Cheeseburger Salad

It's always a trial to get people to try something new, especially if they aren't expecting it to taste good. I've lost count of how many times I've experimented with a new recipe, and cackled through my partner ranting about how it shouldn't have turned out to taste this good.

Salads especially can be very hit-or-miss, especially for those with sensory issues relating to taste and/or texture. It took me until my 20s before I started to actually make and eat salads of my own free will, rather than because of the stern looks my mother was aiming across the dinner table. Cheeseburger Salad is one of those recipes that no-one expects to taste good, based off the ingredient list, but is honestly quite tasty.

Despite the title (and the horrified faces my Beloved is making at me as I type this), Cheeseburger Salad has very little to do with actual burgers.

I just couldn't think of a better description while writing up the recipe, and let's face it, we've all eaten something purely because of the expression on a friend or family member's face at least once. Sometimes, that weird dish that had your romantic partner swearing to never kiss you again even tasted nice, after all.

That's the case with this dish. You might recoil mentally from the very idea of such a salad, but if you get past that initial reaction and try it, you'll probably enjoy the flavors.

Plus, it's a great low-energy option for days where you're running late or have an emergency and just want to throw things into a Tupperware container and let the drive to work do the tossing for you. It's also great if you're trying to expand the range of someone who likes burgers but rebels against eating their vegetables, or are throwing something together from what you have in the fridge.

Ingredients

Method

1. Starting with the greens, place all the ingredients into a large bowl (if you're cooking at home) or whichever Tupperware container you can find the lid for (if making to take to work or class).
2. Toss lightly.
3. If you're feeling fancy, or just want extra vegetables, Coles has a wide range of pre-made slaw options that mix well into salads. Go wild.
4. If you're really missing the taste of burger buns, you can sprinkle in croutons, as well.

Serving Suggestions

• This makes a surprisingly filling lunch by itself, or can be served in smaller quantities as part of a multi-dish meal.
• You can add cooked and diced bacon as a garnish

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I'm putting together a cookbook for sensory eaters, and working on a recipe Masterpost, so keep an eye out for that at the link below.