chicken cobb salad
It’s that time of the year when we are all trying get more vegetables into our diets on a regular basis and salads are one of my favorite ways to get a variety of plants into my body all in one meal. When done right, a salad should be nutritious, filling, and full of flavors and textures. There will be no boring salads allowed on my watch which is why I am going to share my top ten tips when it comes to making a salad that you will find yourself wanting on a regular basis. Not only that, but I have also compiled my favorite toppings too! I am going to teach you how to build a better salad so that you will never eat a boring salad again.
The key is to get creative with your salads! Don’t be afraid to play around with textures and flavors. I love using what I have in my fridge to create any sort of salad I might be craving. I like to keep a variety of these favorite salad toppings and a mixture of greens in my refrigerator every week because I love being able to make an easy salad for lunch or dinner. I also keep my pantry stocked with grains like farro and quinoa as well as a variety of canned beans to instantly give my salad some substance if I don’t have any other proteins on hand.
I can’t wait for you to up your salad game and learn to enjoy eating salad for any meal!
Chickpea Ceasar Salad
1. Choose your Greens:
Mixed Lettuces
Romaine
Spinach
Kale
Iceberg (for a wedge)
2. Add a Protein:
Chicken (grilled, roasted, etc)
Beef
Seafood
Bacon
Boiled Eggs
Beans (chickpea, black, pinto, navy)
Cheese (feta, blue, white cheddar, mozzarella)
3. Add other vegetables:
Cucumbers
Beets (roasted, canned, or pickled)
Bell Peppers
Onion
Tomatoes
Carrots
Celery
Roasted Vegetables
Corn (fresh or cooked)
Avocado
4. Add Something Crunchy:
Nuts and Seeds
Granola
Tortilla Chips
Croutons
5. Add in a Grain:
Farro
Quinoa
Pasta
Rice
6. Add in some Fruit:
Berries
Apples
Peaches
Pears
Dried Fruit
Pomegranates
7. Add Fresh Herbs:
Fresh Dill (my fave)
Basil
Mint
Cilantro
8. Add in some extras:
Pepperoncini Peppers
Olives
Salsa
Other Pickled Vegetables
9. Pick a Good Dressing:
10. Pick a Theme to guide you with flavors:
Asian Salad
Hodge Podge Salad (this is where I look into my fridge and add all the leftover veggies from the week to make a salad and usually ends up being my fave!)
Buffalo Chicken Salad
Fall Chicken Salad
There are so many varieties and options for salads, so feel free to go wild! You really can’t mess up a salad as long as you think about the flavor combinations. Think salty with a touch of sweet (add a fruit) etc. With these ten tips, you should be able to make a delicious salad that you will always enjoy and will walk away feeling satisfied!
