Crazy Salad Combinations

iKapuniai
iKapuniai Posts: 594 Member
in Recipes
I often buy a boring (but delicious!) grilled chicken caesar salad from one of my favorite local places in my area, but the other day I was feeling rather adventurous and decided to order something different. My new salad consisted of:
-Spinach
-Bacon bits
-Feta cheese
-Tomatoes
-Red onion (it said carmelized, but it was raw, which was perfect cause I prefer raw red onions)
-Walnuts
-Red pepper italian dressing

It sounded very odd to me at first... I wasn't sure if I liked it or if I was afraid of it, but I decided to try it anyway.

LOVED IT!! Went out the same day and bought all the ingredients to make it myself, and it turned out wonderfully! I used shredded parmesan instead of feta, but love love loved it! Here's a pic of my own version (with some grilled thin cut steak on the side):


20130518_202237.jpg




I'm always looking for different ways to fix up my salad instead of always having the same boring things every day...

Does anybody else have any salad recipes or ingredients that doesn't exactly sound like a good combination but really is?
Would love to hear other peoples' ideas/recipes!

Much Love and Alohas to you all,
-Ihilani Kapuniai
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Replies

  • janisskoczylas
    janisskoczylas Posts: 17 Member
    My favortie salad at the moment is mixed greens, onions, cukes, almonds, mandarin oranges and sesame ginger dressing. Add chicken for protein.
  • Joreanasaurous
    Joreanasaurous Posts: 1,384 Member
    Not a crazy combo, but lunch today is a chard, kale and spinach salad with cucumber, red onion, tomato, sugar snap peas, beats, feta cheese, sliced almonds and dried cranberries. I topped it with some lemon pepper and homemade balsamic dressing. Yum.
  • MD1978
    MD1978 Posts: 477 Member
    There is one I buy prepackaged that I tried on a whim and loved it. It has spinach, dried cranberries & pears, pecans that are sweet/spicy, feta with balsalmic vinaigrette. I've tried to recreate at home but cannot find a dressing that tastes that good.
  • fbmandy55
    fbmandy55 Posts: 5,263 Member
    The looks amazing.

    I've been digging the steak and bleu cheese crumbles on mine. I think tomorrow I will also add strawberries and almonds to that combo.
  • KimberlyDCZ
    KimberlyDCZ Posts: 525 Member
    The looks amazing.

    I've been digging the steak and bleu cheese crumbles on mine. I think tomorrow I will also add strawberries and almonds to that combo.

    I like strawberries and almonds in my salad too!
  • vyanadevi
    vyanadevi Posts: 134 Member
    Nothing too crazy...dried cranberries, sliced almonds, few pine nuts, mixed greens, spinach, steamed frozed vegetables (carrots, peas, corn and green beans), olive oil, balsamic ving...these days...sometimes the same salad added tomatoes and cucumbers, or apples, other days same salad with jerk chicken...ooooohhh soooo yummm....
  • pkinblue
    pkinblue Posts: 140 Member
    romaine, black beans, avocado, tomato and feta crumbles (or manchego if you have it). You could add chicken or shrimp. I don't personally like any salad dressing but my DH eats with Ranch.

    Baby spinach, strawberries, shrimp with champagne vinaigrette.

    chicken, grapes, rosemary and walnuts mixed with a bit of mayo/mustard
  • Uhhhlexxxis
    Uhhhlexxxis Posts: 39 Member
    I was feeling adventurous the other day and made a spinach, beet, garbanzo bean, and feta salad with a little peppadew mustard. Crazy yummy.
  • silver_arrow3
    silver_arrow3 Posts: 1,373 Member
    There is one I buy prepackaged that I tried on a whim and loved it. It has spinach, dried cranberries & pears, pecans that are sweet/spicy, feta with balsalmic vinaigrette. I've tried to recreate at home but cannot find a dressing that tastes that good.

    I do one like this. I use spinach and lettuce, feta, pecans, cranberries, then I mix balsamic vinaigrette with an apple-poppyseed vinaigrette and it's perfect. So good. Add a little chicken that has marinated in balsamic vinegar and it's even better.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    My favortie salad at the moment is mixed greens, onions, cukes, almonds, mandarin oranges and sesame ginger dressing. Add chicken for protein.

    ^This - minus the onion .... add snap peas & chow mein noodles

    Also - mixed greens, pecans, gorgonzola cheese, tangy apples, and dried cranberries. Either apple cider vinegrette or cranberry vinegrette.

    Also - spinach, walnuts, strawberries and grilled chicken .... orange ginger dressing.
  • AleciaG724
    AleciaG724 Posts: 705 Member
    Had a boxed salad like this from Trader Joe's and decided to make it at home:

    spinach
    cooked red quinoa (cold)
    chick peas (garbanzos)
    dried cranberries
    shredded carrots
    slivered almonds
    low fat carrot ginger dressing
  • shred_me_up
    shred_me_up Posts: 267 Member
    im all for weird combos, i swear i empty half my kitchen into my salads! it dates back from my childhood, i used to wrap cheese cubes in fruit rollups.
  • loriwhitefaith
    loriwhitefaith Posts: 116 Member
    sunflower seeds, bacon bits, mozzarella cheese with spinach salad, and kraft greek vinagerette :smile: :smile:
  • lorieric5037
    lorieric5037 Posts: 97
    Sunflower seeds, lo fat cottage cheese & spinach/artichoke cream cheese...yum!
  • Nacho12
    Nacho12 Posts: 162 Member
    I copied this one from a Whole Foods magazine the other day. I haven't tried it but thought it looked good.

