Since it's Potluck Week here in The Kitchn, I've been thinking a lot about portable foods. And whenever I think about a crowd-pleasing dish that's easy to make and easy to transport, I always come back to the Seven-Layer Salad.
The Seven-Layer Salad has a bad rep in some circles. I can understand, given that in some recipes the amount of mayo and sugar and bacon is way over the top, leading to a gloppy, overly sweet mess on your plate. But it doesn't have to be that way.
I wrote a Seven-Layer Salad post and recipe for The Kitchn a few years ago and a quick peek into our archives has revealed that, for me at least, not much has changed. I still love a good Seven-Layer Salad! The concept is simple: create a salad in individual layers, preferably in a glass bowl where the layers can be seen and admired. Then stretch some plastic wrap over the top and head on out to your potluck party!
There are as many versions of this salad as there are families who eat them and many are beloved recipes, passed down from generation to generation. I still make variations on the recipe I posted three years ago and my mother still makes the classic version of this salad as she has for almost 40 years. It is always a crowd-pleaser and I always return home from the party with an empty bowl.
Here's my original Seven-Layer Salad post and recipe from 2009.
A few notes:
• If you do not or cannot eat mayonnaise, try substituting some thick yogurt dressed up with a squeeze of lemon and maybe a few herbs such as dill or basil.
• Vegetarians can omit the bacon and vegans can omit all the animal products—egg based mayo, cheese and bacon. I've had some righteous vegan Seven-Layer Salads made with vegetables only subbing the mayo with a cashew nut cream or a homemade vegan mayo. People who like vegan substitutes such as Vegenaise and vegan cheese (I don't) can of course use those.
• Many old-time Seven-Layer Salads ask for a sprinkling of sugar over the mayonnaise, sometimes as much as 1/2 cup. I never do this and feel it is completely unnecessary. If you like a sweeter salad, go for sweet vegetables such as roasted beets or red pepper. You could even experiment with adding fruit such as diced apple (sprinkled over the mayo layer to minimize contact with the air) or strawberries or blueberries. That said, The Pioneer Woman does a very nice Layered Salad (pictured above) where she does use sugar in her mayo. She says that it doesn't taste sweet and adds a nice flavor dimension.
Related: Tailgating and Beyond: 10 Simple Dip Recipes
(Image: The Pioneer Woman)
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I grew up in TX and the seven layer salad was always at every church potluck and family gathering. After my son was born, one of our friends (also from the South) brought over a seven layer salad. My husband was utterly confused by it but I loved that stuff--some of the few fresh veggies that we received and the mayo on top was the perfect mix (not too sweet, not too gloppy). It's a comfort food for me.
I <3 7 layer salad. I have been meaning to make one for such a long time. I have yet to find the perfect bowl for it though.
This salad reminds me of block parties on 4th of July. Love it.
I've never had a seven-layer salad (I don't care much for mayo-based 'salads') but I really like the 'seven-layer' dip, with refried beans, cheese, green chiles, tomato, black olives, sour cream and green onions...
I love a good 7 layer salad. Partially because you can do and substitute what you have. And I have had a variety of "mayo" like toppings, all of which, when considered as part of the overall salad worked really well. My favorite was the Mediterranean version with all the amazing things you can think of with greek yogurt dressing on top.
...just so long as there isn't a layer of gummy bears...
In the bowl pictured, how can you toss this salad? Or are you not supposed to? I don?t get it.
@AAAKID, You sort of scoop it out so you get all the layers, but you don't toss the whole thing. Sort of like if you were trying to get a piece of lasagna out of a pan without cutting it first. Growing up, my mom would make one and then cover and refrigerate it. That gave it time to sort of settle and meld together which made it easier to scoop.
I love seven-layer salad! Truth be told, I'll pass on salad at potlucks unless it's a seven-layer salad.
The only kind of 7-layer salad I've had is the "Mexican" kind with refried beans and black olives and salsa, sour cream, busted up chips, etc.
I've always wanted to try this salad.
Watch out! There is a lady around here who doesn't think that's a salad. She'll say it's just piled up veggie in a bowl. Beware!!
@eodwife - O how I love that episode of 'How I Met Your Mother'...
I always make this for our annual BBQ, and even have the same glass dish in the picture. I love it! I also never add sugar-it seems unnecessary.
totally made me think of HIMYM
....that picture looks repulsive. waaaay to much dressing on that thing. Plus it looks like a pain in the ass to serve. As much as I love salad I would definitely skip that if I saw it offered.
I've never had this before but I imagine it would be somewhat similar to a Cobb salad?! If all seven layer salads come with the thick layer of creamy dressing on top, then chances are I would probably pass...
ick.
Reminds me of a Friends episode, the one where Jen Aniston tries to make a dessert recipe, but there are two pages stuck together so she serves a trifle with a layer of minced meat.
That said, I would still make this with a fresh homemade mayo on top... maybe in individual glasses?
It's a classic here, but my mother always made it with ranch dressing on top, which (to me) is much more appetizing than the mayonnaise.
Oh man, I totally thought this was a HIMYM invention. No idea it was real!
I don't know if I could eat a green salad with mayo, even though I'm in no way opposed to mayo.
I think it looks great. The presentation is pretty and the ingredients look beautiful. I don't think the sauce layer to that thick, it has just settled down the edge of the dish. I have never heard of such a salad, just bean dip, but I would love to make this at my next big family gathering.