Crunchy Spring Iceberg Salad

Updated April 29, 2022

Crunchy Spring Iceberg Salad
Dane Tashima for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.
Total Time
15 minutes
Rating
4(784)
Comments
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A big plate of greens may feel virtuous, but this one is also luxurious. This is a very green salad, with chunks of crisp iceberg lettuce serving as a bed for briefly blanched peas and asparagus, topped with a cooling-yet-spicy cilantro yogurt. Tearing the iceberg into bite-size chunks makes this an easy-to-eat salad, no knife required. It’s particularly great for outdoor dining or for those who need to eat with one hand. (We see you, new parents.) The feta adds lovely hints of tang and saltiness that work well with the herbaceous yogurt. The peas and asparagus bring freshness; you could also use other springtime staples such as snow peas, sugar snap peas or sliced radish. Serve with jammy boiled eggs for something heartier.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

    For the Salad

    • Salt and black pepper 
    • 2cups frozen peas
    • 16 to 20asparagus spears, trimmed and sliced into 1-inch pieces (about 12 ounces)
    • 1(1½-pound) medium head iceberg lettuce
    • 6ounces feta, drained and broken into chunks
    • Handful of cilantro leaves, for serving

    For the Spicy Cilantro Yogurt

    • 1cup full-fat Greek yogurt
    • 1cup chopped cilantro (leaves and tender stems from about ½ bunch)
    • 2tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
    • Juice of ½ lemon or lime (1 to 2 tablespoons)
    • 1garlic clove, peeled and roughly chopped
    • 1teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
    • 1 to 2jalapeños or serrano chiles, trimmed and roughly chopped
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

332 calories; 20 grams fat; 9 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 7 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 23 grams carbohydrates; 7 grams dietary fiber; 11 grams sugars; 18 grams protein; 1033 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Prepare the salad: Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to the boil. Add the frozen peas and asparagus, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until the asparagus and peas are bright green and crisp tender. Drain and run under cold water until they are cold. Leave to drain.

  2. Step 2

    Prepare the lettuce: Run a sharp paring knife around the core and gently pull it out. Remove the outer layer of the lettuce and discard. Tear the lettuce into large chunks. Wash the leaves and allow them to dry in a colander. Pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel.

  3. Step 3

    Prepare the spicy cilantro yogurt: To a blender or small food processor, add the yogurt, cilantro, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt and 1 jalapeño. Blitz until smooth. (Add a teaspoon of water at a time to get the mixture moving in the blender if necessary.) Taste and add the second jalapeño if you would like it spicier.

  4. Step 4

    Serve as one large salad or divide among four individual serving plates: Add the lettuce chunks to the plate, and scatter the asparagus and peas on top and around the lettuce. Spoon the spicy cilantro yogurt all over the vegetables, dot with feta and squeeze the juice from the lemon half over everything. Season with salt and black pepper, and top with a few cilantro leaves.

Ratings

4 out of 5
784 user ratings
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Comments

Oh definitely you can substitute instead of cilantro you can use dill or parsley or both. I sometimes will use a recipe that sounds good and add/subtract ingredients. I can't handle anything spicy so I will swap out the jalapenos to mild green chiles. If you don't like an ingredient subs for something you like Ü

Made this for dinner. Exactly as written. Delicious. Don’t be shy with with the dressing. One large jalapeño added the perfect amount of zing.

I don't like cilantro either. I'm tempted to try a mix of parsley and chives, but I imagine dill would work. I'm trying to gauge how either would go with the herbiness of asparagus and the sweetness of the peas as well as the salty goodness of the feta. I think dill would work pretty well. Good call.

Made exactly as written and LOVE it. Will be in my regular rotation!

Leftover dressing? Use as a marinade for a charcoal grilled chicken. YUM!

chop lettuce and soak it in warm tap water for 10-15 minutes. seems illogical but it works.

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