So, I’ll admit I used to be a bit skeptical after I heard about cornbread salad, questioning if it was a kind of “salads” that actually aren’t salads in any respect. It seems, although, that this salad is totally legit and packed filled with loads of veggies together with hearty cornbread.
If you’ve been in search of a distinct facet dish to serve at cookouts and different events, it’s a must to give this straightforward cornbread salad recipe a attempt. It’s a breeze to make and its layered presentation is all the time a present-stopper.
Why You’ll Love Cornbread Salad
There are plenty of causes to like this layered goodness!
- It’s fairly. If you employ a big glass bowl (like a trifle dish) you can also make this salad simply as a lot of a feast for everybody’s eyes as it’s for his or her style buds.
- Hearty. Cornbread salad is the last word chilly consolation meals. When it appears too heat to warmth up the kitchen for different consolation classics, this salad is the right go-to.
- Super easy. There’s little or no arms-on prep time with this one! Plus, you can also make the dressing and marinate the peppers forward of time in order that it’s able to go when you’re.
Ingredients
While the ingredient record is a bit prolonged, this salad comes collectively in almost no time!
- Bell Peppers – Using purple, inexperienced, and yellow bell peppers offers the salad a pop of vivid coloration.
- Red Onion – Red onions additionally add coloration in addition to their signature taste to the salad.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – The acidity of the vinegar helps to steadiness out the flavors of the opposite components.
- Coarse Kosher Salt – Salt brings out the flavour of the opposite components.
- Sugar – A bit little bit of sugar balances out the savory components.
- Ground Black Pepper – Pepper provides delicate warmth to the salad.
- Cooked Cornbread – You can purchase cornbread, use a boxed cornbread combine, or bake the cornbread your self forward of time. Be certain to cube the bread into evenly sized cubes earlier than including it to the salad.
- Bacon – Bacon provides a smoky taste and layers of crunchiness.
- Cherry Tomatoes – Adding tomatoes offers the salad a contemporary and vivid taste.
- Whole Kernel Corn – Corn kernels additionally add a delicate sweetness and a crunchy texture.
- Canned Black-Eyed Peas – Black-eyed peas add plant-based mostly protein. Plus, their creamy texture and earthy taste complement the opposite components.
- Scallions/Green Onions – These are non-obligatory, however we love the pop of coloration it provides to the highest of the salad.
- Dry Ranch Dressing Mix – Ranch is the signature seasoning for this salad. You can purchase the packets or make your personal home made ranch dressing (you possibly can even maintain ranch seasoning combine readily available for whenever you want it).
- Whole Milk – Milk helps to skinny the dressing out whereas conserving it creamy.
- Mayonnaise – Using mayonnaise as the bottom of the dressing makes it creamy and easy.
- Buttermilk – Buttermilk additionally helps to skinny the sauce but additionally offers it a contact of tanginess.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – The vinegar offs an acidic distinction to the opposite wealthy, savory flavors.
- Fresh Flat Parsley – Parsley offers the dressing its contemporary taste.
- Fresh Dill – Dill provides much more vivid and herbaceous taste to the dressing.
- Fresh Lemon – Both the zest and the juice add a citrusy zing to the dressing.
Cornbread Salad Dressing:
How to Make Cornbread Salad
You’ll love the look of this layered salad that comes collectively so shortly and simply!
- Combine veggies, black eyed peas and seasonings. Add the bell peppers, onion, and black eyed peas to a medium bowl with the apple cider vinegar, salt, sugar, and black pepper.
- Marinate veggies. Toss all the components collectively and canopy the bowl with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place it within the fridge.
- Drain veggies. To assemble, drain the chilled bell peppers, onion, and black eyed peas and put together the dressing.
- Make dressing. Add all the dressing components to a big bowl and whisk collectively till utterly mixed.
- Add dressing to backside of bowl. Use a spoon or rubber spatula to create the primary layer of dressing within the backside of the bowl.
- Top with cornbread and bacon. Place a portion of the cornbread on prime of the dressing and crumble the bacon on prime.
- Add tomatoes, corn and pepper combination. Add a layer of tomatoes, a layer of corn, and a layer of the bell pepper combination.
- Repeat layers. Spoon a layer of dressing over prime earlier than repeating the identical layers 2 occasions to create a complete of three sections.
- Top with dressing and garnish. Add the remaining dressing to the highest and garnish with a sprinkle of scallions.
What to Serve With Cornbread Salad
Since it’s filled with hearty cornbread and veggies, cornbread salad might be served all by itself however we like to pair it with all types of different dishes. It’s excellent for cookouts alongside meats like grilled pork chops, BBQ pulled pork, and grilled rooster.
