I can’t tell you how many people I meet who tell me that they just can’t figure out what kind of salad to put together at a salad bar. They usually end up going with classic caeser or greek salad. I, on the other hand, love experimenting with different ingredients and coming up with all sorts of flavor combinations. Otherwise, I’ll just get bored and dread my salad-eating :)
My all time favorite make-you-own-salad-bar combo would have to be:
crisp rommaine
red cabbage
shredded carrots
beets
craisins
red onions
scoop of tuna
For the dressing, I opt for caeser or honey mustard. To make your own at home, follow my easy recipes below.
I thought it might be fun to see what unique salad combinations you all come up with at a salad bar. To get you in the sharing mood, I’m giving away the book of 500 Sensational Salads by Julia Canning. To enter this giveaway, let me know your favorite make-you-own-salad-bar combination in the comments below. I will choose the most original submission on February 15, 2012.
Honey Mustard Salad Dressing: 1 cup mayo Pareve Caeser Salad Dressing: 1 cup mayo
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup mustard
1 clove minced garlic
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup vinegar
1 clove minced garlic
mesculun mix
broccoli
tomato
red onion
pepper
corn
kirby
kidney bean
feta cheese
parmesan cheese
crouton
ceasar dressing
Romaine
Spinach
Shredded purple cabbage
Roma tomatoes
Cucumbers
Green and red peppers
Mushrooms
Chick peas
Beets
Sugar snap peas
Shredded carrots
Green and black olives
Feta crumbled on top
Dressing- olive oil and raspberry vinaigrette
Romaine lettuce
grape tomatoes
green olives
diced cucumbers
with creamy dill dressing
Romaine or mixed baby greens
Feta cheese
hearts of palm
chick peas
baby corn
tomatoes
artichoke
avocado
lemon juice and olive oil dressing
or
pesto and creamy italian mixed together
Romaine, avocado, corn, black beans, diced peppers, cherry tomatoes, jalapenos, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic croutons and balsamic dressing! Yum.
That’s right up my alley!
Romaine
feta
chickpeas
corn
petite peas
red onion
cucumber
grape tomatoes
Avocado
shredded raw beets
kalamata olives
sunflower seeds
bacos
with some light ceasar dressing
Love the raw shredded beets!
Chick peas (protein boost)
Feta Cheese
Beets
Spinach
Almond slivers
Great combo. What kind of dressing do you put on that?
romaine
feta
chick peas
mushrooms
broccoli
a sprinkle of slivered almonds
light honey mustard dressing
they all sound so yummy!
This is such an original post! Here are my favorites:
romaine lettuce
red peppers
corn
hearts of palm
chick peas
feta cheese
light ceasar dressing
YUM!
tomato
cucumber
broccoli
parmesan
black olives
quinoa
honey mustard dressing
Love the addition of quinoa!
bok choi
purp cabage
scallions
craisins
mandarine slices
julliene carrots
toasted sunflower seeds
or honey roasted peanuts
dressing:
honey or powd sugar
seas. rice vinegar
soy sauce
toasted sesame oil
drop of hoisin
Here’s a great make-your-own salad that’s really best in the summer when you can get fresh local corn. In the winter, I would replace the corn with chickpeas.
– raw corn kernels (cut right off the cob)
– romaine
– brown rice
– avocado
– black olives
– whole blanched toasted almonds (preferably marcona)
– lemon / olive oil dressing
sounds yummy! where do you get marcona almonds?
Romaine lettuce, chickpeas, black beans, baby corn, hearts of palm, artichokes, cucumber, tomato, cranberries, strawberries, goats cheese, almonds and balsamic dressing
In a restaurant: romaine lettuce, cucumbers, red peppers, chickpeas, canned corn,beets, shredded cheese & a creamy Italian dressing or Caesar dressing
From home everyday for lunch on my diet: romaine, red pepper, cucumber, pickles, sliced string cheese & light mayo mixed with some Dijonaise.
