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Some people have a bad impression of salad, and it's no wonder. Many of us grew up eating boring green salads with bottled dressings you had to slather on to enjoy any flavor at all. Salad doesn't have to be that way any more! Learn the secrets to making salads that taste great and are still good for you.
One way to rev up an ordinary green salad doesn't take much work at all. Seasoning the salad and making your own dressing can really make a huge difference. The key to making this work is dry lettuce. After you've washed your lettuce, spin it dry in a salad spinner. This way the flavor of the dressing won't be weak and watery. Sprinkle your salad with some freshly ground pepper, ground sea salt, a little dried oregano and a little dill. Then, prepare your dressing.
One simple salad dressing starts with a small amount of stone-ground mustard. Mix in a little balsamic vinegar, add some olive oil and stir well to combine. Dress your salad, and you're ready to eat!
The next thing you can do to improve your salad recipes is to think about new ingredients and textures. Most people think of salads and a vegetable thing, but sliced pears or apples taste great. Add some walnuts and dried cranberries for a gourmet side salad. Salty cheeses like feta add a great texture, and you can add some olives for an easy Greek style salad.
The ultimate in salad recipes are main course salads. You can prepare a Caesar salad ahead of time, then simply grill up some salmon or chicken breasts for a great lunch or dinner. Grilled chicken can be added to almost any kind of salad to make it a meal, so next time you have leftover chicken, put it in a bag for your next salad. Thinly-sliced Asian style beef can make a salad a meal, as can grilled shrimp. Add some hearty homemade or store-bought bread for the perfect meal.
Don't forget that salad recipes include timeless favorites like relishes, slaws, pasta and potato salad. With so many salad recipes to try, you and your family will be enjoying the variety of fruits and vegetables that doctors recommend we eat. So head on over to your local farmer's market or grocery store, pick out some fresh fruits, vegetables and meat, and get ready to experiment with making fun new salads. |