Kid-Friendly Chef Salad ๐ฅ
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4
Description:
Sara Moulton’s kid-friendly chef salad is not just a meal; it’s an adventure in the kitchen! Engage your little ones in the joy of cooking while preparing this delightful salad, perfect for any mealtime.
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 1/2 cup | Cherry tomatoes |
| 1 | Carrot |
| 1 | Cucumber |
| 1 | Romaine lettuce |
| 1 | Green pepper |
| 2 tbsp | Sour cream |
| 6 | Eggs |
| 2-4 tbsp | Butter |
| 2 tbsp | White vinegar |
| 1 tbsp | Parsley flakes |
| 1 cup | Milk |
| 1 tbsp | Dill |
| 6 slices | Cooked ham |
| 3/4 cup | Swiss chard |
| 1/4 cup | Chicken breast |
| 1/2 tsp | Garlic powder |
| Salt and pepper (to taste) |
Instructions:
-
Prepare Toppings:
- Begin by making the toppings for this chefโs salad.
- For hard-boiled eggs, place eggs in a saucepan, cover with cold water, and boil for 1 minute.
- Turn off heat, cover, and let sit for 15 minutes.
- Drain and run cold water over the eggs, then peel and slice into wedges.
- For garlic croutons, melt butter in a microwave-safe bowl, stir in garlic powder, toss in bread cubes, and broil until golden brown.
- Transfer to a paper towel to drain and cool.
-
Make Dressing:
- Whisk together sour cream, milk, vinegar, garlic powder, parsley, dill, salt, and pepper to make ranch-style dressing.
- Chill for at least 30 minutes while preparing the remaining salad ingredients.
-
Prepare Lettuce:
- Cut off the end of the romaine lettuce, break off leaves, wash, and spin dry or pat dry with paper towels.
- Break into bite-size pieces and place in a large salad bowl.
-
Prepare Vegetables:
- Peel and grate the carrot; wash, peel, and slice the cucumber; and cut the pepper into strips or shapes.
- Wash tomatoes and remove stems.
-
Assemble Salad:
- Place ham or chicken, cheese, croutons, and hard-boiled eggs in bowls alongside the prepared vegetables.
- Serve with the chilled dressing on the side.
-
Serve and Enjoy:
- For a fun twist, set up all the ingredients salad-bar style and let everyone assemble their own salad.
- Get creative with toppings and encourage kids to make faces or patterns with their ingredients.
- Pour the dressing over the salad or serve on the side for dipping.
Tips:
- Engage your children in every step of the process, from preparing ingredients to assembling their own salads.
- Explore the origins of salad with your kids for a fun learning experience.
- Experiment with different toppings and dressings to suit your family’s tastes.
- Encourage creativity by using cookie cutters to shape vegetables or bread.
- Enjoy a nutritious and delicious meal together as a family, making memories in the kitchen!
