Hi guys! This morning when we woke up the first thing I asked my husband was, “How does this sound? Cucumbers, olives, tomatoes…” for a salad recipe. He loves all salads so he was interested immediately. Then we started discussing what I should call it. After several names we finally settled on “Redhead’s Skinny Salad”.
Doesn’t it look scrumptious? Refreshing too, right?
The best part is that I used my dressing recipe from the “Olive Garden Salad Hack“. Did you see that post yet? It has become my most popular post of all time.
The dressing is fantastic, and it’s not bad for you. In fact it’s extremely heart healthy. I don’t have the exact calorie count for the dressing, but when I pair these salads with any lean meat for dinner, it helps me lose weight.
If you don’t like one of the ingredients, just skip it and use something you do like. If you’ve never tried edamame, now is your chance. It has become one of my most favorite veggies to eat. It has a nutty flavor that can’t be beat. You can find it in the frozen section.
I just watched my husband eat that entire bowl up there. This version makes a little more than that so there is plenty for 4 people. Probably 6-8 if you have other food. I hope you give it a try.
Ingredients
- Salad:
- 1 large English cucumber chopped in quarters with skin left on (these are the long cucumbers that are wrapped in cellophane)
- 2 celery stalks diced in 1/4 inch pieces
- 1 cup cherry tomato halves (I used orange, but red are great)
- 1/2 red bell pepper diced
- 1 green onion diced
- 1/2 cup edamame (I find it in the frozen veggie section)
- 1/2 cup cashews (optional)
- Dressing (This will make more dressing than needed. Save left over dressing for salads throughout the next 2 weeks, then discard.):
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Hellmans Canola Mayo
- 2 1/2 tablespoons grated pecorino romano cheese (or parmesan)
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon salt
- dash of pepper
Instructions
Wash veggies and after they are all cut up put them in a medium sized mixing bowl. Add dressing ingredients to a Ball jar (FYI I like to double the recipe using a big Ball jar and use it over 2 weeks time in all of our salads). Be sure to shake up the dressing very well, or whisk it if you don't have a covered jar. Add 1/2 cup of dressing to veggies and toss well. You can add more dressing if desired. This salad pairs well with all proteins. (The dressing will become partially solidified when you refrigerate it because of the olive oil. Not to worry, just shake it up and use it like normal).
Notes
The dressing is from my "Olive Garden Salad Dressing" hack that has become one of my most popular posts ever. I make it a lot! Use it on all of your salads and feel good about not eating dressings that are bad for you.
Tags: low carb, recipe, salad
Posted by
Tomorro I’m going shopping and will pick up all the fixins for both salads and the awesome dressing. Hope I will loose some weight also; it’s always good to fill up on salad first (but I read that your hubby and the girls like to eat it last…..a ‘better for you’ dessert). Anxious for some of the salad items growing in my garden.
I can’t wait for you to try it, Carol. Let me know what you think!
I’m going to try this, sounds healthy! Thanks!
Hi Maria! You are welcome. The dressing is great on all salads. Enjoy! ~ Julie
Am sure eating salads will be much better for Mr.and I than our current diet. Have been craving salads anyway for weeks now. Recently went off a med that makes person want to eat not good unhealthy food for them. I can happily eat just salad to fill me up so losing some weight would be happy bonus. Bought some new capris but are bit too tight.
So glad you shared these salad/dressing recipes.
Happy week to you.
Good morning, JaneEllen! I crave salada, too! This dressing is very tasty. I just made another batch. I double mine so I have it for longer. I forgot to mention that I use a large ball jar and shake it up before each use. -Julie
Hi Julie, Look forward to making salads and dressing, so enjoy all your menu’s.
Thank you so much, Glenda! Have a great night~ Julie
FYI Love your salad ideas but when your web page comes up there is an 4 inch banner running across for KFC. Not exactly the ad to go with salads. Looking forward to more great salad ideas.
Hmmmm…4 inches? Holy moly. Thanks for the FYI. I will let my ad company know. Hope you try the salad, Regina! ~ Julie
Hi Julie,
This sounds so yummy and I love edamame,since hubbie and I are both on diets, this will be perfect. Can’t wait to try the salad dressing:-)
Enjoy the rest of your week.
Edamame is one of my most favorite things these days, Ann. I don’t discover it until recently. Enjoy!
Hey Julie, today we are having skinny salad with your skinny dressing!!! I’m amazed at how good that dressing tastes! And I also put together a small bowl of olive celery side dish. AWESOME!!! I would never have thought to put those two together; Thanks to you and ‘Dad’. It sure must have been fun growing up in a household where Dad cooked.
Ooooo I am so excited for you to try it tonight! You are making me crave a salad now, lol. My Dad still cooks at 82! Have a great supper as he calls it!
Skinny salad / dressing looks Amazing and colorful. Very appealing to the eye
This salad looks amazing and I am going to make that dressing!! Gotta pin away!
Thank you, Shirley!
My my, what a healthy yummy looking salad,must try.
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