Any exciting salad ideas?

2

Replies

  • sherrybaby81
    sherrybaby81 Posts: 257 Member
    bump
  • Andaw
    Andaw Posts: 35 Member
    I usually do my own dressing - 1 tablespoon of sweet chilli sauce, one tablespoon of Nam Pla (Thai fish sauce) and half a tablespoon of lime juice. It's quite a strong, tangy flavour so it might not be for everyone, but I love it - it works for me!!

    Love the sound of your salad though, I just stick with lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber!! Must try living a little more!!
  • beverlylouise
    beverlylouise Posts: 5 Member
    I do a head of romaine, 2 cups of spinach, a can of tuna, and a hard egg (or 2), sometimes I add a tiny bit of mayonaise, but the egg and tuna really make the salad taste good
  • This is my favorite...
    Mixed lettuces, grilled chicken breast, 1-2 TBSP each of chopped fresh cilantro, corn, red onion, bell/anaheim pepper, and black beans. take 1 tbsp bbq sauce, add a little water to thin it and drizzle over the salad. if you have the calories to spare, you can toss a couple of crushed tortilla chips in as well. I also like to toss on a tablespoon or so of a cheddar jack cheese.
  • jens1285
    jens1285 Posts: 34 Member
    If I'm in the mood for salad, I go with spinach, strawberries, and walnuts. The strawberries act as the moisture dressing would serve but if you want some more flavor raspberry vinagerette works really well. Otherwise try adding salsa instead of dressing to salads with meat in them. It's something different in every bite.
  • cbu23
    cbu23 Posts: 280 Member
    The Marzetti Light Dijon dressing is amazing!
  • tightnup
    tightnup Posts: 3 Member
    All of these salad ideas are great- but perhaps just changing the topping isnt going to be dramatic enough to feel like a different salad.

    try changing your base.. either NO base (so no lettuce and just chop up tomatos, cucs, olives, basil)
    or simply change your greens out. so many different leafy greens out there, butter lettuce, raddichio, arugula, spinach, swiss chard, endive..

    i just feel like if you keep your base constant, it will always feel like the same salad in a different costume.
    try changing the essence of the salad and it will feel like a totally different meal!

    or maybe change the temperature! grilled zuchs, mushrooms, green beans, .. that can be "salad" too!

    dont limit yourself :)
  • Hi, I've just recently joined MFP and am finding it really good it's helping me to keep on track with my healthy eating, I eat salad every day for lunch, little gem lettuce, cucumber, spring onions, red and green peppers, pineapple and cherry tomatoes, I add about 50g of good tasting hard cheese and add a little dressing usually a low cal honey & mustard seed or a balsamic glaze.

    Could someone please tell me what BUMP means? Thank you
  • luvsdeals
    luvsdeals Posts: 105 Member
    I forgot--I've been making mexican type salads and adding this guacamole salsa on everything. It's so good and just 13 calories per T.
    http://frostedbakeshop.blogspot.com/2010/05/guacamole-salsa.html
  • When I'm feeling lazy, I just mix some mango salsa in with baby spinach and call it DELICIOUS. Otherwise, my favorite is baby spinach, feta, dried cranberries, and a light balsamic. So good, so easy!
  • vonnywaft
    vonnywaft Posts: 182
    When someone "bumps" a topic it shows on their "My Topics" on their home page so it's easier to come back to and also puts it in "Recent Topics" too so it stays more current.
  • amelia_atlantic
    amelia_atlantic Posts: 926 Member
    2 Cups of raw kale
    2 tablespoons of olive oil
    1/4 cup (more or less depending what you like) of chopped garlic
    1/4 tablespoon of lemon juice
    1/4 cup of shaved parmesan
    croutons
    salt and pepper to taste

    Mix up the olive oil, lemon, garlic, salt & pepper and cheese
    Cover the kale really well
    let sit for about 5-7 minutes then eat!
  • themedalist
    themedalist Posts: 3,218 Member
    My family never gets tired of this simple salad and it can be made in a minute! So here it is: spinach leaves or spring mix; 2 T crumbled, reduced fat blue cheese; 1-2 T chopped walnuts; 2 T craisins; and a few sliced fresh mushrooms. Serve with a little fruit vinaigrette (strawberry balsamic last night) and enjoy!
  • AliG69
    AliG69 Posts: 12
    Grate 2 raw beetroot, add a chopped onion, handful of sultanas, black pepper and healthy sprinkly of basil. Mix with 1TBSP olive oil and 1TBSP lemon juice. Yum.
  • DonnaRe2012
    DonnaRe2012 Posts: 298 Member
    Sunflower seeds !!
  • I love caprese salads. I use baby spinach, sliced tomatoes (that have salt and pepper sprinkled on), fresh mozzarella, and fresh basil. Then I drizzle some extra virgin olive oil on top. Delish!
  • I do mixed greens, 1 - 2.5 oz. pack of tuna, cooked green beans, tomato, hard boiled egg, 4-6 black olives, maybe some green onions, with balsamic vinegar dressing. My husband likes this too.
  • marsellient
    marsellient Posts: 591 Member
    Great ideas! Here are a couple more

    When peaches are in season: greens, crisped prosciutto, blue cheese, ripe peaches

    Any strongly flavoured greens (like kale) with a tart fresh lemon juice crushed garlic and olive oil dressing

