The fast-paced lifestyle we live today revolves around convenience. Whether you're grabbing that quick morning coffee or your ready-to-eat meal, nutrition no longer requires standing hours in the kitchen and preparing your meal; rather, it comes pre-packaged so you can eat healthy while on the go!
Ready-to-eat salads have been a lifesaver, packing that nutritious punch at your fingertips. However, as the usual cliché goes, salads can be boring if you do not know how to jazz them up. Salads are so versatile and quite possibly one of the most, if not the most, customizable options.
In this comprehensive guide, we will provide some fun, creative ways to flavor-bomb your salad and boost its nutritional value.
Why Add More to your Ready-To-Eat Salads?
A bed of leafy greens and vitamin-rich veggies can work just fine, toppings, however, can make the salad so much more interesting. Think of your bed of vegetables as a blank white canvas that you can paint with protein, micronutrients, and mineral-rich elements.
Typically, we have heard of the basic toppings such as croutons or cheese to enhance the flavor profile of your salad. However, we will discuss many interesting ways to spice up your salad.
Need quick and easy access to healthy refreshing salads at the ease of your fingertips in the comfort of your own home? Check out the salad bowls at Planted Detroit for the freshest ingredients and the most explosive flavors.
Flavor and Texture Variety
There are so many flavor profiles that complement each other, and salads are the carrying vessel for each type of flavor profile. Different flavors can enhance your experience, hitting your palate with a new flavor with every bite.
Texture variance is a need for many. Salads offer a delightful medley of textures, from the crisp crunch of fresh leafy greens to the satisfying snap of parmesan chips or croutons, complemented by the creamy softness of cheese and countless other possibilities.
Flavor Foundation: The Dressing
Dressings are the epitome of flavors in a salad. Different sauces, herbs, and spices contribute to your tailored dressing and the flavors you desire in your salad. The classic and most prominent Caesar dressing has elements of creaminess, savoriness, and richness.
Vinaigrette dressings are very fundamental in the realms of dressings consisting of oil, preferably olive oil, vinegar, and seasonings. To know more about various vinaigrette dressings click here.
Dressings as per Your Requirements
Dressings can make or break the salad as most of the flavor is derived from it. Even a basic, generic mix of greens can be elevated with the right dressing. Let’s learn more about the flavor profiles and how you should pair your dressings with salads.
Savory Dressings
For grilled proteins, or various hearty vegetables, savory dressings such as a Balsamic Vinaigrette, or a Garlic Herb Vinaigrette pair well. It cuts the richness while also adding depth to the overall flavor of the salad.
Tangy Dressings
Tangy dressings are perfect for a fruity, zesty salad as they promote the refreshing element of the salad. A nice summer salad with oranges and strawberries with some nuts and there would be no better meal on a hot day. Lemon Vinaigrette or a nice bougie Champagne Vinaigrette would be great options for a tangy dressing.
Creamy Dressings
Creamy dressings like a hearty Caesar dressing or a Greek Yogurt Ranch would work well with crisp vegetables. Arugula can be paired well with creamy dressings as the richness can balance out the pepperiness amazingly.
Sweet Dressings
Sweet dressings are often paired with bitter or spicy ingredients to balance out the sharp flavors and create a mellow flavor profile. Maple Dijon Vinaigrette or a Honey Mustard Dressing goes well with rich ingredients to add a more profound flavor.
Pairing Suggestions
Mild greens such as lettuce or spinach would pair along well with light tangy dressings enhancing the refreshing factor while not being overpowering. Fruity salads that have berries and various fruits can be accompanied by sweet-tangy dressings to highlight their nuances without overshadowing the fresh ingredients.
Hearty greens such as romaine lettuce or kale work well with creamy dressings as they complement their texture and strong flavor harmoniously. A spicy dressing would work well with bold flavors and smoky ingredients as it enhances the overall salad.
Toppings to Spice Your Salad Up
Like sprinkles on cupcakes, toppings work magic on your salad. Now there are a whole bunch of options to add to your salad to round it up to a meal or just make your salad a little less boring. Here are some topping ideas to create your ideal salad.
