Zesty Mixed Salad With Italian Sausage

Name: Zesty Mixed Salad With Italian Sausage
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4-6 serving(s)
Ingredients: 2 heads romaine lettuce, cut into bite sized pieces; 8 ounces bulk Italian sausage (sweet, traditional or hot); 15 grape tomatoes, cut in half; 1/3 cucumber, peeled and cubed; 4 ounces monterey jack cheese cubes; 3/4 cup canned red kidney beans, rinsed and patted dry; 3/4 cup canned garbanzo beans, rinsed and patted dry; 2 green onions, cut into 1/4 inch pieces; Good Seasons Italian dressing (the dry mix); 2 tablespoons honey

Submitted by januarybride

"Our FAVORITE salad ever. . .it's a spin on one of Giada's recipes. Great as a main dish or as a side. I love the mix of the lettuce, warm salty sausage, creamy cheese and beans along with the sweet dressing. Sure to please anyone!"

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photo by januarybride

Ready In:: 25mins
Ingredients:: 10
Serves:: 4-6

ingredients

2 heads romaine lettuce, cut into bite sized pieces
8 ounces bulk Italian sausage (sweet, traditional or hot)
15 grape tomatoes, cut in half
¹⁄₃ cucumber, peeled and cubed
4 ounces monterey jack cheese cubes
³⁄₄ cup canned red kidney beans, rinsed and patted dry
³⁄₄ cup canned garbanzo beans, rinsed and patted dry
2 green onions, cut into 1/4 inch pieces
Good Seasons Italian dressing (the dry mix)
2 tablespoons honey

directions

Mix up the Italian Dressing as per the instructions on the package (I usually add a little extra water, but that's up to you). It is also good to use raspberry flavored vinegar.
Add honey to the dressing and shake/mix well.
Brown the sausage, drain and set aside (keeping warm, but not hot).
In the meanwhile place the lettuce on the bottom of a big bowl.
Top with the tomatoes, both types of beans, green onions and finally the cheese.
Top the salad with the warm sausage.
Pour 3 or 4 turns of the dressing over the salad and mix well with tongs. Add more dressing if you like, but be forwarned that a little dressing goes a long way with this salad.

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Reviews

This was very different. The sausage was a little weird in the salad but it was a nice change, I guess. We would have liked it alot better without the beans as they gave it a strange texture that we didn't care for. Thanks JanuaryBride for something a little different! Made for Aussie/NZ Swap #31.

Realtor by day, Chef by night
Very good, very unique. My kids asked to take the leftovers for their lunch rather than buying the school's lunch. Salad! Kids preferring salad over mac & cheese?!! I used sweet Italian sausage, but next time I'll make my own Italian sausage using ground turkey to it a little more low in fat. I made this for Spring 2008 PAC. Thanks, Jen, for a great recipe that we will make over and over again.

Claudia Dawn