Elements Of An Easy Salad

A life essential is learning how to make yourself a dope salad that won’t bore you to death. Your first stop on the train to Flavor Town (sup, Guy Fieri) is choosing a lettuce that will be delicious and compatible with your salad. If you’re not sure what lettuce you should be using, hang on a second and go watch my Guide to Lettuce video on YouTube, or read about it right here on the blog. Once your lettuce game is under control, it’s time to get creative. Below I’ve listed components that will make your salad waaay better than usual.

Herbs

Herbs make a great salad component because of the flavor they bring to your salad. Choosing soft herbs to add to your salad is best so that they can easily blend in with your base. They amp up your lettuce and give it an entirely new dimension of flavor. My favorite herbs to add to a salad are:

• Dill

• Parsley

• Chives

• Mint

• Basil

• Tarragon

• Cilantro

Veggies

Vegetables add different flavors and textures to a salad which is essential. You can slice them and throw them in raw, or roast, grill, or pickle your vegetables. Creating this variety will automatically boost the sassiness of your salad. Vegetables I like to use in my salads are:

• Zucchini

• Carrot

• Radish

• Green Beans

• Fennel

• Root Vegetables (like sweet potato and squash)

• Corn

Fruit

Fruit? Yeah fruit. Just do it, trust me. Fruits add sweetness and freshness to any salad. They contrast well with citrusy dressings and creamy additions like cheese, they really just do it all. My favorite fruits to add to any salad are:

• Dried cranberries

• Apple

• Dates

• Fresh berries

• Pomegranate seeds

• Avocado (they’re a fruit, remember?!)

Protein

Proteins are wonderful to have in salads because they will keep you full for longer, balance out your meal, and are just straight up yum. Proteins that I love in my salad are:

• Shrimp

• Chicken

• Steak

• Tofu

• Eggs

• Bacon (hehe treat yourself)

• Cheese

Grains

Grains add texture to your salad and will also ensure that you are satisfied for a while after your meal because they are complex carbs, and filled with fiber. Great grains to add to your salad are:

• Quinoa

• Farro

• Wheat Berries

• Kasha

• Couscous

• Barley

Crunch

The Crunch in your salad keeps things fun and interesting while you’re chewing, a nice little workout for your mouth. Crunch can take on many forms and the options are endless, but here are a few of my favorite crunchy components:

• Seeds (sunflower, sesame, pumpkin)

• Nuts (roasted, toasted, raw, or even candied)

• Croutons

• Pita chips

Dressing

Dressing is essential because it will really round out your entire salad. A top-tip of mine is to never over dress a salad. No one wants salad that’s drowned in dressing, so just don’t do it! If you’re looking for other tips on how to make a delicious salad dressing, check out my Salad Dressing YouTube video or read about it here on the blog!

Your salad is going to amaaaaazing, I can just feel it. Show me what you’re making by tagging me @elenabesser on Instagram so I can stay up to date on your drool worthy eats.