    Brussels Sprout Salad with Avocado and Pumpkin Seeds coated with Lemon Dijon Dressing.

    Or for a variation add blood orange segments and swap toasted pecans for the pumpkin seeds. Toss with shaved fennel and celery root. (The Brussels Sprouts were torn apart into leaves.)
  • ValRAAAAY
    ValRAAAAY Posts: 270 Member
    I had a strawberry poppyseed salad at Panera yesterday for lunch--strawberries, pineapple, blueberries, mandarin oranges, citrus marinated chicken, pecans, on top of mixed greens and a fat free poppyseed dressing. UH-MAY-ZING. Summer in a salad. It was PERFECT.

    My OTHER favorite? The Chik-Fil-A Asian salad. Mixed greens, green and red cabbage, mandarin oranges, honey-thai almonds, wonton strips, chik-fil-a nuggets, and honey sesame ginger dressing. Mmmmmmm.....
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    No lettuce salad......

    Shredded carrots, sliced celery, (thawed) green peas*.... add sesame ginger dressing. Peas are high calorie ....I use 1/4 cup...snap peas are higher fiber if you got 'em.

    Celery can also be replaced with (thawed) french style green beans..... don't use regular (thawed) green beans..... waters down your dressing.
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    chuck e cheese hero salad. (it's a hero, because it saved me from pizza when I could't afford those cals)

    Lettuce (for crisp)
    Spinach (for healthy)
    Tomatoes (for fresh)
    Olives (for salty)
    Bell Pepper (for flavor)
    Hard boiled eggs (for protein)
    Ranch dressing (only a little for sticky and creamy)
    Sunflower seeds (only a lot for transforming this salad completely)
    Croutons (only a little too cause you need more room for the seeds which are the star of this salad)
    I'm always looking for different ways to fix up my salad instead of always having the same boring things every day...

    When I'm planning to have lots of salads and want variety I go with a less is more approach. Meaning I only put two or three flavorful things on it at once. That way the next day I have lots of choices that I haven't already eaten. So like say one day I put the lettuce and then I get only bacon, tomatoes, and ranch. Following day put the lettuce and only bell peppers, olives, and oil/vinegar. Next day use spinach instead and maybe only put the egg slices, thousand island dressing and croutons. Less ingredients=more variety.
  • sally_jeffswife
    sally_jeffswife Posts: 766 Member
    Popped Popcorn,Diced Celery,Diced Onion,Water Chestnuts,Slivered Almonds,Bacon Bits,Shredded Cheddar Cheese,Poppyseed Salad Dressing
  • alishacupcake
    alishacupcake Posts: 419 Member
    Tag for later!
  • madwill77
    madwill77 Posts: 8
    I had a Mediterranean Kale Salad for lunch - grilled chicken, romaine lettuce, kale, kalamata olives, a tiny bit of feta, tomato, finely chopped red onion and an olive oil-based dressing. Yum!
  • newjojie
    newjojie Posts: 292 Member
    Spinach, roasted pepitas, mixed dried berries, reduced fat blue cheese and raspberry vinegarette.

    Or another good one.

    Shredded cabbage, shredded carrots, cilantro green onions, diced yellow pepper, chicken breast and a light asian dressing all wrapped in a flat out...yummy.
  • lyndabyh
    lyndabyh Posts: 187 Member
    Grilled portabello mushrooms, grilled beets, grilled tomatoes, chopped warm on a bed of mixed greens. Top with a little light feta crumble and balsamic vinaigrette.

    Enjoy!!
  • lyndabyh
    lyndabyh Posts: 187 Member
    Forgot this one
    Grilled chicken, tomato, cucumber, garbanzo beans, green onions, peppers, avocado, salsa and mixed greens. Top with feta and garlic leek dressing
  • SarahDavs
    SarahDavs Posts: 161 Member
    I love pomegranate seeds, diced apple, peas and ham in romaine lettuce salads with shredded cheese and honey mustard dressing.
  • Vune
    Vune Posts: 674 Member
    I used to load up romaine with flank steak, craisins, pumpkin seeds, shredded carrots, boiled red potatoes, and bacon, with a roasted red pepper dressing. Epic salad.

    I've also had a Moroccan inspired salad with dates, cubed squash, almonds, and grilled chicken.
  • ilovelucy711
    ilovelucy711 Posts: 381 Member
    I like grilled chicken, apples, strawberries, blueberries, blue cheese or feta cheese on mixed greens.
    I also like grilled chicken, apples, walnuts and blue cheese on mixed greens.
  • HiKaren
    HiKaren Posts: 1,306 Member
    I had what they called a "Bistro" salad last weekend. I have to say, its one of my favorites.
    Some kind of red leafy greens, walnuts, cranberries, feta, vinegarette, there wasn't any crutons on it.
    Oh my gosh, it was so good. Not heavy feeling in the belly either. The heavy feeling came from what followed.
    A pistacio crusted calamari steak, with way too much butter on it.
  • H_G_lucky
    H_G_lucky Posts: 12 Member
    bump
  • juliekaiser1988
    juliekaiser1988 Posts: 604 Member
    My latest favorite salad dressing is chocolate balsamic vinegar mixed with blood orange olive oil. Yummy!!!

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