Salads tend to get a bad rep. But they don’t have to be boring, bland, or unsatisfying.
In fact, they have the potential to be delicious. So delicious that you’ll want to eat them. Here’s how to make your salad worth craving.
1. More veggies, less lettuce
Lettuce is a boring filler. Instead of a big base of romaine, try using some peppery arugula or spinach and then pile on the chopped veggies. Make the tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, celery, and peppers part of your base. This will add both flavor and substance.
2. Fresh herbs
Herbs are basically flavored lettuce. Exactly what you need to enhance your salad. Try a mix of mint, basil, parsley, green onion, or cilantro (if you were blessed enough to avoid the gene that makes it taste like soap). Chopping herbs sounds tedious, but they will make a difference. Tear ‘em up with your hands if you have to.
3. Cooked vs. Raw veggies
Mixing temperatures and textures will add to your salad experience. Getting some warm roasted vegetables to mix into your cold, raw ones will get your palette goin’. Keep it quick and easy with some sauteed mushrooms, onions or peppers in seconds. You can even cook chickpeas on the stove with some olive oil and your favorite spices. If you have the time and patience, roast some cauliflower, broccoli, beets, tomatoes, or sweet potato in the oven. Get creative. You can even roast a big batch of your favorite veggies ahead of time, store them in the fridge, and heat them up to add on to any salad throughout the week.
4. Something salty
Once you try this one, you won’t be able to stop. Adding a salty, vinegary, brine-y topping will take your salad to a new level. It will help bring out every other flavor in your mix. Try capers, olives, kimchi, feta, tuna, or (not to be controversial here) sardines.
5. Crunch
A floppy salad could be the saddest thing to exist. In addition to your chopped veggie base, getting some nuts on there will add to your experience and satisfaction. In addition to the classics like almonds, pecans, walnuts, and cashews, try some chopped pistachios or pine nuts. Don’t forget seeds as an option as well! You can’t go wrong with some roasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
6. A good dressing
Overdressing a salad will ruin it. Lettuce dripping in overpowering oils will take away from all the other flavors you’ve so meticulously added. So be conscious of how you dress, but know that the right amount of a good dressing will help vamp up your salad. Many salad aficionados will tell you to make your own dressing (mixing a bit of vinegar, oil, dijon, salt and pepper, and an acid), but if you’re lazy like me try some premade pesto, tahini, or a sticky balsamic glaze. Don’t forget
the wonders some good olive oil and lemon can do as well. There are also lots of good store-bought dressings: go explore and find one that speaks to you!
7. Spices
This doesn’t need to mean spicey, but rather just some additional flavor. Try za’atar, sesame seeds, Everything But the Bagel Seasoning, red pepper flakes, oregano, or even some garlic powder.
8. Finally, chop
This one is so simple yet so effective. The worst kind of salad is one that doesn’t combine, where every bite is either one sad piece of lettuce or a big chunk of lonely tomato. Chopping your salad will get all your ingredients small enough so that you can get multiple in each bite, a flavor explosion in your mouth! Think Ratatouille grape and cheese moment, dreamy, eyes closed, harmonious experience. The easiest way to go about this is by using a pair of kitchen scissors (aka one of the most useful kitchen tools). Cut it all up and enjoy it.