With this recipe, I have taken the beloved dessert-style salad and all of its irresistible tastes and textures, and lightened it up while turning it upside down! Fresher tasting than ever, and with no pretzel crust making required, this is the perfect addition for your next holiday or buffet table. I guarantee there will be plenty of ooh’s and ahhs. (Psst…there’s no need to share that it clocks in with just 1/3 of the usual calories and carbs and 80% less fat!)
MAKES (12) SERVINGS
1 large package (8-serving size) sugar-free strawberry gelatin
1 1/2 cups boiling water
3 cups sliced strawberries
3/4 cup low-fat cottage cheese
3/4 cup light tub-style cream cheese
1/4 cup granulated no-calorie sweetener*
1 1/2 cups light whipped topping, thawed (or 1/2 of an 8-ounce tub)
1 teaspoon lemon zest
3/4 cup roughly crushed pretzels (~1 1/2 ounces)
1. Place the gelatin and boiling water in a medium bowl and whisk for 2 minutes or until gelatin is dissolved. Stir in 1 1/2 cups cold water. Refrigerate until the mixture is slightly thickened, about 30 minutes. Stir in strawberries, transfer to a 2-quart casserole dish (7” x 11”) and refrigerate.
2. Place the cottage cheese in a small food processor and process until smooth. Add cream cheese and pulse until blended. Transfer mixture into a medium bowl, and fold in sweetener, whipped topping, and lemon zest. Cover and refrigerate.
3. When the gelatin has fully set, spread with the cream cheese mixture. Just before serving, top with the crushed pretzels.
DARE TO COMPARE: A mere credit card-sized serving of the classic pretzel strawberry salad has 310 calories, 20 grams of fat, 30 grams of carbohydrate (including 20 grams of added sugar – and at least triple the points!
Nutrition Information Per Serving (2/3 cup): Calories 105 | Carbohydrate 10g (Sugars 5g) | Total Fat 4g (Sat Fat 3g) | Protein 5g | Fiber 1g | Cholesterol 10mg | Sodium 250mg | Food Exchanges: ½ Fruit, ½ Carbohydrate, ½ Fat | Carbohydrate Choices: 1 | Weight Watcher Comparison: Green 3, Blue 3, Purple 3
