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Fresh Italian Salad

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Last night’s dinner called for a fresh Italian salad and lasagna. I let Stouffer’s make the lasagna, and I concentrated on the salad while it oven-baked.

Normally, I stink at taking the time to prepare a salad that’s not the actual entree itself. I’m not sure why I’m so lazy-dazy about that because I grew up having salad and fresh fruit or veggies with each and every meal.

Mom, what happened to me?

I’m gonna try to be a better girl… starting now.

Fresh Italian Salad recipe

The truth is that through the Balance Your Plate with Nestlé program, I’m seeing that my mom wasn’t just giving us salad because she was cruel. She was actually trying to ensure her meals, frozen or otherwise, included fruits, veggies, whole grains and low-fat dairy… in other words, balance.

I rely on frozen prepared foods a heck of a lot because I’m pooped at the end of the day. Plus now it’s dark at dinnertime, and I hate cooking in the dark!

Therefore I present to you the Stouffer’s Lasagna with Meat and Sauce I made last night.

Avec salade.

fresh Italian salad with frozen prepared meal

Stouffer’s Lasagna with Meat and Sauce is a great way to make a quality meal at home without having to start from scratch. It’s made with hand layered pasta and vine-ripened tomatoes and it’s topped with fresh mozzarella and aged parmesan cheese.

Although it can be prepared in the oven or the microwave, listen to me and bake it in the oven. I personally feel it’s much better that way.

And remember to balance your plate by adding a simple salad (my fresh Italian salad being the obvious choice). Dinner is served!

Fresh Italian salad recipe with basil oil vinaigrette dressing

Print Pin

Fresh Italian Salad

Course Salad
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 12
Author Liz Mays

Ingredients

Fresh Italian Salad

  • 1 head green leaf lettuce washed
  • 1 head romaine lettuce washed
  • 1 5 oz bag baby spinach washed
  • 1/2 red onion sliced in half moons
  • 6 oz can black olives
  • 1 cucumber peeled and sliced in rounds
  • 8 oz jar roasted red pepper strips
  • 1 10- oz jar marinated mushrooms
  • 1 6.5 oz jar artichoke hearts
  • 4 oz. Fresh mozzarella cheese sliced
  • 1 pint grape tomatoes
  • Basil leaves
  • 2 Tbsp shredded parmesan cheese

Fresh Olive Oil Vinaigrette

  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1/8 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 Tbsp chopped basil
  • 1 tsp oregano fresh or flakes

Instructions

  • Line around inside of bowl with leaf lettuce. Chop remaining leaf lettuce and romaine lettuce and fill bowl with it.
  • Line spinach leaves in a circular fashion over top of lettuce.
  • Layer red onions in circular pattern around bowl. Follow with olives,cucumber slices, and roasted red pepper strips.
  • Put marinated mushrooms in center. Sprinkle artichoke hearts around mushrooms.
  • Place mozzarella slices in a circle around mushrooms and artichokes, and place a grape tomato between each of the cheese slices. Chop a few tomatoes in half and place around olives in center.
  • Garnish salad with fresh basil leaves and Parmesan cheese.

Olive Oil Vinaigrette

  • Whisk together all ingredients and serve on the side.

Notes

This isn't a recipe where exact measurements or placement will matter. You can put everything in your serving bowl in a way that pleases your eye. Depending on what size serving bowl you're using, you may or may not use up all the ingredients. In my case, I had leftover red peppers and baby spinach.

Visit these websites for more information on Stouffer’s lasagna and the Balance Your Plate with Nestlé program. Connect with Stouffer’s on Facebook and Twitter too.

 

 

About Liz

Liz is a midwestern mom gone southern (accent in transition). She lives in North Carolina and loves cooking, baking, traveling, movies, crafts, hot and cold tea, wine, pizza and the occasional nap. She also revels in the fact she's a crazy cat lady.

Comments

  1. Liz Latham says

    I love that you had lasagna in the photo with it because that’s what I was thinking it would go great with! Thanks for linking up with delicious dishes recipe party!

    Reply

  6. Maggie Lydon says

    What a beautiful salad! It is so colorful and healthy. I love that you took the time to make the presentation of the salad attractive.

