Chop, Chop: The Secret Behind a Tasty Salad

I can still remember the revelation of my first Cobb Salad at the Brown Derby: Finely minced tomatoes, chicken breast, bacon, avocado, egg, and Roquefort cheese were displayed atop a chiffonade of lettuces. The salad was dressed and tossed tableside, resulting in a perfectly balanced salad where ingredients mingled together in every bite. At the time, I don´t think I gave much thought to why it worked so well, but now I know that many important factors bear consideration: the quality and freshness of the ingredients; the balance of flavors, colors, and textures; the amount and distribution of salad dressing; and even the size of the various elements.

Casual delis and salad chains are constantly sprouting up in major cities, and while they are a speedy, healthy option for the busy professional, I often feel that a little something special is needed to truly elevate the common salad to a more satisfying main course. While the addition of dried fruits or nuts helps, it's normally the luxury of avocado slices, hearts of palm, or a few scattered crumbles of tangy blue cheese that do the trick for me. But ingredients aren´t everything: There are many chains (like Chop´t Creative Salad Co.) that will toss your chosen ingredients together in a sturdy steel bowl and chop them (sometime rather ferociously) using a stainless steel blade system, attempting to achieve that perfect balance of flavors and textures in each bite. The simplest of ingredients take on a new life when they are cut down to the same size, perfectly integrated in this way.

All of which is a way to say that I really dig the new Salad Chopper and Bowl from OXO. With it, you can transform the contents of your refrigerator and pantry into delicious, nutritious, restaurant-worthy chopped salads that will appeal to the whole family. Assemble lettuces, veggies, legumes, fruits, cheeses, and meats in the the 5.5 quart bowl and, gripping the soft, non-slip chopper handle, chop away with the two rotating stainless steel blades for a rough, rustic chop or a more finely minced creation. The continuously curved surface of the bowl ensures that the blades stay in constant contact with the bowl for maximum efficiency while the cushioned rim acts as a grip for turning the bowl while you chop. The salad can be dressed, tossed, and brought to the table for serving in the same sturdy, plastic bowl. Both the chopper and the bowl are dishwasher safe, making clean up a cinch.

OXO Salad Chopper and Bowl, $24.99; oxo.com

By Heather Tyree

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