Ask Ollie
Tear, Shake and Toss Salad
Here's one to try together!
Rip the lettuce, shake the dressing, and toss up a salad the whole family can crunch together!
Reviewed by our team.
Safety first
- choking risk from whole or large pieces of cherry tomato and other veggies for children under 3, so quarter tomatoes and keep pieces small
- adult must do all knife cutting of cucumber
- possible food allergies or sensitivities to ingredients
What you need
- Soft veggies (peppers, cucumber), 6 large lettuce leaves, washed and dried
- Soft veggies (peppers, cucumber), 1/2 cucumber
- Soft veggies (peppers, cucumber), 6 cherry tomatoes (optional)
- Cooking oil, 2 tablespoons
- Salt, a small pinch
- Lemon juice, 1 tablespoon
- Plastic container with tight lid, 1
- Bowl, 1 mixing bowl
- Clear cups, 1 small cup
- Towel, 1 damp
- Plate or tray, 1 per person
- Knife, 1, for grown-ups
- Spoon, 2 big spoons (optional)
- Measuring spoons, 1 tablespoon
- Cutting board, 1, for grown-ups
How to do it
Grown-up prep: Cut the cucumber into thin half-moons yourself and quarter the cherry tomatoes (or leave them out) so every piece is small and safe for little mouths. Check for any food allergies or sensitivities before starting.
- A grown-up slices the cucumber into thin half-moons. A grown-up does this
- A grown-up cuts the cherry tomatoes into quarters, if you're using them. A grown-up does this
- Measure the oil and lemon juice with measuring spoons.
- Tear the lettuce into little pieces and drop them in the bowl.
- Add the cucumber moons to the bowl.
- Add the tomato pieces if you're using them.
- Pour the oil, lemon juice and a pinch of salt into the plastic container. Ask: What do you see when the oil and the lemon juice meet?
- Put the lid on tight!
- Shake, shake, shake the container like a maraca! Ask: What's happening to the oil and lemon juice now?
- Open the lid and pour the dressing over the salad.
- Toss the salad with clean hands or big spoons until everything is shiny.
- Serve your salad to the family and take a bow!
- Now share your salad with more people, or make another bowl! Ask: What will you rip, shake and toss differently next time?
Play it again
- Maraca band: shake the dressing to a beat and sing a song while you shake.
- Rip race: see how many tiny lettuce pieces you can tear in one minute.
- Silly shapes: tear the lettuce into shapes like stars, hearts or letters and guess each other's shapes.
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