Little Gem Salad with Yogurt Ranch
on Sep 08, 2022, Updated May 28, 2025
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Today is all about this Little Gem Salad with Yogurt Ranch! This little gem salad recipe is absolutely everything and more. A creamy yogurt ranch tossed with crunchy little gem lettuce leaves and really quick panko breadcrumbs, and some sunflower seeds. Oh, and loads of shredded parmesan (obvi!).
If you want some more recipes with little gems, check out our Little Gem Wedge Salad with a Gorgonzola Dressing and our Little Gem Caesar Salad with Panko Breadcrumbs!
What is little gem lettuce?
Little gem lettuce looks like a mini-sized romaine. It has vibrant green leaves (sometimes with some darker purple). I find it to be a little bit less pungent than the full-size romaine. It is most similar to romaine and butterhead lettuce.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This is a simple salad recipe that uses crunchy little gem salad! It’s simple and adaptable.
- This salad is easy to prepare and has a nice crunch!
- You can mix and match with any of your favorite flavor combinations and toppings.
- Has flavor and crunch from the tangy dressing and sunflower seeds.
Recipe Ingredients
Below are the ingredients you need to make this recipe, including all our tips and substitutions.
Little gem lettuce: You can also use romaine, butter lettuce, or anything you can get your hands on!
For the yogurt ranch: It begins with yogurt and mayo. Tossed with garlic, fresh herbs like dill and parsley, lemon juice, salt and pepper, and olive oil.
Cheese: I LOVE shredded parmesan with this! Other options to swap in that could work would be blue cheese, feta cheese, and pecorino romano cheese.
Kosher salt and black pepper
Other ingredients you can add: any toasted nuts like pine nuts, walnuts, etc., thinly shaved red onions, avocado, tomatoes, radish, just to name a few. You can also add any proteins like chicken or shrimp!
The full list of ingredients with exact quantities can be found on the recipe card below.
Tips and Substitutions
- Dry your leaves really well so the dressing clings to the salad, and you don’t have a soggy salad.
- Proteins: Add proteins such as chicken, shrimp, or steak to make this salad a meal.
- Sub out little gem lettuce with romaine hearts or butterhead if you can’t find any.
- Mix and Match: With seasonal produce and fruits, or vegetables.
- Add Crunch: You can add any of your favorite crunchy toppings and nuts, such as walnuts, almonds, or pine nuts. We are using sunflower seeds in this recipe
- Storing: Store the salad leaves and dressing separately in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
How to Make Little Gem Salad
Wash your little gem lettuce
Wash your lettuce, dry and set it aside.
Make your panko breadcrumbs
In a small dry skillet, add your breadcrumbs with a pinch of salt, black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. Toast on low heat until toasty and fragrant, keep mixing so that it gets crispy on all sides and not burnt! Set aside to cool. You can also toast in the oven on a sheet tray if you prefer as well.
Make your yogurt ranch
In a small bowl, add in your yogurt, mayo, garlic clove (minced), dill, parsley, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Whisk until emulsified and combined.
Assemble!
In a large bowl, add in your washed lettuce, yogurt ranch, panko breadcrumbs, sunflower seeds (optional), shredded parmesan, fresh pepper, and toss! Finish off with a little bit more panko for extra crunch and serve.
The full detailed instructions can be found on the recipe card below.
Serving Recommendations
Looking for some ideas to serve with this little gem salad? We have you covered!
Little Gem Salad FAQs
You can swap out with romaine hearts, mini romaine hearts, or butterhead lettuce as alternatives.
Store unwashed heads of little gems in a plastic bag in the crisp drawer of your fridge. Wash just before use to maintain freshness.
More Salad Recipes
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Easy Little Gem Salad with Yogurt Ranch
Ingredients
Salad
- 3 to 4 little gems, washed, leaves torn off
- shredded parmesan and sunflower seeds to serve
- 1 cup panko
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Yogurt Ranch
- 1/4 cup greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup mayo
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2 tablespoons minced dill
- 2 tablespoons minced parsley
- juice of 1 lemon
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon water, to thin out, if needed
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash your lettuce, dry and set aside.
- Make your panko breadcrumbs. In a small dry skillet, add your breadcrumbs with a pinch of salt, black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. Toast on low heat until toasty and fragrant, keep mixing so that it gets crispy on all sides and not burnt! Set aside to cool. You can also toast in the oven on a sheet tray if you prefer as well.
- Make your yogurt ranch. In a small bowl, add in your yogurt, mayo, garlic clove (minced), dill, parsley, lemon juice, salt, pepper and olive oil. Whisk until emulsified and combined.
- Assemble! In a large bowl, add in your washed lettuce, yogurt ranch, panko breadcrumbs, sunflower seeds (optional), shredded parmesan, fresh pepper and toss! Finish off with a little bit more panko for extra crunch and serve.
Video
Notes
- Dry your leaves really well so the dressing clings to the salad, and you don’t have a soggy salad.
- Proteins: Add proteins such as chicken, shrimp, or steak to make this salad a meal.
- Sub out little gem lettuce with romaine hearts or butterhead if you can’t find any.
- Storing: Store the salad leaves and dressing separately in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Little gems are ALWAYS at my house! You can make so many recipes with gems, and with this yogurt ranch is one of my faves, enjoy!