How to Make Salad That’s Anything But Boring
Updated: Jan. 19, 2023
Dull, lifeless salads are so yesterday. We're breaking down how to make salad the right way by covering the different types of salad, topping ideas and more.
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Everything you know about how to make salad is getting turned on its head. We’ll run through our best salad recipes, dressings and salad tips that’ll make you think twice about the dish. It’s time to say goodbye to sad, wilted lettuce and plain bottled dressing and start enjoying your leafy greens. Follow our ultimate guide on how to make salad.
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Types of Salad
One of the most exciting things about salad is the sheer variety of recipes there are. Just about every cuisine in the world has its own types of salad that have made their way into countless cookbooks, restaurant menus and likely even into your lunchbox at once point or another. From leafy to cheesy to coated in Miracle Whip, there are salads recipes that fit every taste.
The two main types of salads are:
- Composed salads—or if you’re feeling fancy, salade composée. The ingredients of these salads are arranged on a plate in a thoughtful and deliberate way before serving. Popular composed salads include chef salads and Cobb salads. Even a Caprese salad could be considered a composed salad with its artful layering of basil, mozzarella and tomato.
- Tossed salads are a little more chaotic. Ingredients are tossed together before serving. Classic tossed salads include Caesar salad and Italian salad.
While there are infinite variations of salads, most can be boiled down to three main components:
- A base of raw or cooked vegetables, often lettuce
- A dressing
- An assortment of flavorful toppings
Of course, there always exceptions to the rule. Fruit salads and pasta salads, for example, are a popular potluck staple across the country. And many Mediterranean salads, like tabbouleh, rely on grains and herbs instead of lettuce. However, with this basic formula, you can make countless combinations of healthy green salads without a recipe. Simply pick a few components and measure the ingredients to your heart’s content. The following salad ideas will help get you started.
Salad Ideas
Types of Lettuce
Lettuce or other salad greens are a great base for salads. Different types of lettuce have their own subtle flavors and textures that can contribute to your dish.
- Crisphead, otherwise known as iceberg lettuce, is one of the most popular lettuce leaves in the United States. It has a very mild taste and it usually takes on the flavor of the salad dressings its paired with.
- Romaine is also known as cos lettuce, is most notably known for its delicious appearance in Caesar salads and pre-made salad kits. Romaine lettuce has a bit more flavor than crisphead and it keeps its sturdy shape—even when paired with oil-based vinegarettes or while making a grilled salad.
- Loose-leaf has a mild flavor, but its ruffled edges add a playful texture to any simple salad. The most popular loose-leaf varieties are red and green.
- Butterhead lettuce comes in two popular varieties: Boston and bibb. It’s mild and sweet in flavor and fragile and soft in texture. You’ll see this type used in lettuce wraps and light salads.
Apart from lettuce, we also encourage you to use other leafy greens as your salad base. Popular choices include arugula, kale, endive and spinach.
Types of Salad Dressing
While you may be familiar with ranch dressing or balsamic vinaigrette, there are many salad dressings that’ll gussy up even the most basic salads. And while we love using bottled dressing as a shortcut, there’s really no match to the flavor and brightness that come from homemade salad dressings. Here are the two main types:
Vinaigrettes
A basic vinaigrette is made of a 3-to-1 ratio of oil to vinegar, plus herbs and seasonings. Apart from balsamic, Italian, lemon and strawberry vinaigrette are popular choices. They’re known for being the “lighter” dressing in comparison to cream-based salad dressings. Most vinaigrettes can be used in other recipes as a marinade or glaze.
Cream Dressings
Made with mayo, cream or buttermilk, creamy salad dressings are a great way to add delicious healthy fats into your salad. They are perfect for rough-and-tough lettuces leaves, like romaine, that can hold and handle a heavier dressing. Some of our favorites are buttermilk ranch, blue cheese and cilantro dressing.
Psst! Don’t have time to make from scratch? We tried 11 brands and found the best salad dressing.
Salad Topping Ideas
Once you’ve chosen your lettuce and salad dressing, it’s time to pile on the toppings and really make your salad pop. Mix and match your favorite healthy salad toppings to create a dish that’s all your own.
