These Salad Lettuce Cups are so much more delicious, healthier and versatile than they look! You can make them meatless or add chicken pieces for a more satisfying meal. Topped with fresh burrata and creamy avocado, this is a fantastic appetizer or lunch option!
Don't you get tired of making the same style lettuce salad? Unlike the rest of my family who eat lettuce with nothing except extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and balsamic vinegar, I need much more from a salad!
These lettuce cups are filled with salad ingredients which are tossed in a light and easy vinaigrette. Your taste buds are in for something refreshing with all these layered textures and sour notes from the salt and lemon.
Ingredients For Lettuce Cups
The key to the best lettuce cups is using ingredients that are seasonal and fresh.
Lettuce leaves The larger leaves hold more salad ingredients.
Red onion Diced
Cucumber Diced or cubed making them bite sized.
Tomatoes Cherry tomatoes sliced lengthwise.
I've also used whole cherry tomatoes to help keep the lettuce cups separate and prevent any spillage. They also add another pop of color the platter.
Fresh Dill
Fresh Parsley
Avocado pear
Chicken breast pieces Left over chicken breast pieces or rotisserie.
Seasoning and spices: Salt and pepper. Chicken breast can be very bland, spice it up!
Nuts, sprinkles and seeds: For an add textured layer of crunch you can add any nuts, sprinkles and seeds.
Burrata cheese: Use any other fresh cheese. Can also be substituted with feta or soft goat cheese. Adds a fresh and delicious taste.
Salad Dressing
- Olive oil
- Fresh Lemon
- Sea salt
See the full recipe card below.
Once you have ingredients, you have the entire salad ready to plate. Now it's time to pull it all together.
How To Make Lettuce Cups
Lettuce leaves Rinse the lettuce and allow to drip-dry while you prepare the other ingredients. When rinsing lettuce under a running cold tap, keep the pressure of the water very low so that the leaves don't get bruised and limp.
You can also dry the rinsed lettuce leaves with a salad spinner.
Veggies: Chop the red onion, cucumbers, tomatoes and herbs. Add into a bowl and add the salad dressing ingredients and give it a mix.
Add half of the fresh herbs and edible greens as the first layer.
Scoop the salad veggies over.
Add the remaining ingredients chicken, avocado, burrata, herbs, seasoning and spices, sea salt, nuts and Seeds.
Chicken Add chicken spice to your breats for flavor and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Avocado Slice the avocado into but sized pieces but add it last with the burrato cheese to avoid smudging.
FAQ's For Salad Lettuce Cups
What type of acid to use for a simple vinaigrette?
Red wine vinegar
Balsamic vinegar
Fresh lemon
Is olive oil healthy?
Since olive oil is extracted from olives, is high in healthy monosaturated fats and antioxidants and has strong anti-inflammatory properties, extra virgin olive oil is incredibly healthy and might be the healthiest fat on the planet
Using a simple olive-oil base dressing with vinegar or lemon is a very refreshing and healthy alternative to creamy dressings. Best served with vegetables, fresh fruit and greens.
What lettuce is good for lettuce cups?
Romaine and butter lettuce are great options.
How to make lettuce cups taste rich and creamy?
You can add sour cream, mayonnaise or cottage cheese as a spread on the lettuce.
Optional Salad Dressing Ingredients
- Dijon Mustard
- Minced garlic
- Maple Syrup
Side Ideas For Salad Lettuce Cups
Let the family decide what to add into their own lettuce cups. You could add all the ingredients for each person but it's a lot more personalized when each one gets to interact.
Bacon bits
Cheddar cheese
Extra avocado
Fresh Lemon slices
Sea salt and Black Pepper
Chili sauce
Asian sauces (with chicken) or as a salad dressing to substitute the vinaigrette.
More Light Meals
- Oven Baked Healthy Salmon Recipe
- Easy Fish Recipe
- Easy Mediterranean Breakfast Egg Muffins
- Healthy Vegan Vegetable and Couscous Recipe
- Sweet Potato Chimichurri Bowl
- Roasted Cauliflower Soup
- Fennel Air Fryer Salmon
- Charcuterie Fruit Platter
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you enjoyed reading this recipe with all the tips and suggestions or have tried my recipes, please rate and comment below. Thank you!
Salad Lettuce Cups
Ingredients
- 6 lettuce leaf cups
- 125 grams Burrata cheese or any other fresh cheese
- 1 red onion diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ cucumber diced
- fresh parsley roughly chopped
- fresh dill half chopped and more for garnish
- herbs and mixed greens
- 1 avocado sliced/diced
- 4 cooked chicken breasts or use from a rotisserie, sliced and spiced with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
- 1 tablespoon nuts and seeds
Salad Dressing
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon garlic and herb spice
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt and pepper or to taste
Instructions
- Lettuce: Rinse and use a salad spinner to dry or air dry. If rinsing under a running tap, use low pressure to not bruise or limp out the lettuce.
- Add edible herbs and mixed greens for the base.
- In a small bowl add the diced onion, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, garlic & herb spice Add half of the olive oil vinaigrette and mix. Pile the salad dressing veggies into all the cups. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add the remaining ingredients: chicken, avocado, burrata, fresh dill, herbs, nuts and seeds.
- Pour the remaining dressing just before serving with fresh lemon, sea salt and cracked black pepper.
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