Romaine Lettuce Salad Christmas Tree

This Romaine Lettuce Greek Salad Christmas Tree is a festive way to serve a delicious Greek Salad at your holiday table this year!

I don’t usually make such festive-looking recipes, but I saw someone make a version of this Romaine Lettuce Christmas Tree Salad on social media, and I had to make one! This version is Greek-inspired and topped with a delicious creamy tahini dressing.

This Romaine Lettuce Christmas Tree is great for a holiday party appetizer, but it’s also fun to make for a festive lunch. The seasoned chickpeas add protein, and you can go crazy with the veggies you want to add.

Romaine Lettuce Greek Salad Christmas Tree Ingredients

• Romaine Lettuce – I like to use the inner leaves of the romaine lettuce because they are a little smaller and have more crunch. I bought a pack of three and used them all, but I did remove a few of the outer leaves, so I didn’t use the entire head of romaine lettuce. You can try making this Christmas tree salad with a different type of lettuce, but romaine leaves really lend themselves to a tree shape.
• Tahini Dressing – I made a super quick but very delicious tahini dressing for this recipe. It’s made using olive oil, red wine vinegar, tahini, granulated garlic, dried herbs, salt, and black pepper.  
• Chickpeas – The chickpeas add a nice protein element, texture, and flavor. I cook them in olive oil with salt, pepper, paprika, and granulated garlic.
• Vegetables – I used a combination of cucumber, red onion, kalamata olives, tomato, marinated artichokes, and fresh parsley. Roasted red peppers would also be good.
• Croutons – I wanted to add the crunch of the croutons but didn’t want them in big chunks. I smashed about half a cup of croutons and sprinkled them on the salad. It adds a nice subtle crunch.

Why Your Body Will Love This Holiday Salad

• Inside and Out Health Benefits – Tahini, a butter made of sesame seeds, contains calcium and magnesium, which contribute to healthy bones. It’s also a great source of antioxidants that promote immune system health. Tahini is rich in iron (hello, blood) and vitamin E (for happy skin). 
• Protein – Both tahini and chickpeas contain protein, which is important for our muscles and helps the body feel full for longer.
• Digestive Health – Chickpeas and romaine are both great sources of fiber. Fiber helps keep our digestive tract clear and promotes healthy, smooth-moving stool. 

How To Make A Romaine Lettuce Christmas Tree

1. Start by preparing your chickpeas. Rinse and drain the chickpeas and pat them dry with a towel. Heat a large pan over medium heat and add olive oil, chickpeas, and seasonings. Mix everything together and cook the chickpeas until heated through and getting crispy.
2. Make your dressing. Add all dressing ingredients to a medium-sized bowl and mix until combined and creamy.  Feel free to add extra seasonings if you like.
3. Prepare your toppings. Cut all topping ingredients into small, similar-sized pieces. You don’t want them to be too much bigger than the chickpeas.
4. Make your Christmas tree. Remove the outer leaves on the heads of romaine lettuce. Then, carefully pull apart all the remaining leaves. Start assembling your tree on the serving platter. I like to use the large leaves at the bottom and the smaller leaves as you get to the top of the tree. 
5. Evenly sprinkle all the chickpeas and chopped vegetables on the Christmas tree. Drizzle with dressing and top with the smashed croutons. Enjoy it as finger food or as a salad platter that people can help themselves from.

Lettuce Christmas Tree Frequently Asked Questions

• Is this recipe vegan? Yes! But if you are not vegan, you can add feta cheese.
• Is this recipe gluten-free? I did use regular, gluten-free croutons, but you can easily use gluten-free croutons or omit the croutons to make this recipe gluten-free.
• Can I make this romaine lettuce Christmas tree ahead of time? Romaine lettuce is pretty hearty, so you can make it a short amount of time ahead, but there is always a chance of the lettuce wilting if it is made too far in advance. If making it in advance, make sure to refrigerate until it’s ready to serve.
• Is this recipe sanitary enough to serve at a Christmas party? If the person making this recipe has clean hands, it should be sanitary! You can use gloves to lay the lettuce leaves out and a spoon to scoop on the toppings and dressing. You can also use tongs for serving so that people don’t touch the food with their fingers.

Have a question I didn’t answer? Ask me in the comment section below, and I will reply ASAP!

Looking For More Vegan Holiday Recipes?

Orange Ginger Cranberry Sauce

Creamy Vegan Mashed Potatoes

Miso Sesame Green Beans

Crunchy Broccoli Salad with Maple Mustard Dressing

Easy and Delicious 5-Minute Dinner Salad

Romaine Lettuce Greek Salad Christmas Tree

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• Author: She Likes Food
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 8-10 1x
• Diet: Vegan

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Description

This Romaine Lettuce Greek Salad Christmas Tree is the perfect festive side dish for the holiday table this year!  It’s fun to make and delicious to eat!

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 2–3 heads romaine lettuce
• 1/2 cup small diced tomato
• 1/2 cup sliced kalamata olives
• 1/2 cup diced cucumber
• 1/2 cup diced red onion
• 1/2 cup diced marinated artichoke hearts
• 2 tablespoons fresh herbs, such as dill, parsley, mint, cilantro
• 1/2 cup smashed croutons
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Tahini Dressing:

• 1/4 tahini
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/2 tablespoon tamari, or soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon dried herbs, such as Trader Joe’s Green Goddess Seasoning, Herbs De Provence or dried oregano
• Salt and Black Pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Start by preparing your chickpeas.  Rinse and drain the chickpeas and pat them dry with a towel.  Heat a large pan over medium heat and add a couple teaspoons olive oil, chickpeas and spices and 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.  Mix everything together and cook chickpeas until heated through and getting crispy, about 10 minutes.
2. Make your dressing.  Add all dressing ingredients to a medium sized bowl and mix until combined and creamy, season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Prepare your toppings.  Cut all topping ingredients small, similar sized pieces.  You don’t want them to be too much bigger than the chickpeas.
4. Make your Christmas tree.  Remove the outer leaves on the heads of romaine lettuce.  Then, carefully pull apart all the remaining leaves.  Start assembling your tree on the platter you plan to serve it on.  I like to use the large leaves at the bottom and the smaller leaves as you get to the top of the tree.
5. Evenly sprinkle all the chickpeas and chopped vegetables on top of the christmas tree.  Drizzle with dressing and then top with the smashed croutons.  Enjoy as a finger food or as a salad platter that people can help themselves from.

Notes

Best when served immediately.  Can be made ahead of time but only about a couple of hours and I would suggest covering and refrigerating it until ready to serve.  Also, wait to dress until ready to serve.

• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins
• Category: Appetizer, Side
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: American