    Reply

  10. Lisa Rios says

    Both me & my husband love Italian recipes so much & the salad looks absolutely delicious & healthy. I just love how the presentation is finally done, a wonderful way to present during a home party.

    Reply

  12. Sojourner says

    Your salad looks lovely! I try to eat fresh fruit with every lunch meal and a fresh multi colored salad with every dinner in addition to whatever cooked green goodies are on the menu. It’s a great way to ensure that you’re eating a balanced and nutritious meal.

    Reply

  22. Rebecca Swenor says

    This fresh italian salad looks so good and would go great with any pasta dish. It is important to have a well balanced dinner I believe. I will have to try this recipe.

    Reply

  30. Angie Scheie says

    I feel ya! We always had a salad or side of veggies or fruit with our dinners growing up, and I just get lazy and most times skip it! I like salads too, just plain tired! Your presentation of that salad is beautiful 🙂

    Reply

  37. Farrah says

    This looks delicious! I really miss lasagna since going gluten free. I always loved lasagna, ssalad, and breadsticks. Maybe Stouffer’s will make gluten free options in the future.

    Reply

  42. Maggie Branch says

    That is a beautiful salad! I never can quite get my salad presentation just right but this is aesthetically pleasing and healthy! Yum!

    Reply

  53. Danielle says

    This looks yummy! I love salads and if it’s not the main entree, my salads usually only consist of lettuce and dressing. I need to do better about my “side salads.”

    Reply

  62. Stacie says

    Your salad looks so pretty and I’m always looking for a new recipe to try. Stouffer’s entrees are great when you don’t have to prepare a meal from scratch.

    Reply

  68. Mimi says

    That salad looks delicious. It pairs perfectly with lasagna. My hubby keeps asking me to make some lasagna for him, but I don’t always have time when I get off work late. This would be the perfect aternative!

    Reply

  72. Pam says

    We have Stouffers Lasanga at least once a month. I couldn’t make it better from scratch and my family loves it! This salad looks amazing and so healthy.

    Reply

  79. Jeanine says

    I’m not a big salad girl but my kids and husband love them and I would love to make this for them. I bet they’d really enjoy it!

    Reply

  80. Amber Edwards says

    That is a fabulous salad to go with our dinner tonight! I do a lot of freezer type meals since having a new baby, but I’ve struggled getting in the greens because I don’t have much time to be in the kitchen. I love this salad idea though!

    Reply

  88. Ora Lee Gurr says

    The salad is a work of art. What an awesome way to be sure the meal provides maximum nutrition. Since it’s wintertime, the lasagna provides warmth after the cooler fresh Italian salad. Yum!

    Reply

  102. Kristi says

    I always try to have salad when we have any sort of pasta or lasagna dish. I think it adds color and yes some more veggies too:)

    Reply

  104. Jenna Wood says

    I love how light, yet indulgent this salad looks, full of hearty ingredients and textures. What a great compliment to lasagna!

    Reply

  108. Jennifer says

    your dish looks amazing. the artichoke hearts in the salad scare me… LOL. I LOVE spinach and artichoke dip but get me around other artichoke and I can’t do it.

    Reply

  110. paula schuck says

    That salad looks so delicious and fresh too. I enjoy salads but I am also often very unstirred to make them fancy if you know what I mean. I need to keep more ingredients on hand so we can make things like this.

    Reply

  112. Noelle d says

    Take the olives off and I am all over that salad. I have recently started adding banana pepper to all my salads. So tasty

    Reply

  117. Michele says

    Stouffer’s Lasagna is delicious. I also grew up with salad, veggies and fruits at dinner time. I don’t make salad very often cause it goes bad too quickly but I still enjoy a salad with my meal when I go out to eat.

    Reply

  119. Elizabeth O. says

    I love salads, I can eat it for a whole week and not complain! This is a nice combination, I love the contrast. And the recipe is awesome!

    Reply

  120. Lisa Joy Thompson says

    I’m lazy about making salads when they’re not the main entry too. I’m not sure why because they don’t take that long to actually make! You’ve inspired me to up my dinner game! 🙂

    Reply

    • Elizabeth O. says

      And you can make so many variations and dressings! So you won’t get tired of having salad around the dining table.

      Reply

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