Picnics, Lunch Box and Barbecue Salad Idea: Layered Picnic Salads in a Jar (Recipe) (2024)

Picnics, Lunch Box and Barbecue Salad Idea: Layered Picnic Salads in a Jar (Recipe)

Picnics, Lunch Box and Barbecue Salad Idea:

Layered Picnic Salads in a Jar

(Recipe)

Picnics, Lunch Box and Barbecue Salad Idea: Layered Picnic Salads in a Jar (Recipe)

You know those plastic containers of soggy salad leaves, limp cucumber slices, watery tomatoes and floppy onions that are often unpacked on a picnic or for a muchanticipatedlunch at work? Well, worry no more (if you were worrying of course!) and look at these little individual salads in a jam jar, what a great idea eh?I have an addiction for things in jars, such as salads, cakes and whathave-you, and I have already shared a Chicken Salad recipe in a jar on Lavender and Lovage a year or so ago……..Poulet Nomade ~ Nomad’s Chicken (Herb Poached Chicken in a Jar) and that recipe has been made many times since I posted it, as well as receiving lots of traffic, so there MUST be other people out there that love a meal in a jam jar!

Picnics, Lunch Box and Barbecue Salad Idea: Layered Picnic Salads in a Jar (Recipe)

I also remember baking some cakes in Kilner jars, and I must look for that recipe and share it with you all soon…..but back to my little layered salads, these are SO easy to make and also rather fun to assemble, the sort of activity that the children can get involved in too.Each jar makes a generous portion of Mexican inspired salad, enough for a meal in its own right,perfectfor lunch boxes, as well as an accompaniment for picnic fare and barbecues. And, it was at abarbecuelast night that I made these little jars of salad, to accompany some spicy chicken kebabs and sausages……just right for each of us and no more soggy dressed lettuce leaves in a large bowl.

Picnics, Lunch Box and Barbecue Salad Idea: Layered Picnic Salads in a Jar (Recipe)

This salad recipe is based on a large seven-layer Mexican salad recipe that a friend of mine posted on an American site called RecipeZaar; I made it as posted many years ago and since then I have adapted andtweakedit a bit to suit me.I have also made other salads such as this in a jar, and I will be sharing them over the summer months, all layered but with differentInternationalcuisinethemessuch as Italian, Spanish and French, as well as an English layered salad idea too. I can also see this recipe beingsuitablefor large summergatherings, where the salads can be made ahead of time andassembled insmallerjars, soeveryonejust picksuptheir own salad!

Picnics, Lunch Box and Barbecue Salad Idea: Layered Picnic Salads in a Jar (Recipe)

Another serving idea I had for these jam jar salads, is for travel – they would be PERFECT for train, boat and car travel and you just need to take along a small bag of tortilla chips or crisps to “dunk” into the dip topping. The sun is still shining here, and I hope that it is wherever you are too – my daughter leaves today, so that will be a little sad but at least she has a new job to start on Monday! I have to dash off now to prepare an “al fresco! lunch, have a GREAT day and I will see you later with more recipes and a new giveaway, have fun! Karen

Picnics, Lunch Box and Barbecue Salad Idea: Layered Picnic Salads in a Jar (Recipe)

Layered Picnic Salads in a Jar

Print recipe

Serves	4
Prep time	20 minutes
Dietary	Vegetarian
Meal type	Appetizer, Lunch, Salad, Side Dish, Snack, Starter
Misc	Child Friendly, Pre-preparable, Serve Cold
Occasion	Barbecue, Casual Party, Easter, Halloween
Region	Mexican
By author	Karen S Burns-Booth

Amazingly easy to make and such a fabulous idea for picnics, barbecues, travel snacks and lunch boxes. These layered salads keep fresh in the fridge overnight and there is no need for any extra salad dressing as they are "dressed" with spicy salsa and a sour cream topping. Serve with tortillla chips and for picnics and lunch box snacks, make sure there are lids that fit the jars. The original inspiration for these salads came from a a friend who posted a recipe called Mexican Seven Layered Salad on RecipeZaar.

Ingredients

4 large jam jars (I used Parfait preserving jars with lids; you can also use small Kilner jars with attached lids)
chopped iceberg lettuce (or another crispy lettuce)
2 large tomatoes (finely chopped)
1 large red onion (peeled and finely chopped)
pimento stuffed green olives (cut into rings, about 6 olives per jar)
400g tin of red kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
315g jar Mexican salsa (hot, medium or mild)
4 to 6 tablespoons sour cream (mixed with Cajun seasoning spices, amount of sour cream depends on size of jars)
75g to 100g grated cheese (such as Cheddar or Emmental)
tortilla chips (to serve)

Note

Directions

Step 1	Add the ingredients to the jars in the order they are listed, leaving the tortilla chips off until you are ready to serve the salads.
Step 2	Place a lid on the salads and store in fridge overnight if necessary.
Step 3	Serve with tortilla chips for dipping etc!

PICNIC GALLERY:

Picnics, Lunch Box and Barbecue Salad Idea: Layered Picnic Salads in a Jar (Recipe)

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Picnics, Lunch Box and Barbecue Salad Idea: Layered Picnic Salads in a Jar (Recipe) (2024)