It's Salad time.

Kyougu

Okay guys, my salads have always been simple. I'm ashamed to say all I usually do is by the bagged salad, throw some croutons, and if I want to get fancy pieces of grilled chicken. I think it's time for a change.

I'm looking to make better salads, and more importantly to actually make them out of fresh vegetables. The reason I haven't done that yet is because I always end up overbuying supplies and the vegetables go bad. Or I make a good batch of salad and then it goes bad quickly. So tips for that?

Btw, I don't like cheese, so no recipes involving that. And looking for healthy salads, not stuff drowned in ranch or with fried chicken.

bowen

You're pretty much doing it right, salad doesn't keep long (vacuum sealing is the best strategy there I think). The only thing you can do is start adding more veggies to the salad or experiment with different types of fruits. Blueberries and raspberries make good addition to salads, though small pieces of apple (crouton size) aren't bad either when someone offered that to me.

Phisti

I just finished a salad I slapped together at work... I keep a sharp knife clean and in a sleeve in my desk, and the lunch room has a can opener.

1/4 red pepper - large dice
handful of sugar snap peas - halfed
1 carrot - chopped 1/4" medallions
1/2 can of tuna
bit of balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil
ground pepper

Just what I had laying around the house this morning and it was pretty good. I squeezed a bit too much juice out of the tuna, it would have been better if I'd left it a bit more moist.

Key when making a salad for several meals - chop the veggies and mix them, do not add the dressing. Store the veggies and the dressing separately and mix when it's time to eat - the leafy greens will stay leafy longer.

Phisti

Edit: Previous post made me think of this salad...

Baby Spinach
Sliced red onion (to taste)
Pecans
Raspberries
Raspberry vinagrette

(I add sliced parmesan cheese or goats cheese - I think it would be great without it too though!)

Wassermelone

Beets!

No, not canned or pickled. Boiled* or raw, they go really well in salads. Just be aware that your salad might turn red. Also your hands.

*Cook them whole and then chop them up.

Monolithic_Dome

I know you don't like cheese, but if you haven't tried it I'd recommend some Feta crumbles. Feta's got a pretty distinctive (and delicious) flavor, and it's just about the perfect consistency for a salad.

I also really like dried cranberries and nuts in salads. Trader Joe's sells packages of Toasted, unsalted almonds that are perfect for the purpose.

mts

i have been rocking the radishes lately. chick or kidney beans work well.

Druhim

If you're willing to broaden your definition of salad, this is really good and easy.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Black-Bean-and-Tomato-Quinoa-238939

KalTorak

Red onion is the tastiest of onions (raw anyway). If it's too strong for you, try rinsing it in cold water after it's cut - it should wash away a lot of the sulfurous compounds that make the taste harsh.

Experiment with different greens to see what you like. My favorites are baby spinach or romaine.

Instead of slicing cucumbers, try using a vegetable peeler on them lengthwise to make long flat noodley things, then slice those thin (lengthwise). It makes a fresh, crunchy-but-flexible sort of noodle.

Easy vinagrette: blob of Dijon mustard, squirt of olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, maybe some lemon juice, a little water if it's too thick. Whisk, or shake it up in a nearly-empty mustard jar.

Scalfin

Make a mix of romaine, baby spinach, and arugula. I prefer the European style of cutting the lettuce thin, but that's just taste. Add thin slices of asian pear and almonds, and pour on a bit of honey mustard vinaigrette, and you've got yourself a salad.

Deebaser

KalTorak wrote: »

Instead of slicing cucumbers, try using a vegetable peeler on them lengthwise to make long flat noodley things, then slice those thin (lengthwise). It makes a fresh, crunchy-but-flexible sort of noodle.

Pick up a Julienne. They're like $5. Totally worth it.

LewieP's Mummy

I love pea shoots - you can grow your own so you always have a ready supply, and sprouts - not brussels, but mung bean, alfalfa, sunflower, soya: again, grow your own in a jar in a dark cupboard, rinse with cold water twice a day, eat after 5 days mmmm.