The Immaculately Dressed Salad: Seven Ways to Make a Salad Special

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1. Posted by fsquared on Fri, May 18, 2007, 3:50 pm PDT

My favorite salad dressing right now is simple: olive oil, balsamic vinegar, a little dijon mustard, and a drizzle of fig concentrate. Just adjust the proportions depending on whether you want something more tart/savory or more sweet.
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2. Posted by chika on Sat, May 19, 2007, 8:00 am PDT

Haven't bought a bottled dressing for as long as I can remember, but I have to confess that I am not always bothered with making it either; not that I don't appreciate properly dressed salads, but a drizzle of some good extra-virgin olive oil and maybe a splash of juice of lemon, finished with freshly ground pepper and good (flavored) salt may often be all that I need over my salad bowl. Drizzles of a REALLY good sesame oil and REALLY good soy sauce are another pair of usual suspects. *** Cheers to your brand-new book... I got it a little while back and love it. Can't wait to try out recipes in it.
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3. Posted by Bostonsightsee on Tue, May 22, 2007, 10:37 am PDT

Fresh Salsa!
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4. Posted by rjscharwath on Tue, May 22, 2007, 11:07 am PDT

Why does everything have salt added. Salt is not good for you and any well dressed salad should never need salt. I am very limited to my salt intake and have learned that we do not need it.
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5. Posted by Vanessa B on Tue, May 22, 2007, 11:19 am PDT

Salt is an anti-nutrient. It depletes your body of calcium and other vital minerals. Table salt is the worst. If you must use salt, use a good quality Himalayan, Celtic or Sea Salt.
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6. Posted by Mark W on Tue, May 22, 2007, 11:59 am PDT

Right on about the salt, and to use the phrase "liberally" in its' application, please!! I use plain vineagar and oil dressing with garlic powder and onion powder if I don't cut onions to put in it. And restaurant salads annoy me, too much cabbage and carrots, in my opinion, neither belongs in a salad in the first place. For a hearty salad add olives (black and\or green), tomatoes, mushrooms and maybe one of your favorite lunch meats (ham, salami, even bologna or weiners) and even one of your favorite cheeses. I know this adds a lot of calories, but not as bad as a "fat-burger"!!!
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7. Posted by MrsWadleigh on Tue, May 22, 2007, 12:42 pm PDT

You don't think that cabbage or carrots belong in a salad, but bologna or weiners do?
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8. Posted by wendystarr151@sbcglobal.net on Tue, May 22, 2007, 9:24 pm PDT

wow! this last comment, short sweet and hilarious!! Right On. I don't think meat period should be in a SALAD. Except maybe chicken if it combined with the salad is the main course.
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9. Posted by designerkat on Tue, May 22, 2007, 9:45 pm PDT

I toss in fresh raspberries and almonds to change things around a bit. I have to confess, that when I make pasta salad, I add smoked turkey and a low fat cheese in with grape tomatoes, cucumber and green olives. Pasta salad dressing is simply olive oil, white wine vinegar, lemon juice and Mrs. Dash. Also, use veggie rotini. Great for hot summer days!
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10. Posted by Cherry-Cherry on Thu, May 24, 2007, 6:18 am PDT

There's nothing to "confess" there - it sounds pretty good! Adding smoked turkey or cheese to a pasta salad is something entirely different than adding HOT DOGS to a garden salad.
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11. Posted by joynu@sbcglobal.net on Thu, May 24, 2007, 8:39 am PDT

I toss in glazed walnuts and dried cranberries - and add sliced pears to a Ceasar
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12. Posted by Killshannon * on Fri, May 25, 2007, 10:21 am PDT

Cranberry and Golden rasin trail mix with almonds, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds makes any salad fantastic. I like to cut fresh herbs and add them to a table spoon of mayo or oil & vinegar for dressing. What about seafood? It's perfect on salad.
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13. Posted by mriedy2@sbcglobal.net on Fri, May 25, 2007, 12:41 pm PDT

I enjoy some cubed fresh Ahi tuna marinated in extra virgin lime olive oil, sesame seeds and a dash of aged soy sauce tossed in the salad. Anyone who puts weiners in a salad should have their head examined! WeinerHater
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14. Posted by HS on Sun, May 27, 2007, 6:06 pm PDT