Protein!
An essential part of any meal to keep you full is protein. Now, when people think of proteins in salad, they often think of flavorless grilled meat or some boiled garbanzo beans, which is just sad.
A tip to boost flavor in your salad is to season or marinate your protein before even adding it to the salad. Marinated meat not only enhances flavors but also provides significant health benefits including antioxidant boost, destroys harmful bacteria, and even reduces the risk of cancer!
And for the non-meat enjoyers out there, toss up your choice of protein with some stir-fried tofu or tempeh, or you can add a variety of nuts and seeds such as almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds. They can not only boost the protein content but also provide a variety of textures.
Fruits and Veggies
If you’re one of the “throw some lettuce and it’s a salad”, why? You can add so much more to that bed of lettuce. Some bell peppers for the crunch and color, some tomatoes, some microgreens and you have so many textures and flavors already!
Fruits are well not everyone’s choice for a salad, but one can be so creative when it comes to fruits. Recently, roasted pineapple slices have caught quite the buzz. The caramelized exterior with a citrus punch provides a great refreshing aspect.
Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
Texture variance is very important for the salad to not be monotonous and boring. Croutons are often used conventionally to add crunch but store-bought ones are not necessarily the best.
A great way to add protein along with crunch is oven-baked chickpeas with some paprika, salt, and pepper. But if you prefer a healthier crunch, cucumbers or chopped apples can be a great alternative to give you that satisfying bite.
Salads for Every Taste
With numerous varieties for numerous palates, each salad varies in flavor, textures, and elements. It has always been all about creating a medley of flavors that each bite is flavorful and interesting. Here are some recommendations from our side.
- Sweet and Savory: Flavor combinations like cheese and fruits display the perfect harmony between sweet and savory, serving the best of both worlds.
- Spicy or Zesty: If you feel a little adventurous or zesty per se, a spicy or a vinaigrette dressing will burst up your flavor buds in a flavor frenzy.
- Regional Salads: Salads have been so adaptive that people worldwide have added their flare. Mediterranean Salads, Zingy Tex-Mex Salads, or a classic Italian Caprese Salad, the options are endless!
To make an amazing Fattoush Salad with easily available ingredients, click here to access a quick, simple, and easy recipe from Planted Detroit that will throw a party of flavors on your taste buds.
Tips to Make Your Salad Last
Fruits and vegetables can be daunting to keep fresh if one does not know how to store them properly. After all, nobody likes wimpy, soggy leaves and over-ripe fruits together. Don’t worry we’ll provide some excellent tips to make your salad last.
To know more on how to keep your salad fresh, juicy, and long-lasting, check out Jamie Oliver’s video on ‘How to keep your salad fresh’.
Dressings and Cooking Tips
Dressings are the flavor foundation of any salad and can be easy and quick to make. To tackle dressing preparations, most dressings can be made in large batches and stored in airtight containers.
Most vinaigrettes last up to a week, and creamy dressings usually last up to 3-5 days in the fridge. Just give it a quick shake and you’re good to go!
When you pack a salad, layer your ingredients with hearty ingredients at the bottom and the delicate elements at the top. This prevents the veggies from getting soggy and the crunchy leafy greens from wilting— keeping your salad fresh and refreshing at all times.
Conclusion
It is very important to know where your vegetables are sourced from. Planted Detroit’s farm takes pride in being Michigan’s largest vertical farm, ensuring quality produce with utmost safety hygiene, and complete transparency, giving you the assurance you need.
Crafting salads needs more than just tossing random ingredients together. Whether you’re preparing a quick lunch for your work, or a side for that family dinner, salads are amazing choices with insane versatility. You can try out our Ultimate Green Bundle or the Healthy Pack for yourself today!
Hope this guide shared some key insights and gave you some ideas for your next salad preparation. Get bold and explore the flavors and throw that old, boring idea of the salad out the window.