When it comes to making the perfect salad, you first need to learn a little bit about the different types of foods, which can be used. Many salads today will be a combination of several different ingredients each providing their own unique texture and taste the final salad. In this article, we will take a look at various different salad ingredients that you can use and which will help you hopefully to make the perfect salad every time. 1.
Leave Plants - Into this group comes lettuces and other green leaved vegetables. In a large number of cases people when making a salad will use an iceberg lettuce. But instead why not try something different. Go for a butterhead lettuce whose leaves are more tender than the iceberg or for something that has a much coarser leaves try a cos one instead.
But which ever one you choose will provide you with a whole new dimension in the texture to your salad. For those of you who are fed up or bored with lettuce in your salad there are plenty of other alternatives to choose from. You could try a plant that was originally grown in Italy known as Arugula and which will offer a much more tangy, mild peppery taste to the flavor of your salad. Otherwise another alternative to replace lettuce in your salad is a plant from Asia which has a slightly bitter taste but is often used in cooking by the Chinese called Bok Choy. 2.
Fruit & Vegetables - Instead of sticking with the more traditional fruits and vegetables in your salads why not try to be a little more adventurous. Apples are certainly ideal and can easily combine with a number of different other salad ingredients also. If you are looking to make a more unusual salad which incorporates the Bok Choy we mentioned above previously why not mix this up with some bean sprouts, cucumber and spring onions and then drizzle with a light coating of sesame seed oil which you have mixed with some soy sauce. Along with using tomatoes, cucumber or green onions in your salad why not replace them with brocolli, carrots or beans. Further more in order to enhance the flavors of the ingredients in your salad add some herbs or spices which will complement them perfectly. Ideal ones to use are garlic, rosemary, cilantro and basil.
3. Meat and Fish - Although most people commonly think that a good salad should solely consist of just vegetables this is not the case. In fact, some of the world's best-known salads such as Caesar's have chicken, meat or fish in them. But it is best that you do not go over board on the amount of meat or fish you include. But if you are someone who does not like to eat meat or fish but is not a vegan then you can replace this with cheese instead in order to provide you with the protein your body needs. Plus a great way of adding additional texture to a salad where you are just using salad ingredients or cheese is to add some croutons or nuts to it.
Both will add an additional crunchy texture to the meal and provide essential nutrients, minerals and vitamins that your body needs. The best types of nuts to use in a salad are walnuts, peanuts and almonds. When looking for the right salad ingredients for your salad it is vital that you go for the freshest ones possible. Avoid any kind of vegetable or fruit, which has markings on them or where the leaves have begun to wilt. Plus it is important before you place these ingredients together you thoroughly wash them although some come ready to use and in packaging they will have additives and chemicals on them which help to preserve them.
At SaladFacts.com provides information regarding salads and their nutritional value. If you would like to find out more about creating tasty dressings for your salad ingredients click here.
