5 Easy Fixes to Take Your Salads from Drab to Delicious
What are you making for dinner? It’s the age-old question, more relevant now that we are all forced to cook at home every night due to COVID-19 lockdowns (Anyone else literally dreaming about holding a menu and ordering dinner from a waiter, even if it’s Olive Garden?) In my house, I’m always making some sort of salad for dinner, regardless of the ‘main course’. If this sounds boring, you’re like a friend who once asked me, not entirely kindly, “Are you just going to have a salad for dinner for the rest of your life?” Well, for me the answer is yes, but only because, after 20 years of experimenting, I’ve discovered how to make salads delicious, healthy and full of variety.
However, my relationship with salad has not always been great. In fact, some of my ‘salad days’ were pretty grim when I was growing up. As a teenager in the 1980s, I struggled and obsessed with my weight, thanks in part to my role model for health and fitness, Jane Fonda (whose fab bod it turns out was not due to leg lifts but instead she struggled with an eating disorder most of her life). I thought that a large iceberg salad with Paul Newman’s dressing was the “right” thing to eat for dinner. I would leave the table feeling empty and I’d sabotage my efforts to eat well by snacking on whatever treats were in the house. (Hello, Oreos!) I ate from the salad bar in college, but we all know what that was like (three lettuce leaves with 10 breadsticks, anyone?).
Finally, in my 20s, I learned how to make and eat salads that were satisfying and truly healthy. My family and friends love my salads because I avoid skimping, and instead make them full of color and flavor.
Here are my top 5 tips to share that will help to make any salad feel “special.”
Greens, please: The anchor for every great salad is the greens you decide to use. Skip the boring and nutrient-void iceberg and opt for vibrant dark leafy greens and get the nutritional bang for your buck. My favorites are arugula, spinach, kale, and romaine. Chop up the lettuce in small bite sizes pieces, play around with them by mixing your preferences.
Accentuate the positive: Use add-ins with color, texture, and variety. I love peppers, especially the yellow and orange varieties. They add both a touch of sweetness and break up the green color. I recently started using colorful carrots that are purple, orange, and white for some tangy flavors. Use organic cherry tomatoes for the variety in both taste and shape. Chop them up in a separate bowl, sprinkle with salad and pepper and add to the mixture last. Trust me! The rich, sweet flavors of the tomatoes will burst.
Herbs help: Choose one fresh herb (not dried) to use on top of your salad. I love basil, cilantro, and tarragon, but the choice is up to you. It will make any salad taste fresh and light.
Going bowling: Use a wooden salad bowl. Your salad dressing is suitable for your wooden bowl and helps cure it with each use. You can spend tons, or find a reasonable priced one online. Find your favorite, and you too will find, hands down, they just taste better in your wooden bowl than in your ceramic or metal one.
Dress it Up: Simple vinaigrettes can be whipped together using the 3:1 ratio. That simply means 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar. This ratio can be used with any oil and vinegar combination, but, it’s a good idea to splurge on the good stuff. Be creative and try mixing it up with balsamic, red wine vinegar, apple cider or rice wine. The options are many! One quick tip, use really good organic olive oil, as it will make a difference in flavor and taste, including having more health benefits. Contact me for some delicious vinaigrette recipes!
Once complete and assembled, you can then, of course, always add your favorite lean protein on top or the side. I love using grilled chicken, lean flank steak, or salmon, to give a few ideas. Whatever you decide, your salad is something that should be enjoyed and shared with others.
Fortunately, I now know my family loves salad too. (well most of them!) I know, cooking during the coronavirus leaves all of us feeling uninspired at times. But hang on, spring is around the corner, and we will have fresh food and flavors available once more. Take advantage of your time with family and practice your chopping skills, but don’t forget to use your wooden bowl.
Have any questions about how to make your salads more healthy and delicious?? Contact me, and we can talk about salads and other ways to feel great this spring and summer. You don’t have to do it alone.
