What are your favorite salad combos?

bespatter

Hey y'all,

So I was wondering what all y'all's favorite salad combinations are? I'm talking like, epic meal salads here. I have two favorites of my own, a Greek one and a Mexican one, but I'm looking to mix it up a bit.

Here's my Mexican one:
half a package of Marketside (Walmart) Butter lettuce blend
half a package of Marketside (Walmart) Spring lettuce mix
about 3 oz. cooked, skinless chicken breast (seasoned with cumin and smoked chipotle pepper)
a few Tb. fresh pico (also Walmart)
a few Tb. skillet toasted corn
a 1/2 oz. of reduced fat feta (it's like cotija cheese but cheaper)
1/3 c. rinsed and drained black beans

And a dressing made out of Herdez medium guacamole (refrigerated section) and fat free Greek yogurt. Just a couple tablespoons of that.

You could also add some tortilla strips to it or thin sliced radishes to it, but I don't usually.

It has about 450 calories, but it's HUGE and filling. And I can prep a whole week's worth to take to work so I only have to chop stuff up once each week.

dklibert

Great topic! This is a favorite right now. I even forgot the avocado one day and it was still delicious.

California Roll Salad
http://soupspiceeverythingnice.blogspot.com/2014/06/california-roll-salad.html
Serves 1

Ingredients

1/2 cup pre-cooked or leftover rice
1 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar
1/2 tsp. sugar
1-1/2 tsp. low-sodium soy sauce
1/4 tsp wasabi powder
1-1/2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
1 small carrot, cut into matchsticks
2-1/2" piece of English cucumber, cut into matchsticks
2 imitation crab sticks, sliced on the diagonal
1/2 medium avocado, sliced
1 Tbsp. pickled sliced ginger
2”x3” piece of toasted nori seaweed, julienned with scissors
1 tsp sesame seeds

Directions

Warm rice in the microwave for 1 minute. Mix vinegar and sugar together. Pour half of the vinegar and sugar mixture over rice. Stir to combine and fluff with a fork. Stir in soy sauce and wasabi powder to remaining vinegar mixture to make a dressing. Fill a salad bowl with lettuce, rice, carrots, cucumber, crab, avocado and ginger. Pour dressing over the top and garnish with nori and sesame seeds.

oedipa_maas

This one is from the Kitchn. It's really rich, so I often cut back on some of the toppings. Unfortunately, she just said that the salad
"serves 2 people for a week." Helpful. So I just eyeball everything (or weigh it if I'm being careful). I love fat and salt and this is a little heavy on both. I don't care, I just fit it in. So tasty..

Big Green Salad with Dates, Chicken, Smoked Almonds, Goat Cheese, and Dates
1 week of lunches for 2 people

1 head romaine lettuce, shredded
1 head red-leaf lettuce, shredded
1 small head red cabbage, shredded very fine
1 small endive, chopped OR 1 fennel bulb, finely shaved {I use fennel}
6 shallots OR 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
1 cup dried dates, pitted and chopped in quarters
1 cup smoked salted almonds, roughly chopped
1 12-ounce can kidney beans, rinsed and well drained {I don't use, hate kidney beans}
1 12-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed and well drained
4 ounces goat cheese or smoked goat cheese, crumbled
Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper

Optional

Avocado
Cooked chicken meat, pulled off the bone

I use a basic vinaigrette for dressing

Mix the greens and cabbage in a large bowl. Toss with the finely chopped shallots or red onion, dates, almonds, and legumes. Toss with the goat cheese and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Whisk the vinegar and oil together until emulsified, then pour over the the salad mix and toss.

Serve with pulled chicken, if desired, and avocado chunks.

marie_2454

One of my all time favorites and go to salad is a strawberry spinach salad:
3 cups baby spinach
1/2 cup halved strawberries
2 T blue cheese crumbles (or feta is good too)
2 T chopped walnuts or pecans
3-4 oz. cooked chicken
optional: crumbled up bacon or bacon bits
strawberry poppyseed dressing

ge105

I like a classic walnut (I use regular walnuts, not candied), cranberry and feta cheese topped salad on romaine or spinach, with a vinaigrette that is equal parts balsamic vinegar and olive oil, and honey to taste.

MABEL733

BUMP

Mygsds

My favorite "this week" is romaine lettuce sliced pickled beets and feta cheese. I know strange combination, but really good then use just a oil vinegar dressing. Thank you , good ideas here

kaseyr1505

I like to take the Spring Mix, add Crasins and balsamic vinaigrette. Sometimes, i add some crumbled feta.

fallingtrees

I make a kind of pico de gallo with cucumbers. What makes it epic, I suppose, is the fresh tortillas and cod or shrimp served with it.

Mygsds

Drooling....

