The world is moving towards healthier eating so it’s no surprise that salads are becoming more popular. However, salads can still be unappealing to many if they lack variety. So here are some tips – like using new or unconventional ingredients – to make your salads more exciting and appealing to diners.
- For a Mediterranean touch, add roast peppers, aubergines and courgettes to provide an extra boost of flavour.
- Toast seeds and nuts in a dry pan, and use them as a topping for salads to add more texture and flavour.
- Halve tomatoes width ways, season with herbs, spices, a little black pepper and rosemary before roasting on low heat for a more intense flavour.
- Serve salads with hot ingredients like steamed or grilled meat to add high amounts of good fat and vibrant colour.
- Roast chunky vegetables with spices and toss them into a salad for a more texturally interesting option.
- Mix lots of chopped soft herbs with some low-fat cottage cheese, part-skimmed milk, mozzarella or ricotta cheese and a small amount of mustard for a heartier salad.
- For an Asian touch, toss chicken strips with salad leaves and dress with a low-salt soy sauce, mirin and a splash of lime juice.
- Try using rice noodles instead of pasta in salads to add an Asian spin and a more interesting texture.
- Make an easy side dip with fat-free Greek yoghurt or low-fat mayonnaise, lemon juice, ground cumin and coriander.
- Serve couscous steamed with lemon juice and finished with lots of herbs for an added layer of flavour in your salads.
