Make a tasty salad for a meal tonight
Salad tends to have a reputation as being a side dish or a precourse to the main meal. It can seem like a boring dining option, especially for children. However, salad has the potential to serve as an exciting, delicious and healthful main course, if you are equipped with the right ingredients. Make salad a meal by adding a variety of your favorite toppings, including fruits, cheeses and meats, to fresh leafy greens.
Pear and Blue Cheese
Combine romaine lettuce with fresh pear, crumbled blue cheese and candied walnuts. This salad works particularly well in autumn or winter, when pears are in prime season. To bulk up this salad a bit more, add some sliced chicken breast seasoned lightly with salt and pepper. Cover the salad with a poppy seed-vinaigrette or a balsamic-vinaigrette to taste. Substitute the pear with either apple or mixed berries for a summertime variation.
Cobb
Cobb salad can serve as a hearty meal. Use a mixture of lettuces, such as iceberg, romaine, watercress and chicory. Add boneless, skinless chicken breast that's diced, baked and flavored with salt and pepper; crispy bacon pieces; slices of hard-boiled egg; chopped tomato; and avocado. Any dressing, including ranch, blue cheese or light balsamic vinaigrette, will work with this combination. The salad can be served pretossed, or with each ingredient separate on the bed of lettuce. Add a sprinkle of salt and pepper to taste. You can also substitute the chicken with turkey.
Chopped
Chopped salad is a classic, Italian-inspired dish. Add dry salami with fresh mozzarella, Roma tomato, Italian-seasoned croutons and garbanzo beans to fresh, leafy romaine lettuce. Dredge the salad in Italian dressing, or just sprinkle a combination of light olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Also, include salt and pepper to your liking.
Albacore Tuna
Start with a fresh spring mix, although any type of lettuce will work for this salad. Lay some fresh albacore tuna, cooked however you prefer, across the bed of lettuce. Canned tuna is just as delicious, if you don't have fresh fish. Add kernels of corn, tomato, cucumber, carrots and garbanzo beans to the mix. Also, include a type of cheese, such as mozzarella, feta or blue. For dressing, pour on some balsamic or mustard vinaigrette or olive oil.
Strawberry and Spinach
Rather than use lettuce, make a spinach salad. Add sliced strawberries, feta cheese and walnuts or almonds to the spinach. Include sliced chicken breast or bacon for a well-rounded meal. Balsamic vinaigrette pairs perfectly with the strawberry, salty cheese and spinach.
Chinese Chicken Salad
Romaine and shredded cabbage make the base of this salad. Add sliced or diced chicken breast, seasoned and pepper, along with mandarin oranges, toasted almonds, shredded carrots, chopped green onions and sesame seeds. Douse the salad with a sesame ginger dressing. Include wonton croutons as well.
Tags: salt pepper, chicken breast, , with salt, with salt pepper