Novus175

Salad with Goat Cheese Pecan Balls, Sage-Garlic-Rosemary Marinated Chicken, and Berries
~artisan lettuce
~goat cheese formed into balls, rolled in pecans, and fried until pecans are browned and cheese is melty
~ Sage-Garlic-Rosemary Marinated Chicken (http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2008/10/grilled-chicken-recipe-with-sage.html)
~mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc.)
~strawberry-balsamic dressing

Jamaican Jerk Chicken Chopped Salad (http://bakingwithblondie.blogspot.com/2014/04/grilled-jamaican-jerk-chicken-chopped.html)
~leaf lettuce
~seasoned chicken breast
~pepper jack cheese
~avocado
~cherry tomatoes
~baby corn
~black beans
~vinaigrette dressing

Thai Chicken Salad with Spicy Peanut Sauce (http://www.mykitchenescapades.com/2013/10/thai-chicken-salad-with-spicy-peanut.html)
~romaine
~napa cabbage
~seasoned chicken
~cucumber
~carrots
~bell peppers
~green onions
~cliantro
~peanuts
~vinaigrette with rice vinegar and chili sauce
~peanut sauce

Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing (http://www.howsweeteats.com/2014/05/killer-spinach-salads-with-hot-bacon-dressing/)
~spinach
~bacon
~hard-cooked eggs
~blue cheese
~avocado
~hot bacon dressing

Chicken Cordon Blue Salad
~artisan lettuce
~veggies like cucumbers, carrots, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, etc.
~grilled chicken
~ham
~swiss cheese
~honey mustard dressing

Autumn Chopped Salad (http://espressoandcream.com/2010/11/autumn-chopped-salad.html)
~romaine
~pears
~cranberries
~pecans
~bacon
~feta
~poppyseed dressing

marie_2454

Salad with Goat Cheese Pecan Balls, Sage-Garlic-Rosemary Marinated Chicken, and Berries
~artisan lettuce
~goat cheese formed into balls, rolled in pecans, and fried until pecans are browned and cheese is melty
~ Sage-Garlic-Rosemary Marinated Chicken (http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2008/10/grilled-chicken-recipe-with-sage.html)
~mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc.)
~strawberry-balsamic dressing

Jamaican Jerk Chicken Chopped Salad (http://bakingwithblondie.blogspot.com/2014/04/grilled-jamaican-jerk-chicken-chopped.html)
~leaf lettuce
~seasoned chicken breast
~pepper jack cheese
~avocado
~cherry tomatoes
~baby corn
~black beans
~vinaigrette dressing

Thai Chicken Salad with Spicy Peanut Sauce (http://www.mykitchenescapades.com/2013/10/thai-chicken-salad-with-spicy-peanut.html)
~romaine
~napa cabbage
~seasoned chicken
~cucumber
~carrots
~bell peppers
~green onions
~cliantro
~peanuts
~vinaigrette with rice vinegar and chili sauce
~peanut sauce

Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing (http://www.howsweeteats.com/2014/05/killer-spinach-salads-with-hot-bacon-dressing/)
~spinach
~bacon
~hard-cooked eggs
~blue cheese
~avocado
~hot bacon dressing

Chicken Cordon Blue Salad
~artisan lettuce
~veggies like cucumbers, carrots, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, etc.
~grilled chicken
~ham
~swiss cheese
~honey mustard dressing

Autumn Chopped Salad (http://espressoandcream.com/2010/11/autumn-chopped-salad.html)
~romaine
~pears
~cranberries
~pecans
~bacon
~feta
~poppyseed dressing

So many yummy ideas I'm not sure where to start!!!! Thanks for the recipes and links

bespatter

That sounds really good!

bespatter

I think this week I'm going to make a Chef's salad with homemade Herbed Buttermilk Ranch (from Cooking Light) with a hard-boiled egg, a little smoked gouda, a little chicken, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, cucumbers, thin sliced red onions, and either homemade croutons or a baguette on the side. All this on a butter lettuce / spring mix blend (my favorite).

There are so many good ideas here! Exactly what I'd hoped for!

eels4peels

Great topic! This is a favorite right now. I even forgot the avocado one day and it was still delicious.

California Roll Salad
http://soupspiceeverythingnice.blogspot.com/2014/06/california-roll-salad.html
Serves 1

Ingredients

1/2 cup pre-cooked or leftover rice
1 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar
1/2 tsp. sugar
1-1/2 tsp. low-sodium soy sauce
1/4 tsp wasabi powder
1-1/2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
1 small carrot, cut into matchsticks
2-1/2" piece of English cucumber, cut into matchsticks
2 imitation crab sticks, sliced on the diagonal
1/2 medium avocado, sliced
1 Tbsp. pickled sliced ginger
2”x3” piece of toasted nori seaweed, julienned with scissors
1 tsp sesame seeds

Directions

Warm rice in the microwave for 1 minute. Mix vinegar and sugar together. Pour half of the vinegar and sugar mixture over rice. Stir to combine and fluff with a fork. Stir in soy sauce and wasabi powder to remaining vinegar mixture to make a dressing. Fill a salad bowl with lettuce, rice, carrots, cucumber, crab, avocado and ginger. Pour dressing over the top and garnish with nori and sesame seeds.

SO MAKING THIS!

eels4peels

Current Favorite:

Mixed Lettuce
Chicken
Edamame
Cherubs
Blue Cheese