Simple Sensation Salad
When I was younger, two things were simple…life and salads. Okay, everything was pretty simple back then, but the salad part was definitely true! One of my favorite after school snacks was some good old iceberg lettuce in a bowl, covered in Wishbone Italian dressing. There is still something nostalgic to me about that basic old salad, but over the years, I like to think that I stepped up my salad game.
Salads don’t have to be boring and you can whip one up at home that will have you going back for seconds…or thirds! If you find yourself reaching for the bottle when dressing your salads at home, consider making your own. It's really simple and can make a big difference in flavor. One of my favorites to make at home is a Sensation salad dressing.
My inspiration for this recipe started over 10 years ago. When I was in college in my hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, I worked at a tasty little Italian restaurant named D’Angelos Pizzeria. All of their dressings were made in house and their salads were ahh-mazing. I loved them all, but the Sensation salad, in particular, was always one of my favorites. Rumor has it that Sensation dressing originated in Baton Rouge at a local restaurant named Bob & Jake’s, back in the 70’s, and remains a favorite around town.
This recipe combines a generous amount of Romano or Parmesan cheese with olive oil, fresh lemon juice, garlic and cracked black pepper. This cheesy nectar of the gods is typically made with Pecorino Romano, but I love the way it tastes with Parmesan cheese too. I think whichever you have on hand (or whatever's cheaper at the store) will work just fine! The dressing is tossed with romaine lettuce and topped off with sliced almonds. I have seen more complex versions of this dressing, but I like to simplify where I can so this recipe uses less ingredients and can be whipped up in no time! I hope you find it sensational!
Simple Sensation Salad
Ingredients:
- 1 large lemon
- 1 tsp. fresh garlic (~1 clove)
- 1/2 tsp. fresh cracked black pepper (~20 grinds)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 hearts Romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup sliced almonds
Instructions:
How to cook Simple Sensation Salad
- In a large mixing bowl, juice one large lemon.
- Finely mince garlic and add to mixing bowl.
- Add fresh cracked black pepper over the mix.
- Add cheese to bowl and whisk.
- While whisking, slowly drizzle in olive oil.
- Dressing should have a slightly thick consistency.
- Add lettuce directly over the dressing in your mixing bowl and gently toss until leaves are evenly coated.
- Top with sliced almonds.
- *Optional add-ins - Sliced tomatoes & red onions go great with this salad!
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Hi, hungry friends! We’re Ashley & Sean, Louisiana natives with a big love of food! We’re a husband and wife dynamic duo who film & photograph people, places & food for a living. Craft Chew is our food photography playground, inspired by our love of tasty chews, craft brews, and a little nod to our furry pup, Chewy! Thanks for stopping by!