It's easy to get in the habit of making the same old salad night after night. Ironically, a bowl of leafy greens with accoutrements is one of the easiest things to make an exciting part of your meal-if you change it up with some regularity. Whether your standby salad consists of lettuce and bottled dressing or homemade vinaigrette with mixed greens and extra fixings, following are 10 ways to improve upon one of the healthiest meal options.
Tell us: What's your favorite addition to salad?
1. Make a New Dressing
Even home cooks with a great salad dressing recipe need to mix it up every now and then to make the side dish fresh again. To make a great salad dressing, think three parts oil to one part vinegar. The types you choose are up to you. Olive oil makes a richer dressing, while vegetable oil makes a lighter one. Vinegars can make all the difference, too. Try balsamic, red wine, or sherry vinegar. Add minced shallots, 1/8 teaspoon Dijon mustard to bind, and even a sprinkle of sugar to change up the taste.
2. Add Nuts
A fantastic source of protein, nuts also add crunch and sophistication to any salad. Toasted walnuts or pine nuts are excellent options.
3. Add Fruit
Avocados, tomatoes, thinly sliced apple, orange wedges, sliced strawberries or grapes, and blueberries all turn a salad into a celebration with minimal effort.
4. Add Veggies
Colorful, crunchy, and delicious, vegetables lend complexity to any salad. Great options include zucchini ribbons (use a vegetable peeler), thinly sliced carrots or fennel, corn kernels, and bell peppers.
5. Add Roasted Veggies
For a heartier meal, try tossing chopped grilled vegetables into your salad.
6. Add Fresh Herbs
Ever had a salad with fresh herbs minced and tossed with the vinaigrette? If not, you should! Try a mixture of fresh chives, parsley, tarragon, and chervil like famed chef Thomas Keller does at his restaurant Bouchon and you'll instantly fall in love.
7. Add Beans
Another excellent protein source also contributes verve to the fresh vegetable side dish. Toss in some cooked black beans or edamame and enjoy!
8. Add Cheese
The types of cheese you can add to salad are endless! Shave some parmesan over your greens or toss in chunks of blue, feta, or brie cheese and you're really living!
9. Add Meat or Seafood
A salad can suddenly become a meal if you add shredded or cubed cooked chicken or tuna, strips of grilled steak, or cooked shrimp.
10. Try a Different Lettuce
We all have favorites, but you'll be surprised at how new your salad will seem if you swap your go-to greens for something different. Spinach, iceberg, mache, mixed greens, arugula or Bibb, romaine, or butter lettuce are great places to start.
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