What is a Grinder Salad?
A grinder salad is a delicious, deconstructed version of the classic Italian-American sub sandwich known as a “grinder.” Traditionally, a grinder features deli meats, cheese, and vegetables, topped with a zesty dressing, all stuffed into a sub roll. As for the grinder salad, it takes all these delicious components and turns them into a tossed salad.
My twist on the grinder salad includes crisp lettuce, fresh veggies, crispy bacon, and fermented cucumbers paired with turkey pastrami and a zesty creamy dressing.
It’s packed with wholesome ingredients and customizable options – easy, simple and fast. Whether you’re avoiding dairy or prefer a low-carb meal, this recipe delivers bright flavors without the heaviness of bread.
Ingredients for a Grinder Salad
To make the best grinder salad, you’ll need simple, accessible ingredients that bring together savory, tangy, and crunchy elements. Here’s what you’ll need for a simple grinder salad:
- Deli meats: Turkey, ham, pastramy, bacon (choose your favorites) or opt for lean freshly cooked meat for healthier version).
- Vegetables: Lettuce (or a mix of romaine, iceberg, and butter lettuce), red onions, and cherry tomatoes.
- Cheese: Provolone, mozzarella (for a creamier texture) or parmesan (omit if you make it dairy-free).
- Extras: Pepperoncini or banana peppers for extra tang, or pickled / fermented veggies of your choice.
- Dressing: A blend of mayo, yogurt, pickle juice, olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic, salt and black pepper.
Note: This combination of ingredients gives you a satisfying mix of textures and flavors. You can also customize this grinder salad recipe to suit your preferences, using meats and toppings you have on hand.
How to Make a Grinder Salad
Making a grinder salad is incredibly easy, whether you’re serving it as a main dish or a side. Here’s a simple step-by-step process:
- Prepare the meats and veggies: Slice deli meats into strips or bite-sized pieces. Chop the lettuce (greens) into bite-sized portions. Slice the onions, tomatoes, and any other veggies you’re using.
- Make the dressing: In a bowl, mix together mayo, pickle juice, olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic, salt and pepper to taste. Stir well until creamy.
- Assemble the salad: Toss the chopped meats and vegetables with the dressing until everything is well coated.
- Add the rest: Toss in your shredded cheese and top with any additional ingredients you like.
This method gives you a delicious grinder salad with all the flavors of the classic sub sandwich, but in a lighter, bread-free version.
Customizing Your Grinder Salad
One of the best things about this grinder salad recipe is how versatile it is. You can easily adapt it to different dietary needs or preferences:
- Make it Low-Carb or Keto: Skip the bread altogether and stick to the deli meats, cheese, and veggies. You can even serve the salad in a lettuce wrap for a portable option.
- Dairy-Free Option: Simply omit the cheese and use a dairy-free yogurt for the dressing.
- Vegetarian Version: Swap the deli meats for roasted vegetables.
- Healthy Swaps: To reduce fat, use a lighter dressing by replacing half the mayo with yogurt, and choose leaner cuts of meat like turkey or chicken breast.
Serving Ideas for Grinder Salad
This salad can be served in many ways depending on your preference. Here are a few ideas:
- As a Sandwich: Layer your grinder salad ingredients between two slices of bread (use gluten free bread if needed), a sub roll, or a tortilla wrap.
- Low-Carb Lettuce Wraps: For a keto-friendly option, wrap the grinder salad in large romaine leaves.
- Meal Prep: This salad makes an excellent meal prep option. Prepare the ingredients in advance and store them separately, assembling right before serving to keep the salad fresh and crisp.
Grinder Salad: Storage and Meal Prep Tips
A grinder salad can be stored for up to 2-3 days in the fridge. Keep the dressing separate until you’re ready to eat, as this will prevent the salad from getting soggy. If you’re making a large batch for meal prep, store the salad components in airtight containers and mix them with the dressing just before serving.
Why This Salad is a Must-Try
Whether you’re looking for a quick lunch or a unique twist on a traditional sandwich, this grinder salad is full of flavor, customizable to different diets, and easy to prepare.
Printable Recipe
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Easy Grinder Salad Recipe In Minutes
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 8-10 leaves lettuce - I combined Romaine and Butter Lettuce
- 15-18 cherry tomatoes - sliced in half
- 1/2 small red onion - thinly sliced
- 5 bacon strips - cooked until crisp
- 2 medium pickles - fremented cucumber (or your favorite)
- 1/2 lb turkey pastrami (breast meat) - 8 to 10 ounces
- 6 ounces cheese of your choice (shredded or chopped) - (omit, if you need it dairy free)
Dressing
- 2 tbsp mayo
- 1 tbsp yogurt - (I opted for plain coconut) as dairy free alternative
- 1 tbsp pickling juice - from fermented cucumbers
- 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 clove garlic - minced
- 1/2 tsp italian seasonings - a blend of basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and marjoram
- 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
- pinch of salt and pepper - to taste
Instructions
Prepare the Salad Ingredients:
- Wash and dry the lettuce leaves, then chop them into bite-sized pieces.
- Slice the cherry tomatoes in half and thinly slice the red onion.
- Cook the bacon strips until crispy, then break them into smaller pieces.
- Chop the fermented cucumbers (or your favorite pickle variety).
- Slice the turkey pastrami into strips or chunks.
Make the Dressing:
- In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, yogurt, pickling juice, olive oil, garlic, Italian seasonings, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Add some cayenne pepper powder if you prefer some heat.
- Whisk the ingredients until smooth and creamy.
Assemble the Salad:
- In a large bowl, toss the chopped lettuce, cherry tomatoes, onions, bacon, pickled veggies and turkey pastrami together.
- Drizzle the dressing over the top, then toss everything again to coat the ingredients evenly.
Add Cheese and Pickles:
- Sprinkle the shredded or chopped cheese over the salad. If you’re making this dairy-free, simply skip the cheese.
Notes
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator.
Jo
Saturday 14th of September 2024
A+ effort