Butter Lettuce Strawberry Salad
You may already be somewhat familiar with today’s Butter Lettuce Strawberry Salad. There is a popular version circulating on the internet, prepared with spinach.
Pouring Dressing for Butter Lettuce Strawberry Salad
But I prefer my mother’s version–made using butter lettuce. I like the way the sweet-tender lettuce pairs with the juicy berries and contrasts with the crisp pecans. All topped with a rosy poppy seed dressing. A perfect spring into summer salad.
Ingredients for Butter Lettuce Strawberry Salad
It seems to be a glorious year for strawberries this year. The local farms are delivering them early—and even the wild berries are growing, thumbnail-sized, along the edge of my vegetable garden. No complaints here!
Backyard wild strawberries
In case you missed the news, try to buy organic strawberries if you can. This year strawberries hit the #1 spot on the Environmental Working Groups Dirty Dozen list of most contaminated fruits and vegetables. But I think there’s a silver lining—organic strawberries are popping up in a lot more places now! Yeah, grass roots food movement!
Butter Lettuce Strawberry Salad, served
I hadn’t had this Butter Lettuce Strawberry Salad in years, but recently it’s become the hit of my mother’s retirement community party group. They have a regular potlucks and always (“ALWAYS,” she complains with a smile) ask her to bring this.
Butter Lettuce Strawberry Salad in bowl
Finally, I asked her to bring it to a family potluck where we all basked in delicious nostalgia. Why should the seniors have all the fun!
So give it a try while the strawberries are abundant. Dozens of retired party animals can’t be wrong!
Butter Lettuce Strawberry Salad closeup
- 3/4 lb butter lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces (about 2-3 heads)
- 1 pint of strawberries, sliced
- 1/2 cup pecans, (ideally) toasted
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon dried minced onion (or onion powder)
- 1/2 cup mild olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon poppy seeds
- Blend dressing ingredients except poppy seeds in a blender or shaker. Mix until well combined, then stir in poppy seeds.
- Mix torn lettuce, sliced strawberries and toasted pecans in a large salad bowl. Top with dressing and toss.
- Serve immediately.
poppy seed dressing is PERFECT for this salad! i had butter lettuce for the first time only a few years ago, and i love it so much it makes me sad to think of all those years i wasn’t eating it. 🙂
I was so grateful for those retirees for pushing me into trying it again after a lot of years!
It sounds delicious and looks beautiful. No wonder it’s so popular at the retirement community!
Everyone gets their 15 minutes of fame–even in the retirement community I guess!
Yes…I think I should like the butter lettuce more myself.
It makes all the difference for me!
Inger, butter lettuce is one of my favorites so this recipe caught my eye immediately. Can’t wait until our strawberries are on, to try it. You really do a nice job of photographing your culinary delights.
Thanks so much Kathy–I love your photography too! I was so happy to see butter lettuce from my CSA–it really is special!
I agree with you, Inger – butter lettuce is a much better choice for this salad. And thanks for the tip on strawberry buying. I haven’t had any since they were in our farmers market, but know now to be on the lookout for organic!
Our CSAs have always been organic, but I am happy to be able to get them organic now when the aren’t in season here.
Look really beautiful Inger 🙂
Thanks Gloria!