Protein
Whether you’re a meat-lover, vegan or vegetarian, protein-packed salads give you extra energy and nutrients. We recommend adding protein for boosting your metabolism, preserving muscle and even for weight loss. Plus, it makes for a much more filling (and tasty!) salad. Popular salad ideas include:
- Grilled chicken salad
- Grilled steak salad
- Grilled salmon salad
- Grilled shrimp salad
- Chickpea salad
- Black bean salad
Veggies
Chopped vegetables are one of our favorite salad toppings. Options include asparagus, broccoli, beets, bell pepper, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cucumber, celery, corn, eggplant, onion, peas, radishes and zucchini. These taste great cooked or raw. Also, don’t be afraid to add fresh herbs like mint, basil or cilantro for extra brightness.
Fruits
Sweet and refreshing, fresh fruit can add a punch of flavor to your salad. Plus, they’re a welcome ingredient for picky eaters. Try dressing up your salad with apples, avocado, blackberries, blueberries, figs, oranges, mango, pears, plums, pomegranates, raspberries, tomatoes or watermelon.
Carbs
Don’t run away from adding carbs like croutons, pasta, quinoa, cooked potatoes or rice to your salad. They will keep you full while offering you an extra boost of energy.
Nuts and Seeds
Almonds, cashews, pistachios, pine nuts, pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds all have great health benefits. Plus, they add a nice texture and a satisfying crunch.
Our Best Salad Recipes
If you’re looking for a tried-and-true salad recipe that’ll impress the family, we have hundreds ready for you. Try our main course salad dinner recipes or take a look through our collection of side salad recipes that’ll complement any meal.
And we know that finding recipes for any specialized diet can be challenging. These salad recipes will teach you how to make a salad that’s healthy and delicious.
- If you’re cutting calories, one of these low-calorie salad recipes will do the trick. They’re all under 300 calories and use fresh produce.
- If you’re on a low-carb diet plan, these keto salad recipes will satisfy any craving. Make sure you pair them with a keto salad dressing, too.
- If you’re a meatless eater, try out these vegetarian salads or vegan salad recipes. Don’t worry, they’re far from being bland.
More Salad Recipes to Try
Crunchy Lemon-Pesto Garden SaladI love using fresh vegetables straight from the garden to prepare this salad. If I pick the squash and cucumbers early enough, their skins are so tender that there's no need to remove them! Best yet, the salad is easily adaptable—any fresh veggie from the garden can be put in with delicious results. —Carmell Childs, Orangeville, Utah
Zucchini Panzanella SaladI learned how to make panzanella from my friend's grandmother. Once I discovered how to make the perfect vinaigrette, it became a dish I crave during the summer. It's also a great way to use day-old bread and your garden's bounty of zucchini. —Felicity Wolf, Kansas City, Missouri
Bacon Avocado SaladEveryone in my family loves this bacon and avocado salad—even the younger kids! I serve it at pretty much every get-together I've hosted, and at this point, the recipe's been shared too many times to count. —Noreen McCormick Danek, Cromwell, Connecticut
White Bean Arugula SaladMy red, white and green salad is inspired by the Italian flag. Top it with shaved Parmesan. —Malia Estes, Allston, Massachusetts
Watermelon Tomato SaladWatermelon and tomatoes may seem an unlikely pair, but they team up to make a winning combination in this eye-catching salad. —Matthew Denton, Seattle, Washington
Brussels Sprouts & Quinoa SaladWith Brussels sprouts for the green and cranberries for the red, I make a cheery Christmastime salad. Refreshing and versatile, it works with any kind of nut or dried fruit. —Cameron Stell, Los Angeles, California
Vibrant Black-Eyed Pea SaladMy black-eyed pea salad reminds me of a Southern cooking class my husband and I took while visiting Savannah, Georgia. People go nuts for it at picnics and potlucks. —Danielle Lee, Charleston, South Carolina
Deluxe German Potato SaladI make this for all occasions because it goes well with any kind of meat. When I take the warm salad to bring-a-dish events, there are rarely leftovers! —Betty Perkins, Hot Springs, Arkansas
Balsamic Chicken Pasta SaladI love all the colors and flavors of this quick and easy dish and serve it often in summer, to the delight of my guests! You can't beat the combination of Gorgonzola and bacon. Leftover grilled shrimp makes a tasty substitute for chicken. —Terry McCarty, Oro Grande, California
