Salads can be one of the easiest and most diverse foods to make! They are so diverse and can include a wide array of ingredients! My mom used to say a good salad has a rainbow of colors, which is true! The more colors you have within your salad (or any food in general) the more nutrients and contrasting flavors you will have! Salads are a healthy and delicious option for any night of the week, so I thought I would share some of my favorite ways to spruce up a salad!

 

1: Try some different greens!

Most people, including myself, use only the three main salad greens:  lettuce, spinach and romaine lettuce. They are the easiest for filling but if you try adding some arugula, endives, microgreens, etc to add some different flavors to the dish! Using all of those different greens can bring some crazy flavors! Microgreens and arugula are my favorites!

 

2) Add Some Herbs

I am not saying to replace herbs with lettuce for the base of the salad, just to add a bit of zest and zing! I did see however where a girl made a whole salad with just herbs but I think that would be too pungent. If you had a strawberry and spinach salad, you could add a bit of basil for a different flavor profile. If you made a southwest chicken salad, you could add a bit of cilantro on top as well!

 

3) Add Some Sweetness!

Whether it is a dressing, fruit, or anything in between! A bit of sweetness can add a delicious and welcomed contrast to the dish! Some of my favorite fruits to add to a salad are raspberries, strawberries, pomegranate seeds and apples! I For a crisp fall salad, I like to add apples, walnuts and figs!

 

4) Throw on some Fat!

No, I don’t mean like steak fat or anything like that. Avocados and nuts are a great way to add not only some fat on there, as well as add some textures! Walnuts, pecans, pine nuts, or pecans can all provide a delicious flavor with any salad!

 

5) Try a New Dressing

I may get so much hate for this, but I have gotten it for so long.  I DON’T LIKE RANCH. It’s just not my thing and ranch is a religion in the northwest. There are sooooooooooo many different kinds of dressings and vinaigrettes! My favorite dressings include roasted red pepper, italian, poppyseed, caesar, and strawberry vinaigrette! A dressing can make or break a salad and with the right pairing, you will have a delicious dinner. 

 

6) Throw in Fruit (Fresh or Dried)

Strawberry and Spinach salads are my all time favorite, especially with feta and some granola as well! I know I mentioned this previously but fruit can add an interesting contrast to salads. You can use practically any fruit, I personally recommend not using mushy fruits like bananas.

 

7) Get some Grains

Grains like barley, quinoa, and couscous are a great way to spruce up your salad. My mom made a strawberry and spinach salad with granola in it and it was so delicious! We used the basic vanilla one but it provided a good crunch to the salad.There are so many different options to add to your salad so grab a handful and get eating

 

8) Pack on the Protein

One of the main ingredients in many salads is a protein of sorts. Whether it be beef, chicken or fish, meats and protein can pack a lot of punch! One of the most popular salads is the chicken caesar salad which includes romaine lettuce, grilled chicken, caesar dressing, and parmesan cheese shavings. One of my personal favorite salads include the southwestern chicken salad which has cheese, beans, chicken, tomatoes, onions and so much more!

 

I hope that this has helped you decide what to have for lunch and how to elevate that salad to the next level. These salads are all super easy to make and can be eaten for any meal! What do you put on your salads? Did I miss something? Let me know in the comments below! 

 

Thanks for reading everyone! If you want to keep up with me when I’m not on here, message me @sunshineandseasoning on instagram! I hope you have a great weekend! 🙂

 

 

 

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