Salad, from my own observations, has a bad reputation. When most of us hear the term ‘salad,’ our thoughts automatically associate it with being bland, boring, and certainly not something we typically have a hankering for.
I feel obligated to stick up for salads a little bit, though. I personally love salad, and I’m not talking about plain Jane lettuce with some generic Italian dressing. When I eat a salad, it’s a damn creation, hence why I wanted to provide some clarification on the concept of salads in general; they don’t have to be boring like so many people believe them to be, and they sure as heck don’t have to be bland.
Salads are basically the perfect foundation to a great meal. That’s the beauty of them – you can do so many different things with a few simple ingredients, and before you know it, you’re staring into a green plethora of nutrition and flavour.
So, how exactly can you spruce up your salad? There’s a few different routes you can take, but something you can add to salads that so many of us overlook is spices. Depending on what sort of salad you’re hoping to create, pull out the salt and pepper shaker along with some garlic powder and a little cayenne pepper. Fresh garlic is also a great option, as is some classic chopped onion.
You really can’t go wrong with this combination of flavours.
As for how to turn your salad into a complete meal, get funky with your toppings. Throw in some grilled chicken or shrimp, even steak if you have it on hand. Crumble up a bit of your favourite cheese, drizzle on whatever dressing you so desire, toss in some crunchy crackers or potato chips (highly recommend), and don’t be shy with other veggies or even fruits. Avocado is guaranteed to take your greens to new heights, and it pairs quite nicely with eggs or even some nuts.
Salad does not have to be something we consume reluctantly. Be bold next time you’re face to face with some romaine lettuce, and don’t be scared to get creative.
ontheedgeofeverything 