(Photo by Antoni Shkraba/ Pexels)
A meal that is never missing from our table is salad. Full of nutrients and flavors that combine harmoniously. In most cases, of course, the salad ends up being untouched, because we haven’t put in the effort to make this meal more delicious and affordable for us.
But if you put a little more creativity, you can easily have a bowl of ingredients that you really like and taste with great pleasure. Let’s see how you can do it.
Prepare the leafy vegetables properly
Even if you buy packaged, pre-washed leafy greens, you still need to wash them very well before putting them in your bowl, both for health reasons (they may contain diarrhea-causing germs like norovirus) and for texture reasons. There is nothing worse than preparing a salad and realizing at the first bite that you are also eating… soil.
Your work, however, does not end after washing. Drying them really well is just as important. When the leaves are even slightly fresh, the dressing you add won’t stick to them, which can make your salad tasteless. You can buy a bowl with a built-in colander, which dries the vegetables in the pi and fi. Otherwise you can place them on a towel or kitchen paper and dab them very well.
Of course, there is no rule that a salad must be based on leafy vegetables. You can add anything from broccoli to artichokes, as long as you have chopped them up, for easy consumption.
He changed the salads according to the season
Out-of-season vegetables can be tasteless and greatly spoil the taste of a fresh salad. You can, for example, choose tomatoes only in the summer and choose vegetables to roast in the winter, such as pumpkin. Spring is an ideal time to pick spinach! The best; Rotating the ingredients according to the season ensures that you never end up in a routine of eating the same salad over and over again.
Add fruit
A salad does not have to have only vegetables or only fruits . Both can be perfectly combined in one dish. Combine citrus fruits like orange or thinly sliced kumquat with bitter greens and radishes to balance their intensity. Alternatively, you can combine raw fruits, such as pears and apples, with salty cheese sauces.
If you don’t have fresh fruit, you can also choose dried. The sweetness of dates, apricots and figs harmonizes with the tangy acidity of crumbled goat cheese. And you know what else “fits like a glove”? But of course some nuts, but also seeds. Imagine a bite of your salad combining pistachios with orange and arugula! You will taste a taste “harmony” that you love.
Spices and herbs are ideal additions
From spices, even if we are talking about salt and pepper, to capers, olives, grated parmesan and pickles. These little additions will elevate the flavor of your salad. Of course, you can also fry your vegetables in a non-stick pan with a little garlic for a different taste, such as onion or mushrooms! Basil, dill, mint and even mint will make your salad very special.
Make your own sauce
By making your own salad dressing, you can customize it to your liking while avoiding the controversial ingredients found in processed versions. You can make anything you can imagine, from honey with mustard and yogurt with dill or whatever else you want and of course the healthiest versions of your favorite dressings.
Don’t neglect the protein
Chicken is always an easy and versatile source of protein to add to salads, but so are steaks, shrimp, and fish, which add an extra layer of flavor and texture while making the dish more filling and filling. Legumes are excellent sources of plant-based protein, and if you use lentils or steamed chickpeas that you can find prepackaged, almost no preparation is required.
Eggs are always a good choice
A poached egg fits everywhere and especially in vegetables. Of course, hard-boiled eggs are also a good addition as you can transport them more easily than honeydew, if you want to eat your salad in a taper outside the house.
Don’t be afraid of carbs
A salad with protein and fat is not a complete meal if it does not include carbohydrates. Couscous, spaghetti, croutons, and even a toasted pita are delicious and versatile carb options that will add extra flavor to an already delicious salad and keep you full and full of energy for longer.
