Basics + Carbohydrates + Protein + Extras = A Not So Boring Salad
The Basics
No matter what kind of a salad that I make, I always have the following set of basic ingredients.
- Leafy greens. I like spinach but you can really use any greens. I buy mine pre-washed and dried which saves me a lot of time.
- Other raw vegetables. I often have grated carrots, sliced capsicum, and cherry tomatoes.
- Goat Feta. You only need a little bit but it adds a lot of flavor. I use about 20 grams.
- Organic no-salt seasoning. Mine is from Costco and I stock up whenever I go back to America. It seasons the salad and also adds a crunchy texture.
- A good vinaigrette dressing. I always make my own, because I’m fussy and it’s really easy to do.
Anything above and beyond the basics is really what makes each salad different from the next. Check out the no-salt seasoning. It really makes the salad.
Carbohydrates
This can be anything ranging from root vegetables to leftover rice to leftover pasta. Below are some of my favorites.
- Brown Rice
- Roasted pumpkin
- Roasted sweet potato and/or kumra
- Whole wheat pasta
- Noodles of any kind.
Proteins
- Canned salmon/ tuna. This is great for taking to work.
- Beef steaks.
- Grilled salmon.
- Tofu. Grilled, baked, or mashed and seasoned.
- Tempeh. Definitely grilled.
- Boiled eggs.
The Extras
- Nuts and seeds
- Dried fruit
- Any other cheese. (ie. shaved parmesan)
- Fresh herbs
- Olives
- Capers
- Artichoke Hearts
- Other cooked vegetables. Blanched broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, etc.
It sounds like common sense, but I just remember having iceberg lettuce salads with tomatoes and thinned out Italian dressing in the dorms when I was in college. Yuck! No wonder salads are often seen as boring.
