Classic Chopped Salad

Week 4 is all about protein! Make sure to check out THIS post with useful information on proteins! Todays recipe will make about 8 patties. This recipe was adapted from Better Homes & Gardens. 

What you'll need

• Knife
• Cutting board
• Mixing bowl
• Mixing spoon
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Whisk

Ingredients

• 2 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 lemon
• 4 ounces light sour cream
• 2 hearts romaine lettuce
• 2 ears fresh corn, kernels cut from cob
• 1/2 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 2 inch lengths
• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 medium cucumber, seeded and chopped
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives
• Sea salt or any other salt, freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled and cut into chunks
• 4 slices turkey bacon, crisp cooked and chopped

Directions For Dressing

1. Peel the garlic and split it lengthwise. Remove any green germ or interior sprout. Then mince the garlic and mix with a generous sprinkling of salt. 
2. Hold the blade of the knife facing away from you and repeatedly rub garlic and salt together with the flat side of the blade to work it into a fine paste
3. Transfer the mashed garlic to a small bowl. Then squeeze the lemon over the garlic. Catch the seeds with your fingers and throw them out.
4. Stir in an additional sprinkling of salt. 
5. Allow to sit for 10 to 15 minutes so the lemon can tame the garlic.
6. Whisk in sour cream and then season with salt and a few grinds of black pepper.
7. To give the flavors time to develop, refrigerate for 1 hour. This dressing will keep for up to 3 days in the refrigerator

Directions For the Salad

1. Cut the lettuce into bite sized pieces
2. Cook the corn and green beans in a large amount of rapidly boiling, lightly salted water for 1 to 3 minutes
3. In a very large salad bowl combine the corn, beans, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber together. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and half the chives
4. Add two or three spoonfuls of dressing and toss gently. 
5. Add lettuce to the bowl and sprinkle with salt, pepper and most of the remaining chives. Add an additional drizzle of dressing.
6. Gather vegetables from the bottom of the bowl and lift up and over the lettuce.
7. Repeat until ingredients are just mixed, adding additional dressing as necessary to coat. 
8. Just before serving add the avocado and bacon and then top with the additional chives. 

Since there are many different kinds of protein and ways to prepare them we made 4 dishes and a side salad:

• American Tacos
• Fool-Proof Quiche
• Black Bean, Corn and pepper salad
• Persan Spiced Lentil Patties
• Classic Chopped Salad

Click on any of the above to see the recipe on how to make them and as always feel free to leave comments or questions below!