Mexican Roasted Potato SaladMy husband is the No. 1 fan of this south-of-the-border potato salad. The leftovers make an awesome late-night snack, straight from the fridge. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah
Cherry Tomato SaladThis recipe evolved from a need to use the bumper crops of delicious cherry tomatoes we grow. It's one of my favorite cherry tomato recipes, especially at cookouts. —Sally Sibley, St. Augustine, Florida
Jalapeno Popper Corn SaladI created this recipe for a wedding I was catering, and it's a good thing I made buckets of it, because I couldn't stop eating it! This chilled creamy salad combines all the best flavors of jalapeno poppers with the delicate sweetness of fresh corn. —Amanda Miller, Hutchinson, Kansas
Special Sesame Chicken SaladWith its delicious mix of crunchy peanuts, tangy dried cranberries and mandarin oranges, this colorful Asian chicken salad is a definite crowd-pleaser. Water chestnuts and a teriyaki dressing give this main dish its Asian flare. —Carolee Ewell, Santaquin, Utah
Almond Chicken SaladMy mother used to prepare this chicken salad with grapes and almonds for an evening meal during the hot summer months. It's my favorite of my mother's chicken salad recipes. You can also serve it as a delicious but quick luncheon or potluck dish. —Kathy Kittell, Lenexa, Kansas
Grandma's Spinach SaladWith all its fresh ingredients, this pretty spinach salad was my grandma’s favorite. Even my little ones like it (but don’t tell them spinach is good for them)! —Shelley Riebel, Armada, Michigan
Tasty Marinated TomatoesMy niece introduced me to this colorful recipe some time ago. I make it when I have buffets or large gatherings because it can be prepared hours ahead. This is a wonderful way to use a bumper crop of tomatoes. —Myrtle Matthews, Marietta, Georgia
Potato-Bean Salad with Herb DressingMy veggie garden inspired this creamy combo of beans, potatoes and fresh herbs. I toss them with a ranch-style dressing sparked up with Creole mustard. —Chris Cummer, Bayonne, New Jersey
Grilled Southwestern Potato SaladThis salad is perfect with a grilled steak for a Tex-Mex meal, and most of it can even be prepared out in the backyard. Poblanos and cayenne make it pop. —Johnna Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona
Tzatziki Potato SaladMy son has an egg allergy, so this potato salad is perfect for him. For extra color, add radish, apple and garlic dill pickles. —Cindy Romberg, Mississauga, Ontario
Summer Salad by the LakeI came up with this recipe to show appreciation to all the teachers at my son’s school. The dish had to be as special as the teachers, who always go the extra mile for their students. I think this salad did the trick! It's hearty, earthy, sweet and loaded with nothing but good stuff. —Ramya Ramamurthy, Fremont, California
Barley Corn SaladA terrific alternative to pasta salad, this colorful side dish adds refreshing herb flavor to corn, barley, and red and green peppers. Bring it to your next get-together and see how fast it disappears! —Mary Ann Kieffer of Lawrence, Kansas
Roasted Butternut Squash PanzanellaSquash was a hard sell with my family until I paired it with pumpkin seeds, cranberries and horseradish. Now they love it! —Devon Delaney, Westport, Connecticut
Roquefort Pear SaladGuests at a barbecue we hosted one summer brought this cool, refreshing salad. Now it's a mainstay at many of our gatherings year-round. The mingling of zesty tastes and textures instantly wakes up the taste buds. —Sherry Duval, Baltimore, Maryland
How to Store Salad
Due to their delicate nature and fresh ingredients, most leafy salads do not make great leftovers. If you’d looking to eat your salad the next day, we recommend storing the dressing and any wet ingredients separately. Otherwise, your salad may end up a soggy mess! Store each of your ingredients in individual containers and assemble day-of. Well-dried looseleaf lettuce will keep fresh in a lettuce keeper or vented container for 7-10 days.
Here are some of our favorite salad containers and produce keepers that will keep your salads crisp.
- This large bento salad container has sections for greens, toppings and dressing.
- Every salad lover needs this salad dressing shaker. It lets you mix, measure, serve and store dressing all in one container.
- Keep greens crisp with this produce keeper. It features both an air vent and a water reservoir to keep your produce as fresh as can be.
- Have a prepped salad? Store it a glass salad container. They’re perfectly portioned to meal prep salads for lunch and dinner.
- Store lettuce heads for longer with this lettuce keeper. It’ll keep your lettuce in place while keeping it fresh.
Originally Published: July 27, 2020
