Learn how to make a delicious Butter Lettuce Salad with Sour Cream Dressing! This simple green salad recipe couldn't be easier to make, and you won't be able to resist the light, creamy dressing. Plus, it pairs perfectly with any meal!
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Ginnie's Take
I love pairing a veggie-packed side salad with my dinners! It's a great way to lighten up heavier meals and an easy way to sneak in extra vegetables. While I typically go for vinaigrettes, I was craving something creamier recently, so I tossed together this gorgeous Butter Lettuce Salad and paired it with a light, creamy dressing. This scrumptious salad is the result, and it's earned a regular spot in my dinner rotation. You won't be able to resist the contrast between the tender greens, crunchy veggies, tangy pickled onions, and creamy dressing. It's so delicious!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make - This salad is super simple to throw together! You can even make the pickled onions and dressing in advance, saving time when dinner rolls around.
- Wonderful Flavor + Texture - You'll love the combination of soft lettuce, crunchy veggies, and tangy dressing. This flavorful salad is so light and fresh tasting, and it's also low cal, even with the creamy dressing!
- Versatile - This the perfect side salad, pairing well with any meal. You can add some protein to turn it into a light lunch or dinner, too.
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Ingredients
You can make this recipe with simple, easy to find ingredients! Here's what you'll need:
- Lettuce - Butter lettuce (also known as butterhead) comes in loose, round heads and has smooth, tender leaves. Boston and Bibb are the most popular varieties, and it has a mild flavor and soft, almost buttery texture.
- Veggies - This recipe pairs fresh cucumbers, radishes, and grape tomatoes with homemade Pickled Onions, for a wonderful flavor and crunchy texture. Feel free to substitute other veggies, depending on what's in your fridge.
- Dressing - This recipe features a light, tangy Sour Cream Salad Dressing, and it's super simple to make! You'll need sour cream (this is my fave brand), fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard, herbs (I used chives and dill, but you can experiment others), fresh garlic, a touch of sugar, salt, and pepper to make it.
This recipe is naturally vegetarian, nut free, and gluten free! You can easily make it vegan by using plant based sour cream, too.
You'll Also Need
You'll need a jar or small bowl to make the pickled onions (a mason jar is ideal), as well as a medium bowl to make the salad dressing. A salad spinner makes cleaning the butter lettuce much easier, and you'll also need a large bowl to mix everything together.
How to Make Butter Lettuce Salad
This tasty salad with sour cream dressing couldn't be easier to make! You'll find a detailed recipe card below, but here's an overview of the steps:
- Pickle onions. Because they need time to pickle, you'll start with the onions. Simply combine the vinegar, sugar, and salt in a mason jar (or bowl), then heat until hot. Stir until the salt and sugar is completely dissolved, then add the slice onions. Tip: To save time, the onions can be made in advance. They're so delish, I like to keep a jar in my refrigerator at all times!
- Make salad dressing. Next, you'll stir the sour cream, lemon juice, dijon mustard, sugar, garlic, salt, and pepper together until smooth. Then mix in the fresh herbs and season to taste.
- Prep greens. Separate the leaves from the root (if it's still attached), then gently tear the lettuce into large bite-sized pieces. Wash and dry the greens. Tip: I recommend using a salad spinner. It makes this process so much faster and easier, and it removes any water that would otherwise water down your salad.
- Mix everything together. Combine the lettuce, dressing, and veggies in a large bowl, then gently toss together. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if needed. Serve sprinkled with fresh herbs, if you have any leftover from the dressing.
Wasn't that easy? And this simple Butter Lettuce Salad is so delicious, too. You're going to love each and every bite!
Variations
You can easily customize this tender green salad according to the ingredients in your refrigerator! Here are some ideas to try:
- Lettuce - Pair the butterhead lettuce with other greens, like romaine for extra crunch or red leaf lettuce for a pop of color.
