7 Ways to Make Any Salad Taste Better (2024)

Emma Christensen

Emma Christensen

Emma is a former editor for The Kitchn and a graduate of the Cambridge School for Culinary Arts. She is the author of True Brews and Brew Better Beer. Check out her website for more cooking stories

published Jun 19, 2012

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7 Ways to Make Any Salad Taste Better (1)

I picked up two prepared side salads at the store the other day, thinking they’d help round out the meal I was planning. They looked beautiful in the case and beautiful when I transferred them to serving dishes, but after one bland and disappointing spoonful, I was done. Should you find yourself in a similar situation, I have a few easy tricks for turning a boring side salad into something tasty with none the wiser.

What a lot of prepared side salads lack — and not a few recipes, unfortunately — are the supporting ingredients that make the main ingredients sing. Spinach needs a squeeze of lemon. Beets like a good strong cheese to balance their earthy flavor. Beans come alive with an extra drizzle of olive oil.

A little of almost any of these ingredients will perk up your boring salad. Happily, you should be able to find at least one or two of them no matter where you are: raiding a friend’s kitchen before a potluck or faced with the condiment table at a picnic. Start with a little, stir, and taste. Add a little more and stop when things start tasting good to you.

1. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Adds richness and a “fullness” to a lusterless, dry salad.
2. Salt: Subdues bitter flavors and perks up the rest of them.
3. Lemon Juice and Zest: Brightens murky flavors, especially with dark vegetables.
4. Vinegar: Same supporting role as lemon juice, but with more flavor options.
5. Cheese: Because a little cheese will keep mouths happy when all else is boring.
6. Cured Olives: Their saltiness and meaty texture add savory depth.
7. Fresh Herbs: Think basil, dill, tarragon, and marjoram. Mince them fine and toss them in.

What are your tips for bringing a boring side salad back to life?

7 Ways to Make Any Salad Taste Better (2024)

FAQs

7 Ways to Make Any Salad Taste Better? ›

For wonderful flavor, add mushrooms, onions, beets, avacado and green peppers. Get creative by combining an assortment of shapes, sizes and colors. Try different colors of favorite vegetables. Add a burst of color with white, yellow, red or purple carrots; try purple, green or yellow tomatoes.

What can you put on a salad to make it taste better? ›

Here are the top 20 healthy salad toppings.
  1. Chopped Raw Vegetables. A typical salad starts with raw greens, such as lettuce, spinach, kale, mixed greens or arugula. ...
  2. Nuts and Seeds. ...
  3. Dried Fruit. ...
  4. Whole Grains. ...
  5. Beans and Legumes. ...
  6. Fresh Fruit. ...
  7. Baked Tortilla or Pita Chips. ...
  8. Shredded Hard Cheeses.
Dec 17, 2018

How do you improve salads? ›

For wonderful flavor, add mushrooms, onions, beets, avacado and green peppers. Get creative by combining an assortment of shapes, sizes and colors. Try different colors of favorite vegetables. Add a burst of color with white, yellow, red or purple carrots; try purple, green or yellow tomatoes.

What are 5 components of a satisfying salad? ›

5 Steps to a More Satisfying Salad
  • Use fresh ingredients. ...
  • Use ingredients that add different textures. ...
  • Create balanced flavors. ...
  • Skip the greens. ...
  • Include protein to make salad more filling.
May 1, 2019

What are the three 3 keys to a quality salad? ›

The three keys to ensuring a quality salad are:
  • The freshness of ingredients.
  • Having all the ingredients blend together in harmony.
  • Making sure the salad is appealing to the eye.

How to make a salad satisfying? ›

Eleven Ways to Make Your Salad More Satisfying
  1. Beans. Chickpeas (garbanzo beans), black beans, kidney beans, white beans, or edamame are all great options with lots of fiber to keep you satiated for longer. ...
  2. Grains. ...
  3. Fresh Fruit. ...
  4. Leftover Roasted Vegetables. ...
  5. Nuts or Seeds. ...
  6. Fresh Herbs. ...
  7. Homemade Vinaigrette. ...
  8. Eggs.

How do you spruce up a boring salad? ›

12 Easy Tricks To Make Salad Not Just A Boring Bowl Of Veggies
  1. Add fruit. There's no reason why you can't add your favourite seasonal fruit to your salad. ...
  2. Marinate your protein. ...
  3. Add roast veggies. ...
  4. Use LOTS of herbs and spices. ...
  5. Add pasta or noodles. ...
  6. Take inspiration from your favourite cuisines. ...
  7. Add quinoa or rice. ...
  8. Add colour.
Jan 15, 2017

How to make delicious satisfying salad? ›

We've got five tips that will help you create delicious and enticing salads every time.
  1. Set the tone with a great base. ...
  2. Create your flavor profile with veggies. ...
  3. Keep your dressing light and simple. ...
  4. Make it satisfying with protein. ...
  5. Get colorful with your ingredients.
Mar 23, 2023

What are the 5 characteristics of a good quality salad? ›

There are five elements to a perfect salad: greens, sweetness, creaminess, crunchiness, and dressing.

How can I enjoy salad more? ›

Adding cheese, fish, chicken, or grains give extra flavor and provide a more wholesome feeling meal. Add crunch for good texture variety. Try adding nuts, seeds, croutons, crushed chips, or crunchy fruits and veggies. Up the temperature with some fresh grilled veggies, proteins, or grains.

What is the key to a good salad? ›

The secret to a good salad
  • Be gentle with lettuce. Balsamic dressing. ...
  • Serve up perfect avocado. Forget lemon juice or cold water – the only way to stop an avocado going brown in a salad is to peel and chop them right before serving. ...
  • Say goodbye to onion tears. ...
  • Adore your dressing. ...
  • Sprinkle in some protein.

What binds a salad all together? ›

Bound salads are assembled with thick sauces such as mayonnaise. One portion of a bound salad will hold its shape when placed on a plate with a scoop. Examples of bound salad include tuna salad, chicken salad, egg salad, coleslaw, and potato salad.

What is the most important points in making salad? ›

Depth, texture, and nuance are what make a great salad more than the sum of its parts. Transform ho-hum salads into delicious dishes with these tips from Giancarlo and Katie Caldesi, restaurateurs and authors of Around the World in 100 Salads. Incorporate a variety of textures: chewy, soft, crunchy, wet, and dry.

How can I jazz up my salad? ›

Chunks of meat such as beef, chicken or turkey can add protein, variety and flavor, and they can help satisfy your hunger. Some other protein-rich additives for salads are boiled eggs, cheese, almonds, walnuts and cashews. Try a new dressing: Consider trying a new dressing to switch up your salad's flavor.

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