Lettuce Salad with Mayonnaise Dressing

Confession: When I’m making Caesar salad, I often skip the fussy coddled egg and swap in a dollop of mayonnaise. This lettuce salad with mayonnaise dressing gets it. Mayonnaise is a commercial version of aioli, the French sauce made with egg yolk and olive oil. Savory and rich, it also adds an unctuous texture that makes the dressing thick but light, almost bouncy.

In this salad, the homemade dressing also adds a second surprising ingredient: a smidge of lemon-lime soda. Soda is syrupy, which creates an intriguing, silky texture. The dressing isn’t too sweet—it is a very small amount of soda and is balanced by red wine vinegar—but it has a subtle, unique taste that keeps you scooping up every last leaf. When you need a quick side salad for dinner, or if you plan to make it into an entree salad, you can’t go wrong with this fresh take from recipe contributor Bernice Morris of Marshfield, Missouri.

Ingredients for Lettuce Salad with Mayonnaise Dressing

• Leaf lettuce: Freshly washed and hand-torn leaf lettuce makes a great base for this salad. But you can use whatever type of lettuce you like best.
• Tomatoes: The best type of tomato for a salad typically depends on the season. Heirloom tomatoes are perfect in the summer months; in the winter, use cherry or grape tomatoes or those sold on the vine.
• Hard-boiled eggs: Whenever I make hard-boiled eggs, I always cook a few extra to use in salads or sandwiches later in the week.
• Radishes: Vibrant peppery pink radishes add a delightful snap to green salads.
• Bacon strips: Whether you use bacon bits or crumble up homemade bacon, this savory addition is a great way to encourage vegetable skeptics to embrace salad. Baking bacon is a great hands-off technique.
• Green onions: Every dish, from salads to stews, looks fancy with a smattering of green onions sprinkled on top. They have the zip of onion with a much milder punch. Chives are an easy swap.
• Mayonnaise: The best mayonnaise is your favorite one (we like Hellman’s as an all-purpose mayo). It’s key to a super-thick, emulsified dressing, no whisking necessary. You can even use low-fat if you prefer.
• Red wine vinegar: The best red wine vinegars have a nuanced, grape-y flavor that isn’t just sour or puckery.
• Lemon-lime soda: Yep, you’ll use a tiny bit of soda in the dressing. The unusual ingredient adds sweetness and slightly thins the mayo-based dressing so it better sticks to the leaves and veggies. That said, it’s such a small amount, so you can skip it and add a splash of fresh lemon juice instead.
• Salt: A dash of salt makes every single ingredient taste more like itself. Use flaky salt for extra texture.
• Sugar: Many salad dressings add a touch of sugar to draw forth the natural sweetness of the vegetables, especially the tomatoes and lettuce.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the salad ingredients

In a salad bowl, toss the lettuce, tomatoes, eggs, radishes, bacon and onions.

Step 2: Make the dressing

In a separate small bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, vinegar, soda, salt, sugar and pepper.

Step 3: Serve

Serve the salad with the dressing on the side.

Editor’s Tip: If you’re sure you’ll be finishing the salad in one sitting, toss the dressing into the salad before serving.

Lettuce Salad with Mayonnaise Dressing Variations

• Play with veggies: You can add almost any vegetable to a salad. Try bell peppers, snap peas, cucumbers, celery or avocado. Roast or steam tough veggies first. Think broccoli, cauliflower, winter squash, green beans, sweet potato, beets or carrots. You can also play with leafy lettuces: Romaine, arugula and spinach would all be tasty.
• Add crunch: Scatter nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts) or seeds (pepitas or sunflower) over the salad for extra crunch. Both options add protein as well.
• Add a grain: To bulk up a salad, add a cup of cooked cooled grains, such as quinoa, farro, couscous or wild rice.
• Go cheesy: Crumble feta, goat cheese or Parmesan over the salad for a savory twist.

How to Store Lettuce Salad with Mayonnaise Dressing

Once the salad is dressed, it won’t keep for long. Store fresh vegetables in separate containers or storage bags in the refrigerator. Store the mayonnaise dressing in the refrigerator in a covered bowl or jar.

How long will salad and mayonnaise dressing last?

You can keep the dressing in the refrigerator for up to three days. Give it a good shake or stir before using.

Lettuce Salad with Mayonnaise Dressing Tips

What can you use instead of lemon-lime soda in the dressing?

A dash of club soda can stand in for the lemon-lime soda. If you miss the sweetness, add a bit of extra sugar. If you don’t have anything bubbly, you can sub in a squeeze of lemon juice.

What can you serve with this salad?

This creamy salad is a refreshing first course for a light dinner, like grilled chicken or shrimp pasta. Pair it with a soup for a quick meal. Try cucumber-dill, sweet potato or tomato soup. Or, bring the unique salad to a potluck and let guests guess the secret ingredient in the dressing. Balance out the menu with creamy dips and sliders.