Holiday Lettuce Salad

Name: Holiday Lettuce Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 14 servings (1 cup each).
Ingredients: 10 cups torn romaine; 2 medium red apples, cubed; 2 medium pears, cubed; 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese; 1/2 cup dried cranberries; 6 tablespoons lemon juice; 3 tablespoons canola oil; 3 tablespoons light corn syrup; 1-1/2 teaspoons grated onion; 1-1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup chopped lightly salted cashews

Light with a hint of sweetness, this lettuce salad recipe will make everyone excited to eat their fruits and vegetables. —Bryan Braack, Eldridge, Iowa

Ingredients

10 cups torn romaine
2 medium red apples, cubed
2 medium pears, cubed
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1/2 cup dried cranberries
6 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons canola oil
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
1-1/2 teaspoons grated onion
1-1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped lightly salted cashews

Directions

In a salad bowl, combine the first five ingredients.
For dressing, in a small bowl, whisk lemon juice, oil, corn syrup, onion, mustard and salt. Pour over romaine mixture; toss to coat. Sprinkle with cashews.

Lettuce Salad Recipe Tips

Can I swap in any lettuce substitutes?

If you're not a fan of romaine lettuce, you can always try a different type of lettuce like iceberg or butterhead. If you have leftover lettuce, use it up in any of these non-boring lettuce recipes. They'll get you excited about eating lettuce again!

What other toppings can you add to this lettuce salad recipe?

Besides the toppings listed, healthy salad toppings like thinly shredded beets, cooked quinoa, or avocado would be a welcome addition. Check out our best romaine lettuce salad ideas for inspiration.

Can you trade the corn syrup for another sweetener?

Yes, you can trade in the corn syrup for brown rice syrup, granulated sugar or honey. When substituting sugar, add a little at a time and taste as you go to ensure the dressing reaches your preferred level of sweetness. Be sure to check out this sugar alternatives guide for more ideas.

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 144 calories, 8g fat (2g saturated fat), 7mg cholesterol, 134mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 3g fiber), 4g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 fat, 1 starch, 1 vegetable.

Reviews

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Average Rating:

Cathy

Nov 10, 2019

I made this for church and everyone loved it! Thank you!
I_Fortuna

Apr 2, 2019

Leave out the corn syrup and sub Truvia and this salad will be about as diabetic friendly as they come. Mostly these fruits are low in sugar. I add California Mandarin oranges to my salads. People with diabetes know how and what to add and leave out of a recipe. Your body needs some carbs and many carbs such as the ones in this recipe are fiber, an essential carb. Most diabetics can easy alter a recipe for their needs. It is easy to sub any recipe.
tasha1234

Sep 3, 2015

I made this exactly as written. Everyone says it's a keeper. Thank you Bryan for the delicious recipe.
awells54

Jun 17, 2015

This was an awful salad. No one liked it.
barsto

Jan 19, 2013

I think this chicken added to this dish would make a great main dish. Can't wait to try this recipe.
SueCeQ

Dec 31, 2012

This salad sounded wonderful, but was disappointed when I tasted it. The dressing was less than desirable. I think with a different dressing it would be much better.
tophersmom

Dec 30, 2012

This was a true hit at our family Christmas gathering.Good taste combinations with the apples and pears and nuts.We did not have cashews so used pecans instead.
D.Marie

Dec 16, 2012

We had 12 for dinner and everyone loved this salad. I doubled the recipe and there were NO LEFTOVERS!
ral220

Dec 8, 2012

This will become a go to salad from now on. Whether for a large gathering or just a salad for one. Excellent refreshing and OH SO YUMMY
germanycook

Dec 3, 2012

Answer for 'bleewkerr':I always prepare the dressing ahead of time, wash/cut up the lettuce, prepare the add-ins (except the fruit, it will go brown) and then right before serving mix it all together. Otherwise, the lettuce goes soggy. You can even prepare the dressing the night before and keep it in the fridge.