Salads are what you make of them, and in this viral TikTok recipe, lettuce need not be included. The "Hot Girl Salad," originally shared by TikTok creator Jaryia Daniel (@herdresscode), is a refreshing mix of finely-diced cucumbers, green bell peppers, pepperoncini peppers, hard-boiled eggs, and sunflower seeds tossed together in a tangy vinaigrette. The end result is a highly nutritious, low-calorie salad that requires no lettuce and minimal prep time (especially if you have a vegetable chopper on hand).
Unsurprisingly, the Hot Girl Salad has taken on a life of its own, but out of the multitude of variations shared on TikTok since the salad's conception, there's one that's been living rent-free in my mind for a few reasons. For one, this take on the Hot Girl Salad, shared by TikTok creator @thesaladlab, calls for cold water-soaked red onions, which I love because the cold water bath significantly reduces the onion's potent smell and taste. And, of course, the homemade spicy vinaigrette had my mouth watering from the moment I saw it.
@thesaladlabHot girl summer style salad from @Jayria #saladrecipes #Salad #saladsoftiktok #thesaladlab #rose #murphygoode
♬ Sunroof - Nicky Youre & dazyIt's hard to say if the best part of this salad is how flavorful it is or how easy it is to make entirely from scratch, but either way, it's definitely a new staple in my salad repertoire. In this kitchen, "Hot Girl" season lasts all year long. Keep reading for a step-by-step on how to make it.
Ingredients
For the salad:2 cups cucumber, finely chopped
1 cup bell pepper, finely chopped
½ cup red onion, finely chopped
⅛ cup pepperoncini peppers, finely chopped
¼ cup sunflower seeds
1 egg, boiledFor the dressing:
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1-2 lemons, juiced
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1 teaspoon maple syrup
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
¼ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Salt, to taste
