New Orleans Soaked Salad

Immerse yourself in the vibrant flavors of the South with this New Orleans Soaked Salad, a refreshing and flavor-packed dish that's perfect for any occasion. Featuring crisp romaine lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, tangy kalamata olives, and creamy feta cheese, this salad is brought to life with a zesty red wine vinaigrette infused with Dijon mustard, honey, garlic, and oregano. What sets this recipe apart is its signature "soaking" step—allowing the salad to chill and marinate for at least an hour, ensuring every bite bursts with bold, harmonious flavors. Quick to prepare in just 20 minutes, this chilled salad is an ideal side dish for summer cookouts, potlucks, or as a light stand-alone meal. Elevate your table with this easy and irresistible New Orleans-inspired dish that’s as flavorful as it is effortless.

Nutriscore Rating: 76/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:20 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 head romaine lettuce
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes
• 1 large cucumber
• 1 medium red onion
• 1 medium green bell pepper
• 0.5 cup kalamata olives
• 0.5 cup feta cheese
• 0.25 cup red wine vinegar
• 0.5 cup olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Wash and dry the romaine lettuce. Chop it into bite-sized pieces and place it in a large salad bowl.

Step 2

Slice the cherry tomatoes in half and add them to the bowl.

Step 3

Peel the cucumber, slice it in half lengthwise, and remove the seeds with a spoon. Slice the cucumber into half-moons and add them to the salad.

Step 4

Peel and thinly slice the red onion into rings. Add it to the bowl.

Step 5

Dice the green bell pepper into small pieces and add it to the salad.

Step 6

Roughly chop the kalamata olives and sprinkle them over the salad.

Step 7

Crumble the feta cheese and set it aside to add later.

Step 8

In a small bowl, whisk together the red wine vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to create the vinaigrette.

Step 9

Pour the vinaigrette over the salad, tossing well to ensure every ingredient is coated.

Step 10

Cover the salad bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld and ‘soak.’

Step 11

Before serving, sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese on top and give the salad a gentle toss.

Step 12

Serve chilled as a side dish or enjoy on its own!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1983.4 grams (1983.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1874

Total Fat 163.60g	210%
Saturated Fat 31.50g	158%
Polyunsaturated Fat 11.80g
Cholesterol 67mg	22%
Sodium 4014mg	175%
Total Carbohydrate 82.50g	30%
Dietary Fiber 26.60g	95%
Total Sugars 34.70g
Protein 27.50g	55%

Vitamin D 12IU	60%
Calcium 877mg	67%
Iron 14mg	77%
Potassium 3092mg	66%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 77.0%

Protein: 5.8%

Carbs: 17.3%