I grew up eating 7-layer salad most Sundays in the Spring and Summer. It’s crisp, full of flavor, and stays fresh even when made the day before (just hold off on the dressing). Unfortunately, the version I had as a child had cheese, bacon, and Miracle Whip (eggs) as the base. Not friendly to dietary restrictions for Julia’s Hashimoto’s.
But this salad is still tradition to me, and I knew my kids would love it as well if I could get it adjusted. Spoiler alert, I did get it adjusted (even added an extra layer) and served it to a mixed crowd who all gave it rave reviews, not even knowing it had ever been anything else.
Miracle Whip is tangier and sweeter than just mayo, so using veganaise and adding vinegar and honey got us right there, and the flavor is dreamy. So on your next warm summer picnic or potluck or whatever – give this one a try. It’s now on steady rotation in our home.
Shop Our Backyard
8-Layer Salad
Ingredients
- 1-1 1/2 heads iceberg lettuce chopped
- 8 oz turkey bacon chopped, cooked until crisp, drained on paper towel
- 1 1/3 cup red onion chopped
- 1 1/3 cup celery chopped
- 1 1/3 cup frozen peas rinsed and drained
- 6 oz vegan cheddar check ingredients to ensure compliance with your particular diet, or use regular cheddar if not dairy restricted
- 1 cup dried cherries unsweetened preferred
- 3/4 cup sunflower seeds
For the Dressing
- 1 1/3 cup veganaise soy free for soy allergies
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp champagne vinegar
- 2 pinches salt
Instructions
- In a bowl, layer the salad as follows: lettuce, red onion, celery, turkey bacon, peas, vegan cheddar, sunflower seeds, dried cherries. Cover with plastic wrap and set in the fridge until close to service. Up to 24 hours in advance.
- Whisk together all the dressing ingredients and pour the dressing over the salad just before service. Toss to coat and serve chilled.
Leave a Reply
What do you think?
Semihandmade
Our wood grain Shaker cabinet fronts were designed for busy, high-traffic homes like ours. Clad with durable textured thermofoils, this line is compatible with Sektion, Akurum, Godmorgon, and Besta cabinets from IKEA. It's the perfect, practical way to add the warmth of wood to all the rooms of your home.
Collaborations
learn more
next
Loloi
We have teamed up with Loloi to create a line of rugs that are as affordable as they are beautiful. This collection houses a great mix of traditional and modern rugs, in cottage-y colorways, as well as vintage-inspired beauties that you’ll want to roll out in every room.
Collaborations
learn more
next
STUGA
We partnered with Stuga on a line of hardwood floors — The Ingrid is really livable, and the color is very neutral. It doesn’t lean warm or cool, it’s that just right in-between. We have really loved putting it everywhere in our house. It’s the best jumping-off point for design, no matter your interior style. In addition to being beautiful, Ingrid is really durable — we have three kids, and we always have a home construction project going on. Ingrid stands up to it all.
Collaborations
learn more
next
SHop all
What We're Right Now
What We're Right Now
Looking for our favorite things? A place to shop our home room by room, or just catch up on what Julia's wearing / loving right now? Browse the CLJ shop.
Loving
Portfolio
Design
Befores, afters, mood boards, plans, failures, wins. We’ve done a lot of projects, and they’re all here.
BROWSE BY CATEGORY
let's break this thing up
We have a long-standing relationship with DIY, and love rolling our sleeves up and making it happen.
Projects
Even when you don’t want to rip down a wall, you can make that space in your home better. Right now.
read more
read more
read more
02
01
03
looking for inspiration?
A reader recently asked me if I’m starting to fully embrace traditional style and whether we still consider our house to be a “modern Colonial” and why. It was a really great question and so timely — I had really just been thinking about my approach to this home and how my style has changed […]
SEARCH THE BLOG
We've been doing this since 2009 and we've posted a whopping 24145+ blog posts and counting. You might need a little help searching, huh?
looking for something?
find stuff like:
Can We Send You Our Love Letter?
Another way for us to stay in touch! Joining our weekly newsletter gives you access to exclusive content, never-before-seen photos, your questions answered, and our favorite DIYs. Sign up below!
Follow Along on Instagram
Welcome to our online community where we've posted home, DIY, style, renovations, and family since '09. Renovating our #cljmoderncottage in Idaho and headed for new adventures in Raleigh, NC. #cljfam #cljtransformations
@chrislovesjulia
Links
Get Around
Make yourself right at home
Portfolio
Design
Casual Friday
Projects
Lifestyle
Gift Guides
All Posts
Shop
Love where you live.
Social
RivrLinks
Links
Get Around
Make yourself right at home
Portfolio
Design
Casual Friday
Projects
Lifestyle
Gift Guides
All Posts
Shop
Love where you live.
Social
RivrLinks
Sounds divine!
Chris… you know we are all dying for you to write a cookbook, right? You need it, we need it. The WORLD needs it! But seriously, is there one in the works? Tell me to not give up hope. Blink twice for yes 😂.
Sincerely,
A mega fan who needs a Hashimoto’s cookbook 💛😂
Looks delish!
This looks amazing, thanks for sharing! How pathetic is my health care that since being diagnosed with Hashimotos myself many years ago, not ONE SINGLE doctor has ever told me to avoid bacon, eggs or cheese. Only gluten, which I was not told about for about 5 years into my diagnosis.
Not everyone with hashimotos has to cut out all of these food groups. Julia has other health concerns and has spent years working on her diet (and other things) to get relief from them.
Wait, I’m confused. My dr said the clean (sugar free, nitrate free, etc) bacon and good quality organic, soy and corn free-fed, chicken eggs were ok too. What’s the reason for the dr saying bacon and eggs are bad for hashimotos. I’m worried, because I eat those a lot.
Definitely consult with your Dr. and do what makes you feel good. My diet is very individualized for me and my health concerns.
I love the classic seven layer salad but this sounds amazing too! Thanks for the alternative!