    Roasted beets, oranges and fennel

    Off to make salad!
  • maremare312
    maremare312 Posts: 1,143 Member
    I posted a ton of salad ideas on my MFP blog a couple days ago.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/maremare312/view/salad-ideas-202639
  • Try adding to your usual salads:

    tahini sauce, tablespoon of white balsamic vinegar, and squirt of siracha
    roasted vegetables
    1/4 cup brown rice or quinoa
    cranberries or raisins
    warmed chicken breast or tuna
    apple slices, oranges, or berries

    when i get really bored with my salads, i will roast a HUGE pan of vegetables - celery, squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, peppers, anything you have, and keep them stocked in my fridge. warm up a cup and add to your salad throughout the week. especially in the winter - the warm veggies are comforting on a cold salad.
  • littlelily613
    littlelily613 Posts: 769 Member
    I don't know if you'll find this as exciting as I do, but I am currently in love with this salad:

    I fill a large container with a pre-washed lettuce mix (I buy pre-washed simply because if I find a squished bug in between the leaves, I will likely be unable to eat any of it--I am far less likely to find little critters in the pre-packaged stuff). I buy a combination of romaine, red cabbage, and shredded carrot which is amazing for colour. I then shell my own walnuts (5 of them) and break them up into small pieces and sprinkle those over the salad. I put in 15 g of grated marble cheese and one thin slice of red onion (which is then diced). Just before I am ready to eat it, I toss in 1/4 cup of croutons and 1 tbsp of light peppercorn ranch dressing, then I cover and shake the container until it is all mixed. For the size of the salad, the dressing is barely there, is hardly any calories, and gives it just a bit of flavour (it is already quite flavourful on its own).
  • lilady952
    lilady952 Posts: 10 Member
    apple cucumber salad

    1 cucumber
    2 apple (preferable tart apples)
    1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
    1 green onion, chopped

    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1 tablespoon honey
    4 tablespoons yoghurt
    fresh dill
  • divinehostess
    divinehostess Posts: 18 Member
    I love this sesame soy edamame salad. It can be eaten alone or with a yummy protein like salmon: https://divinehostess.wordpress.com/2011/10/01/cool-edamame-garbanzo-salad/
  • AP2o12
    AP2o12 Posts: 20
    Roasted pear thinly sliced with slice's of bree and finely sliced red onion on top, crumble toasted walnuts, black pepper and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar to finnish. Truely yummy!!!!

    Thanks! Going to try this one, sounds amazing!! (minus the onions, bleh) lol
  • ludogx87
    ludogx87 Posts: 286 Member
    jalapenos!!! pickles!! chillis, all give it that "kick" that keeps the taste buds going. usually in my salads i put

    lettuce
    onion
    tomato
    spring onion
    bell peppers
    beetroom
    pickled onions
    some sweetcorn
    some cut up chicken slices or ham slices
    some low fat coleslaw
    jalapenos
    gerkins / pickles

    no extra sauce or anything coz i find that natural juices from beetroot etc and coleslaw is plenty
    mmmmmmm :) xxx
  • AP2o12
    AP2o12 Posts: 20
    All of these salad ideas are great- but perhaps just changing the topping isnt going to be dramatic enough to feel like a different salad.

    try changing your base.. either NO base (so no lettuce and just chop up tomatos, cucs, olives, basil)
    or simply change your greens out. so many different leafy greens out there, butter lettuce, raddichio, arugula, spinach, swiss chard, endive..

    i just feel like if you keep your base constant, it will always feel like the same salad in a different costume.
    try changing the essence of the salad and it will feel like a totally different meal!

    or maybe change the temperature! grilled zuchs, mushrooms, green beans, .. that can be "salad" too!

    dont limit yourself :)

    Love this! That's so true...I always buy the same greens, I want to try Arugula as I hear it's a more peppery green. I definitely think changing up the greens will make a huge difference. Thanks for the idea! :)
  • I love throwing in brocoli slaw into my tossed salads for a great crunch!
  • AP2o12
    AP2o12 Posts: 20
    2 Cups of raw kale
    2 tablespoons of olive oil
    1/4 cup (more or less depending what you like) of chopped garlic
    1/4 tablespoon of lemon juice
    1/4 cup of shaved parmesan
    croutons
    salt and pepper to taste

    Mix up the olive oil, lemon, garlic, salt & pepper and cheese
    Cover the kale really well
    let sit for about 5-7 minutes then eat!

    YUM! This salad sounds so savory and just perfect! Think this will be on my list to try next! ;)
  • greeneyedaries
    greeneyedaries Posts: 45 Member
    I am so tired of eating salads, so I have found that the days I eat soups I put my salad into my soup and it wilts it down. It is really good. No dressings need..
  • AP2o12
    AP2o12 Posts: 20
    Loving all these ideas! I finally tried a new salad last night based on some of the responses and it was AMAZING! I used organic mixed greens, topped it with a salmon burger, 1/2 cup brown rice and black bean mix which i seasoned with garlic and cumin, and topped with 2 T tahini sauce as dressing. Loved it!

    Also...had this wrap the other day which I want to make a salad out of, it had lettuce, sprouts, beets, shredded carrots, cucumber, and a green goddess dressing, it was delicious!! Can't wait make it!

    Thanks again for all the ideas! :)
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