Salads don't have to be boring! Recent culinary experiments in restaurants show that salads can be interesting, tasty and healthy when the right ingredients are combined together. Salads made at home can be just as appetizing if you follow a few tips and balance everything from textures to colors. Below are some tips for making the perfect salad:
Mix the flavors
Salads should not be tasteless. Mix sweet, sour, spicy and salty ingredients together to achieve a fusion of flavors – whether it's orange pieces between salty nuts or lettuce leaves with a lemon-based dressing, experiment a bit to see what combination and balance of flavors work for you.
Include a variety of textures
From soft crumbly cheeses to crunchy chia seeds and toasted nuts; from iceberg to spinach; from cherry tomatoes to figs, a mix of textures definitely adds an exotic touch to your salad. Use a mix of soft and crunchy foods for maximum impact.
Get the dressing right
A good dressing can make your salad irresistible. Find out which one suits you best. Choose a mixture of oils, savory and sweet taste, vinegar and pepper. You can even make umami flavors - garlic, miso and what not. Don't be afraid to experiment.
Make it visually appealing
Try and incorporate different colors into your salad – red shades like cherry tomatoes, peppers, strawberries and grapefruit; blue and purple shades such as blueberries, blackberries, grapes and purple cabbage; green shade such as lettuce, spinach, broccoli and cucumbers; yellow color like peppers, mangoes and chickpeas; and some white color with a selection of cheese or tofu.
Also see some ideas for making Quinoa Salads, Avocado Salads and Corn Salads.
