x5″ pan (a foil store-bought pan works well), layer half of the spinach, red leaf lettuce, butter lettuce, green onion, grated eggs, and bacon. Repeat the layers to ensure even distribution of ingredients.
- Prepare Dressing: In a small bowl, combine the dry salad dressing mix, mayonnaise, sour cream, and yogurt until well blended.
- Spread Dressing: Spread the prepared dressing evenly over the entire top of the salad, ensuring that the edges are fully covered.
- Refrigerate Overnight: Cover the salad with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, allowing the flavors to meld together and the salad to reach its optimal taste and texture.
- Garnish: Prior to serving, garnish the top of the salad with green pepper rings, sliced black olives or green olives, tomato wedges, and slices or wedges of hard-cooked eggs for a visually appealing presentation.
This Overnight Buffet Salad is not only a feast for the taste buds but also a visually stunning addition to any table. With its vibrant colors, diverse textures, and tantalizing flavors, it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser at any gathering. Enjoy the convenience of preparing this dish ahead of time, allowing you to focus on entertaining your guests while still serving up a dish that’s sure to impress.