Cornbread salad can also be improbable for potlucks — serve it with different Southern-style consolation meals like macaroni and cheese, baked beans, or fried cabbage with bacon.
Variations
This recipe is a typical model of the salad however you may get inventive within the kitchen with add-ins or swaps.
- Cheese – Sprinkle in layers of cheese — use sharp cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, or smoked gouda.
- Protein – Add in a layer of shredded or diced rooster or ham. Or, add shrimp.
- Veggies – Switch up the greens, or add extra. Cucumbers, carrots, and avocados are all good choices!
- Beans – Instead of black-eyed peas, attempt utilizing pinto beans, black beans, or kidney beans.
- Herbs – Add cilantro, basil, or different contemporary herbs.
- Dressing Base – Replace some or all the mayo with bitter cream or Greek yogurt for extra tangy taste.
Storage and Freezing
While you possibly can safely retailer this salad for a number of days within the fridge, it does shortly turn out to be soggy so it’s finest to eat it inside a day or two.
You could make the dressing and marinate the bell pepper combination as much as 1 day forward of time and simply assemble whenever you’re able to serve.
How to Store Cornbread Salad
Cover the salad in its authentic bowl or switch it to an hermetic container. Store it for as much as 4 days within the fridge.
Can I Freeze Cornbread Salad?
We don’t suggest freezing leftovers.
Common Questions About Cornbread Salad
Cornbread salad is product of cubed cornbread, veggies, and beans. It’s all layered with a ranch-based mostly dressing.
Most Southern cornbread doesn’t have sugar in it.
Cornbread is made out of actual corn — cornmeal is used to kind the batter.
More Southern-Inspired Recipes
Sometimes there’s nothing higher to fulfill that consolation meals craving than a down dwelling southern recipe. Here are a number of of our favorites.
Sausage Gravy Recipe
Sausage Gravy, a easy recipe made out of pork sausage and cream and some different components, is a Southern staple. Serve over heat biscuits, fried rooster or rooster fried bacon.
See The Recipe!
This EASY, layered Cornbread Salad recipe is packed filled with loads of veggies, black-eyed peas, and hearty cornbread. Full of southern attraction!
Servings:
Salad:
- ½ cup inexperienced bell pepper , chopped
- ½ cup yellow bell pepper , chopped
- ½ cup purple bell pepper , chopped
- 1 cup purple onion , chopped
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons coarse Kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon floor black pepper
- 8-10 cups cooked cornbread , lower into 1-inch items and loosely measured *
- 1 cup bacon , cooked and crumbled
- 2 cups multicolored cherry tomatoes , halved
- 2 cups corn kernels , canned or frozen and thawed (pat dry)
- 30 ounces canned black-eyed peas , rinsed and drained (2 cans)
- 3 scallions , trimmed and lower diagonally
Salad:
In a big mixing bowl, mix the inexperienced bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, purple bell pepper, purple onion, black eyed peas and apple cider vinegar, salt, sugar and black pepper, tossing to coat. Cover and chill for 1-2 hours.
When able to assemble, take away the bell pepper combination and drain any extra liquid. Make the dressing (under). Prepare the opposite objects to simply assemble within the trifle dish or different massive glass bowl.
Spread about ½ cup of the dressing within the backside of the bowl. Add about 2 cups of the cornbread, topped with 2 tablespoons of crumbled bacon, ½ cup of the lower tomatoes, ½ cup of the corn and ½ cup of the bell pepper combination. Measurements should not have to be actual.
Top these first layers with about 1 cup of the dressing and repeat, making an attempt to layer evenly into 3 even sections, ending with one other drizzle of the dressing. Top with scallions when able to serve.
Dressing:
In a mixing bowl utilizing a whisk, mix the dry ranch seasoning combine, milk, mayonnaise, butter, apple cider vinegar, parsley, dill and the juice and zest of 1 contemporary lemon. Blend till nicely combined. This might be made forward of time, lined and refrigerated as much as 1 day prematurely. Whisk briskly to combine earlier than utilizing.
If you have tried this recipe, come again and tell us the way it was within the feedback or star rankings!
Cornbread might be bought cooked at your native bakery within the type of loaf bread or muffins or use 2 packing containers of Jiffy cornbead combine or use our home made Jiffy mix to make your personal!
Calories: 1031 kcal, Carbohydrates: 116 g, Protein: 22 g, Fat: 54 g, Saturated Fat: 14 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 21 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 16 g, Trans Fat: 0.5 g, Cholesterol: 126 mg, Sodium: 2176 mg, Potassium: 723 mg, Fiber: 10 g, Sugar: 35 g, Vitamin A: 860 IU, Vitamin C: 38 mg, Calcium: 322 mg, Iron: 5 mg
