Take your salad game to the next level with this BLT Quinoa Salad featuring smoky bacon, fluffy quinoa, fresh lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and a creamy homemade dressing.
4cupsgreen leaf lettuceor favorite leafy green lettuce
1pintcherry tomatoessliced in half
Creamy BLT Salad Dressing
4TBSPsour cream
3TBSPquality mayo
1clovegarlic, pressed with a garlic press
¼cupfinely chopped fresh chives
¼tspsea salt
⅛tspblack pepper
1-2TBSPmilk
Instructions
First whisk together the dressing to give it time for the flavors to mix and meld. In a small bowl, combine all ingredients with just 1 Tablespoon of the milk. Whisk well and use any additional milk to thin the dressing to desired consistency. Conver and refrigerate until ready to eat.
Rinse and drain your quinoa using a mesh strainer or sieve to remove its natural coating. Bring a small pot to medium heat and lightly toast the quinoa to remove any excess water. Stir as it toasts for just a few minutes. This step is optional but really adds to the nuttiness and fluff factor of the quinoa! Next add your water, set burner to high, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer, covered with the lid slightly ajar, for 12-13 minutes or until quinoa is fluffy and the liquid has been absorbed.
New to quinoa? Here's a (visual/tutorial) of the cooking process!
While the quinoa simmers away, cook bacon via your favorite method. I like to coarsely chop it into pieces and cook in a skillet until nice and crispy. It only takes a few minutes!
Onve the bacon and quinoa are ready, all that's left to do is pile your plates high with fresh lettuce, toasty quinoa, juicy ripe tomatoes and crispy bacon! Drizzle with dressing and dive in!
Notes
Nutrition Facts below are estimated for the salad only using an online recipe nutrition calculator. Each TBSP of dressing is approx. 24 calories. Adjust as needed based on desired serving and enjoy!