Salad Ingredients - What Can I Use?

In order for you to make the perfect salad you need to know something about the kinds of ingredients that you can use. A large number of salads will be made using a combination of different ingredients that not only complement one and other but provide different tastes and textures as well. Below we take a look at the various different types of salad ingredients that are used the world over to make a very simple and basic but very nutritious salad.

1. Lettuce and Greens - Today you do not have to stick to the normal types of lettuce such as iceberg for producing the perfect salad instead why not try a few different alternatives. For example, you could use a butterhead lettuce, which comes with very tender leaves or a cos lettuce, which has a very coarse texture to it, but both will add a completely different texture dimension to the salad you are making. Although if you would like to try something completely different when it comes to making a salad then avoid using lettuce altogether. Instead why not try something like Augula which originally comes from Italy and comes with a very tangy but mildly peppery taste to it. Or if you want to produce something a little more exotic which has asian connotations to it try adding Bok Choy. Although slightly bitter in taste a squeeze of fresh lemon juice often helps to counteract this.
2. Fruit & Vegetables - Instead of sticking with the more traditional fruits and vegetables in your salads why not try to be a little more adventurous. Apples are certainly ideal and can easily combine with a number of different other salad ingredients also. If you are looking to make a more unusual salad which incorporates the Bok Choy we mentioned above previously why not mix this up with some bean sprouts, cucumber and spring onions and then drizzle with a light coating of sesame seed oil which you have mixed with some soy sauce.Other fruits and vegetables that you may want to include in your salad in place of tomatoes, cucumber and green onions are broccoli, beans (red, black, green or kidney ones) and carrots. Also, you can further add more flavor to your salads through the use of herbs and spices including not just garlic, but basil, rosemary and cilantro.
3. Meat and Fish - Although most people commonly think that a good salad should solely consist of just vegetables this is not the case. In fact, some of the world's best-known salads such as Caesar's have chicken, meat or fish in them. But it is best that you do not go over board on the amount of meat or fish you include.
   

If you are someone who does not like to use meat or fish in their salad recipes then why not replace these with cheese instead. But again it is essential that you do not use too much in it. Also to add texture to your salad if you are only using basic salad ingredients is through incorporating nuts or croutons into the recipe. The best types of nuts to use when preparing a salad are peanuts, walnuts or almonds. All give additional crunch and texture to what may otherwise be a very bland meal. But when it comes to you finding the right kinds of salad ingredients for your salad recipes it is important that you use the freshest ones possible. When shopping for your ingredients avoid those which are marked or bruised or those where the leaves have begun to wilt. Also before you begin preparing the salad make sure that each ingredient has been thoroughly washed to remove any unwanted toxins or chemicals from them. Even salad ingredients which have been packaged and are ready to use should be washed.