- Veggies - Swap in your fave vegetables, such as asparagus, avocado, carrots, green onions, snap peas, or bell peppers.
- Dressing - Use a different dressing, like this sunny Lemon Salad Dressing or this zesty French Vinaigrette.
- Croutons - Add some extra crunch by topping the salad with Homemade Croutons.
- Other Ideas - Experiment with other ingredients, such as olives, crumbled cheese (like feta or blue cheese), toasted nuts, fresh fruit (try strawberries, pears, pomegranate, grapefruit, or apples), and more.
- Vegan - To make this recipe vegan + dairy free, simply use a plant based sour cream when making the dressing.
Serving Suggestions
This Butter Leaf Lettuce Salad makes a wonderful side dish for any meal! You can serve it with everything from homemade veggie burgers (try these delish Green Burgers) to soups (pair it with this hearty Vegetable Barley Soup or this classic Lentil Soup), as well as main dishes (like this yummy Cheese Lasagna or this tasty Pesto Risotto).
If you'd like to enjoy this recipe as a light meal, simply add some protein. Roasted chickpeas, toasted nuts, and baked tofu would all make flavorful additions!
Storage
Dressed salads do not store well, so you'll want to eat this shortly after you've made it. However, you can definitely prep the dressing and pickled onions in advance, and store them in your refrigerator. Then when dinnertime rolls around, just toss everything together.
Related Recipes
Looking for more easy salad ideas? Try one of these recipes next:
- This Green Salad may be my simplest salad, but it's truly so tasty. Perfect for pairing with any meal!
- If you're a kale fan, you have to try this Kale Salad with Lemon Dressing. It's one of my favorite go-to recipes.
- Looking for a light, yet filling dinner or lunch idea? Check out this colorful Arugula Quinoa Salad!
- Make this Garden Salad anytime you want to fill your plate with veggies.
- Feeling fancy? Try this Warm Goat Cheese Salad (also known as Chèvre Chaud), a classic French salad that's actually quite easy to make.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Butter lettuce (also known as butterhead) grows in loose, round heads, and it has smooth, tender leaves. It's known for its mild flavor and soft, almost buttery texture. While there are many varieties, Boston and Bibb are the most popular.
To wash butter lettuce, start by removing the root end (if it's still attached) with your hands or a knife. Then separate the leaves and gently tear them into bite-sized pieces. Rinse the leaves under cold water to remove any dirt, then use a salad spinner to remove excess water from the leaves.
Do not cut butter lettuce for a salad. Instead, use your hands to gently tear the leaves into bite-sized pieces. This will prevent the lettuce from bruising and will preserve the leaves unique shape and texture.
Butter Lettuce Salad
Ingredients
For Pickled Onions:
- ½ cup white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
For Dressing:
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons thinly sliced chives
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh dill
For Salad:
- 2 heads butter lettuce
- 1 cup halved grape tomatoes (or cherry tomatoes)
- 1 cucumber, thinly sliced
- 3 radishes, thinly sliced
Instructions
Prepare Pickled Onions:
- Combine vinegar, sugar, and salt in a mason jar or small bowl.
- Microwave for 45 to 60 seconds, or until hot. Then stir until sugar and salt are dissolved.
- Add red onions, then press down so they're covered in the vinegar mixture. Cover and set aside.
Prepare Dressing:
- Combine sour cream, lemon juice, mustard, sugar, garlic, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Mix until smooth.
- Stir in chives and dill. Then season to taste with additional salt, pepper, and / or lemon juice if needed. Set aside.
Assemble Salad:
- Remove stem end from lettuce (if attached), then separate leaves. Gently tear into bite-sized pieces, then wash and dry (use a salad spinner for best results).
- Place lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, radishes, and ¼ cup pickled onions (well drained) in a large bowl. Drizzle with dressing, then gently toss until everything is well mixed and evenly coated in dressing.
- Season salad with additional salt and pepper (if needed), then serve immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