Romaine Lettuce
Roasted Red Peppers
Mushrooms
Baby Corn
Grape Tomatoes
Craisins
Balsamic Dressing
I love this post Chanie!
Im one of those ppl that get so overwhelmed I never know what to do with all my options.
Thanks now Ive got lots of good ideas:)
At every salad bar in Israel they have all sorts of grilled veggies, so i would have:
Romaine lettuce
Grilled eggplant
Roasted red peppers
Grilled sweet potatoes
Topped with feta cheese
Pesto and Garlic Mayo for dressing
Mmmmm takes me back to those summer beach days in Israel!
Romaine lettuce
Garbanzo beans
Fresh peas
Hearts of palm
Hardboiled eggs
Fresh mushrooms
And if I’m craving salt….black and green olives
A scoop of low fat veggie tuna and a lite balsamic dressing…mmmmm,mmmmm, good! Lol
romaine
hearts of palm
grape tomatoes
avocado
red onion
crushed pareve taco/seasoned tortilla chips
dressing: 3 T Mayo, 1/4 C canola oil, 1 T garlic, 1 tsp sugar, 1 T parsley, and 1 tsp mustard.
It depends on the salad bar because they all have different ingredients. But when available, I like this combination:
spinach
sundried or grape tomatoes
black olives
chickpeas
red onion
pine nuts
feta cheese
light balsamic dressing
romaine/mesclun
dried cranberries
toasted slivered almonds
purple onion
garbanzos
chia seeds
Italian dressing
My husband’s awesome salad!
cherry tomatoes
grape tomatoes
scallions (or red onions if no scallions available)
hearts of palm
black olives
baby corn
avocado
dressing:
olive oil
balsamic vinager
lemon juice
salt
pepper
garlic (fresh or powder)
onion powder
I know it’s too late for the contest, but I love salads and wanted to share two of mine.
7 Species Salad
-croutons (or small chunks of well toasted bread
-chopped dates
-chopped figs
-pomegranate seeds
-cooked barley
-sliced green olives
-spinach
-date honey (silan; or honey)
-balsamic
-olive oil
In a bowl or plate, put down a bed of spinach. Scatter dates, figs, olives, and pomegranate seeds on top. Arrange croutons around the edge of the salad. Place a handful of (warm!) barley in the center of the salad. Pour the dressing over the barley then swirl around a little.
Dressing: heat olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and date honey on the stove. Mix it well and let it heat up until bubbly and slightly reduced. Pour on salad immediately!
Souped up Israeli Salad
-diced cucumbers
-diced tomatoes
-diced red onion
-diced radish or daikon
-diced pickles
-diced beets
-shredded carrots (soaked in lemon juice and cumin)
-chumus dressing or techina dressing
(optional: parsely, cilantro, olives, leafy greens, chickpeas, etc)
Shred carrots and let them soak in a mixture of cumin and lemon juice while preparing/chopping other ingredients. Assemble all ingredients. Toss with dressing of choice, and top with carrots.
Chumus Dressing: Dilute chumus with lemon juice or water until desired salad-dressing consistency is reached (adds protein!)
Techina dressing: Mix equal parts of techina, olive oil, and lemon juice. Dilute with water as needed. Spice with a bit of cumin and salt.
thanks Nechama-Rochel, they sound amazing!
I enjoy a blend of regular lettuce and baby spinach. To those i add some cherry tomatoes, craisins, chopped pecans and some chopped, warmed new york style pastrami. My dressing is rather plain for it since there is such diversity in the salad and i usually go for balsamic vinegar and oil.
I prefer romaine lettuce. I like to add chick peas, beets, tomatoes, red onion, celery and black olives.
red leaf lettuce
frisee
radicchio
artichoke hearts
red bell pepper
sliced celery
persian cucumbers, sliced
vine or Compari tomatoes, diced
avocado
snow peas
Add dressing (below) and sprinkle with roasted chopped pecans
Dressing: olive oil whisked with lemon juice and a little finely chopped garlic.