I like to add dried cranberries or mandarin oranges, with pine nuts. A little sweet and tart all in one. I also like using dried chow mein noodles instead of croutons if I don't add nuts.
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15. Posted by lillytoofly1985 on Sun, May 27, 2007, 6:34 pm PDT

I will admit to putting some (heavily marinated) hot dogs in fried rice in a pinch- but salad? That's just wrong! I do love those new marinated packets of tuna & salmon. They have so much flavor, you don't need much dressing. Also, taco salad can be more calories than fast food, but I lighten it up with ground turkey (97% fat free- check!), light sour cream, baked corn chips & the only light cheese worth eating- reduced fat Cabot cheddar. With all the stuff in a taco salad, you don't even notice the substitutes.
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16. Posted by lolitakali on Sun, May 27, 2007, 6:59 pm PDT

Great ideas! My beloved will be in for a treat with these ideas and I love Greek yogurt!
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17. Posted by john f on Sun, May 27, 2007, 7:02 pm PDT

NO! My salad better have enough dressing that I have to eat it withen ten minutes or it will wilt. Fat free dressing I would rather eat dead rat before fat free dressing!
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18. Posted by Christa Holt on Sun, May 27, 2007, 7:27 pm PDT

use an array of lettuces like baby spring mix, topped with all your fave veggies, finely chopped toasted walnuts, drizzle walnut oil over, and squeeze some fresh lemon juice, and freshly cracked pepper and sea salt. YUM! Im telling you I have not used dressing since i discovered walnut oil! It has more flavor than even the most expensive olive oils. ( I do love a good olive oil though just in case there is a misunderstanding lol)
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19. Posted by Jillian on Sun, May 27, 2007, 9:25 pm PDT

One thing I can't stand in salads is iceberg lettuce. In my opinion, it belongs only in sandwiches and burgers. I'm all about dark field greens.
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20. Posted by manika s on Sun, May 27, 2007, 11:52 pm PDT

onething i would like to add is lots of fresh veggies mixed with a spoon of tomato n chilli sauce.tossed it up with blackpepper milkcreame n olive oil.
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21. Posted by Nicole I on Tue, May 29, 2007, 11:46 am PDT

I love my salads with pinneaples, sunflower seeds and crushed red peppers!
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22. Posted by simbao53 on Wed, Jun 06, 2007, 7:14 am PDT

Not bad at all
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23. Posted by countrymama79 on Wed, Jun 06, 2007, 7:15 am PDT

sounds so delicious!!!!!
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24. Posted by heatherpelham on Wed, Jun 06, 2007, 7:17 am PDT

avacado, tomato, a little cumin powder, a squeeze of lime juice, and (if you're feeling frisky) some freshly chopped jalapeno
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25. Posted by bugfight on Wed, Jun 06, 2007, 7:24 am PDT

I love to buy walnuts, crush them, heat them in a fry pan, and sprinkle them on the salad with my virgin olive and balsamic dressing. It give a delicious smoky/nutty boost to any salad.
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26. Posted by fbalchin96 on Wed, Jun 06, 2007, 7:25 am PDT

In defense of Mark W, I did see Rachel Ray put weiners on a salad on TV the other day. I personally can't see myself doing that,but to each its own.
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27. Posted by rockstar79 on Wed, Jun 06, 2007, 7:27 am PDT

A fantastic simple dressing...olive oil, the juice of 2 lemons, freshly grated parmesean cheese, salt and pepper
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28. Posted by Lynn on Wed, Jun 06, 2007, 7:29 am PDT

You can also squeeze a fresh lemon. It really brings out the freshness of the salad.
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29. Posted by katie m on Wed, Jun 06, 2007, 7:33 am PDT

I just started making this really great salad with avocado’s and strawberries over mixed greens. I add a homemade dressing, just a little lemon juice, olive oil, honey, vinegar and don’t kill me but sugar is also mixed in (just a little) and it’s done. It’s a supper refreshing summer time treat. I have also tried it with a marinated mango chicken and that was also fabulous.
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30. Posted by kandace.gonzalez on Wed, Jun 06, 2007, 7:36 am PDT

i love fresh sweet corn on my salads.
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