Home > Table Talk > Archives > 2007 > November > 07 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSo just what is Jell-O salad: dessert or side dish?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In this week’s Saving Southern Food recipe, we find ourselves faced with what some people call one of the Great Mysteries of Southern cooking: the Jell-O salad. Snickered at by some gourmet cooks for the less-than-sophisticated nature of its namesake ingredient and beloved by others, Jell-O salad remains a popular holiday item on many Southern tables. Some versions are sweet, like a dessert. Others involve lettuce and even (gasp!) vegetables. So what is it? Dessert or side dish? Do you dread the unveiling of this year’s crop of Jell-O salad or will you dive in spoon-first?
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Food
Comments
By Vicki
November 8, 2007 9:51 AM | Link to this
It’s both!
Jell-O salad is a side dish whereas Jell-O is dessert.
Jell-O salad can have fruit, veggies, sour cream, cream cheese or nuts and may involve lettuce, but it is not a requirement.
Jell-O can be served as is or it can have fruit, cookies, whipped cream or other sweet items.
I like Jell-O salad. It’s very cooling when eating a large meal. What’s a turkey dinner without the cranberry sauce?
By Beth
November 8, 2007 12:55 PM | Link to this
At our holiday meals, Jell-O salad is put out with the side dishes. But many of us end up eating it as a separate course between the dinner and the dessert. At the very least, it goes on your second plate of food to be eaten at the end of the dinner. This way, you can wait and serve dessert later.
By Rodney
November 8, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this
I’ve never been a fan of the Jell-O salad. I think it’s that fruit, suspended there in the thick of it all. Just don’t like it - but I don’t begrudge those who do!
Because … my Aunt makes a “version” of a Jell-O salad that I do like. Basically, lime Jell-O is minced into 1/4 inch pieces (of course, after you prepare it and let it set), then mixed with Cool Whip and chopped pecans and chilled for a few hours in a shallow casserole.
Mmmm … sounds trashy, yes. And a bit trailer park. But sometimes, you just get a hankerin for something like that!
By BZ
November 8, 2007 3:09 PM | Link to this
Man, my mom used to make a savory congealed salad (can’t remember what gelatin-matrix dishes were called in the Midwest) that was pretty good. It featured canned tuna, sliced green olives, celery, probably mayo, I can’t quite recall; anyway it was tasty to this kid until I heard what gelatin was made from.
By linda
November 9, 2007 8:37 AM | Link to this
don’t know about the Jello but the sweet potatoe pie receipe rocks!