With cooking, it’s taken me many years to realize that a recipe doesn’t need a thousand ingredients to be good. Generally the simpler the recipe the better. This rule, however, does not apply to salad. Anyone who’s ever been to a good salad buffet (thinking Sweet Tomatoes here) knows what I mean. In order to be considered an “awesome salad” it will usually fall into my Rule of Five. Lettuce + 5 or more items = awesome salad. Here are some examples of awesome salads:
Chinese Chicken Poppy Seed Salad:
Lettuce (Romaine is what I use)
Brianna’s Poppy Seed Dressing
Broccoli Slaw
Toasted almonds
Crunchy chow mein noodles (or the thin crisp rice noodles if you’re Nancy)
Grilled chicken breast
Bell Pepper (red, orange, yellow or green)
Pear & Candied Walnut Salad:
Lettuce (Baby greens/spring mix)
Raspberry Vinaigrette dressing (Kraft Light Done Right Raspberry Vinaigrette)
Candied Walnuts
Pears
Craisins
Shaved Parmesan cheese
Crasin Goat Cheese Salad -1 item short, but the goat cheese is so rich I think it counts as 2 items:
Lettuce (romaine again)
Brianna’s Poppy seed dressing
Craisins
Crumbled Goat Cheese
Walnuts
French Dressing Veggie Salad:
Lettuce
French Dressing (hard to find French these days- it’s the red tomato-y dressing)
Carrots
Green Onion
Cucumber
Tomato
Whatever other veggies you have around: Cauliflower, Broccoli, etc
Mexican Salad:
Lettuce
Ranch dressing
Chunky Salsa
Black Beans
Tomato
Corn
Black Olives
Tortilla chips
Grilled chicken (optional)
Caprese Salad:
(no lettuce)
Tomato
Mozzarella
Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar
Basil (fresh if you can swing it- dried if you can’t)
Salt & Pepper
