Even people that love salads grow weary of them if they eat them too often. And if you’re one of them, chances are that you’re doing the same things the same ways when it comes to making your salads. Just like sandwiches, salads come in many varieties and there’s no one way to make them.
In fact, that’s what’s so exciting about them. There are thousands of ways to make a salad because there are tons of different combinations you can make to give it some crunch. If you’re dumping lettuce into a bowl, pouring on bland dressing and calling it a day, you’ve got to step up your salad game.
Here are some ways you can shake things up and take your salads from blah to bravo!
- Add crunch
While lettuce is indeed crunchy, your salad needs some more textural variety to make it more exciting. Our senses are delighted by an array of textures and flavors. So give in to the textures. You can add chopped walnuts or pecans, sunflower seeds, croutons, or anything else with a mighty crunch. It will help your salad pop.
- Mix it up
Still choosing the same type of lettuce every time? Stop! You can make any leafy green your base. One way to really give it variety is to mix a few types of greens together. You’ll get a powerhouse of nutrients and a contrast of flavors which will keep you from becoming bored with your salad.
- Try new flavors
One of the hottest flavor trends for 2018 was the Korean sauce, gochujang. It’s a spicy red paste that can be tamed by mixing with other ingredients, giving you a unique flavor that really heats things up. You can make a salad dressing with it much like everyone was doing with wasabi for a while. Or you can cook your protein with it to add a bit of heat that won’t do you in. Fun tip: goes great with blue cheese crumbles.
- Don’t be afraid to add fruit
Some people think vegetables should only go with vegetables and fruits with fruits. But the contrast between them is a wonderful pairing that you shouldn’t ignore. In particular, dried fruits like cranberries add a nice tart taste to salads while also adding a bit of chewiness, another texture you should be incorporating.
- Add something seasonal
Think about the vegetables and fruits that are in season and toss those into your salad creations. For example, summer is a time for sweet peppers of every hue, refreshing cucumbers, and tangy berries.
- Think of what makes salad bars so amazing
Why do we flock to salad bars when we groan about eating salads at home? It’s simple. There are a ton of choices to make our own ideal creation. Visualize your favorite salad bar and stock up on the things you love most from it. Then, toss them together for fun salad combos that will dazzle your taste buds.
One last thing: don’t forget that how you chop or slice it really does matter. Chopped salads make things even more fun and give you the chance to indulge every ingredient in every bite. Give it a try!