I don’t know about you, but when the weather starts warming up I crave healthy meals that are light and simple to make. Enter your email & we’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from us every week! By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Hurry the Food Up. This salad is definitely one of those easy recipes as it can be put together in under 15 minutes. Making it a great option for a quick lunch, or if you don’t want to turn up to a last-minute barbecue empty-handed! (Click this link if you’re trying to find vegetarian recipes for any occasion) The best thing about cheese salad recipes like this one is they don’t have a lot of ingredients and you can easily find everything you need in the local grocery stores. Staple salad recipes are a great thing to have in your repertoire if healthy eating is important, but I’ll get into why later one. The first question you might have though is ‘what cheese should I use?’, so let me explain.
What is the best cheese for salads?
Medium to hard cheese works best in this particular salad as we want to have a little ‘bite’ to it. I love a good cheddar! To those of you that are new to cheddar cheese then I suggest looking for one that has been matured for about 12 months. Any less and it won’t have the full tangy flavor that cheddar should have (though you can get away with 9 months at a push). Much more than 12 months (especially 18 months and above) and we’re starting to head into ‘vintage’ cheddar territory. While I personally love vintage cheddar, I wouldn’t recommend it as a starting point. Of course, cheddar isn’t always available – or maybe you just don’t like sharp cheddar. In that case, simply use your favorite cheese. I would recommend one of these alternatives:
Blue cheese, which is semi-soft and slightly salty. Did you know that the veins on the cheese comes from edible mold it’s made from called Penicillium (sound familiar?).
Feta cheese, another salty favourite! This Greek delight is aged in brine and made with a mixture of sheep and goat’s milk.
Halloumi cheese, hailing from Cyprus also has a salty taste and is delicious when grilled.
Creamy goat cheese, is made purely with goat’s milk and has a nice tart flavor – perfect for a salad! Parmesan cheese. Not always vegetarian (especially in Europe), but very tasty. Vegetarian versions are generally available, under different names. Interestingly, outside of the European Union, they are mostly vegetarian anyway. Salad cheese. A cow alternative to feta, and tastes a little less ‘sheepy/goaty’. Soft cheese like brie. I prefer the harder cheeses in this salad, but can you still make it work! Mozzarella. Definitely a viable alternative! Either a large ball chopped up, or my favourite – mozzarella already packaged as small balls of cheese. Delicious! Cottage cheese. Makes things look a little messy for sure, but if taste and high-protein is what you’re after then go for it! Swiss cheese. Generally medium to hard, and so fits well in the salad. No problems there.
Of course, there is much more than just cheese in this fine summer salad, so let’s find out what that is!
Ingredients
So we know how important cheese is cheese lover but you need something else with it to make it a salad! Greens Any good salad needs some fresh green leaves in it of course, but you don’t have to be complicated or fancy. I love some simple lettuce, think romaine, or baby gem, which ever you prefer. Or, if you want a bit of color how about some purple kale? The key is that it’s fresh, that way it will taste amazing and the texture will be good as well, no one wants soggy leafy greens! Crunch Why do cheeseburgers have pickles on? Why do people love cheese and pickle sandwiches? Because cheese and pickles just go together! So I couldn’t make my cheese-layered salad without some pickled gherkins. They add to the tang and crunch factor which I love in a salad. If you’re not a pickle fan, or you can’t find any you could add some crisp cucumbers instead if you like. Another crunchy ingredient is red onion. This will add to the crunch and also add a pop of color too! Dressing To finish this salad you need the perfect complement and this dressing is just right for that. I mixed extra-virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar, dijon mustard, and maple syrup (you could also use honey or agave syrup if you want). To top it off I seasoned it with a pinch of salt and black pepper and some parsley and then you’ve got a banging salad!
How many calories are in salads with cheese?
My salad contains 516 calories and 21 grams of protein. Here are the other nutritional values from the recipe card:
Health benefits
Now you might think the healthiest salads wouldn’t have cheese in them, but it’s important to have a balanced diet to be healthy and cheese can absolutely be a part of that. Although cheese does have a higher calorie count and high amounts of fat and salt, it is also a great source of calcium and protein for vegetarians. But obviously, if weight loss is a goal of yours it’s all about portion control. So if you follow my recipe this salad is definitely going to help you reach your protein goals for the day and help you to lose some weight within a calorie-controlled diet. If you’re going to add an extra handful, or two, then maybe it won’t (no judgment here!). In terms of the salad leaves, I recommended Romaine or Baby Gem lettuce over Iceberg because other than water there isn’t much nutritional value in Iceberg lettuce. So definitely opting for a more leafy salad leaf is the best option for nutrition. Not only does it have more fiber but minerals like iron too. If you’re looking for more meals to help you on your weight loss journey then please download your free 7-day weight loss meal plan. It is full of inspiration to help you get on track. For even more take a look at the weekly high-protein meal plan for weight loss.
How to make cheese salad
No question is too cheesy for us! Slice the cheese into strips and add to bowl. Slice the gherkins into strips as well, and add to the bowl. Give the parsley a quick wash, shake and slice it into small pieces. Add to the bowl.
Recipe variations
If you want to try some variations to this recipe take a look at these:
Add extra veg: Maybe gherkins aren’t your thing but don’t worry you could swap them out or add extra veg such as juicy tomatoes, kalamata olives, bell peppers, or creamy avocado.
Different cheese: I’ve already mentioned plenty of options for delicious cheeses above however if you’re still hungry for more, how about Swiss cheese, mozzarella cheese, or cottage cheese if you prefer?
Different dressing: If you’re not keen on my dressing why not try a simple balsamic vinaigrette or some lemon juice?
More recipes like this
If you love my cheese layered salad check out these recipes:
Pear Walnut Salad with Quinoa and Halloumi Chickpea Spinach Salad 77 Epic Summer Salads
This is definitely one of my favorite go-to salad recipes in the summer months, and it’s a great one for the whole family. Take it to the office, make it for a friend, or take it to any special occasions you may have – sharing is caring remember! For extra weight-loss salad ideas take a look at this collection of 24 weight-loss salads, and hit your summer goals in no time.
