How to Make a Perfect Salad
Salad is one of those things that we can change up to create a different meal literally every night. I think often people picture a bland bowl of lettuce and tomatoes when they hear “salad.” The truth is that salad can be a hearty lunch or dinner depending on what you put in it. Think roasted sweet potatoes, goat cheese, shredded kale and spinach, cranberries. apples, maple walnut dressing… you get the picture.
Making an amazing salad every day sounds like a lot of work, and it can be, if you don’t prepare. The best way to save tons of time is to prep the ingredients that you want to include in your salad that week. I personally love roasted sweet potatoes and goat cheese in my salads, so I will roast a whole pan of sliced sweet potatoes and have the goat cheese crumbles ready to go. Then I just dump them on top of some shredded kale or spinach. Add some cranberries and walnuts for some added protein and flavor- no preparation necessary.
You can also create a “salad bar” in your fridge. Chop some tomatoes, onions, olives, whatever your ingredient of choice is. Store them in individual containers and then just grab them when you build your salad. The only thing I would not prep ahead of time is cucumber- no matter how I store it, it becomes soft very quickly.
Remember, salad can be as light or as hearty as you make it. Experiment with your favorite foods, and I bet they make a great salad!
Here are a couple of my favorite salads that you can easily prep ahead!
Brussel sprouts and Chicken
This salad is inspired by Sweetgreen’s seasonal Brussel Sprouts salad. I am OBSESSED with this salad and so I re-created it to make at home.
Chopped brussel sprouts (roasted)
Diced chicken (I like baked because of the consistency)
Goat cheese
Diced pears
Walnuts
Dried cranberries
Maple cranberry dressing from the store, or just toss in balsamic vinegar and olive oil
Warm Quinoa Salad Bowl
This salad is one of my everyday favorites for lunch because it’s filling, and it satisfies my cravings for a heartier meal, in the disguise of a salad!
Cooked quinoa
Diced blackened chicken
Goat cheese
Diced apples
Roasted almonds
Roasted sweet potatoes
Cherry tomatoes
Just toss in balsamic vinegar and olive oil
