Creative salads

Salads are always seen as boring ‘rabbit food’, but they don’t have to be that way. In fact, the more lively a salad, the more likely you will want to eat it. I am famous for my salads at family and friends gatherings. This works for me as I don’t always have the resources (and time) to cook a turkey or a prawn curried stew for Christmas or other special occasions. And yes, okay, I don’t know where I would start on such delectable dishes. So, I have had to come up with some really interesting salads to make up for my lack of commitment to cooking warm dishes.

The picture above is a salad that I made for Christmas 2016. It was a combination of different types of lettuce, cucumber, olives, Danish feta, flax seeds, cooked and grated beetroot, grated carrot, fried onion rings, cherry tomatoes and avocado with a touch of salt and coriander spices. The dressing: a combination of flax seed oil, balsamic vinegar and crushed garlic.

Whether you want to eat more salads or contribute something easy, yet delightful, to a special occasion, here are a few simple tips to put together your creative salad:

1. Add ingredients that you like

Of course you will be put off by salads if you’re eating a dry combination of only lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber. If you enjoy meat, add some meat. Spice it up with some salt or herbs like rosemary or basil. Also, who says there must be more lettuce than any other ingredient? Add more meat or avocado and even some raw onion and chopped chilli to add some extra zing!

2. Add carbohydrates to the salad

If you need a more fulling salad, try adding some carbs to fill you up. I would suggest basmati rice, quinoa, rice noodles or even barley. Throw in some sunflower and flax seeds for an extra crunch and smoother digestion.

3. Don’t be stingy with the good stuff

Like I said earlier, lettuce doesn’t have to be the overpowering ingredient in the salad. Add those extra olives, tuna and feta for a fuller bodied salad. You can even add something sweet like pomegranate seeds or raisins for a different taste.

4. Add a variety of types of lettuce

There are many types of lettuce and green herbs to give a different taste to your salad. Some examples are butter lettuce, rocket, stem lettuce, romaine lettuce, rosemary, sage and many more.

5. Be creative with your presentation

Take some time to lay out your ingredients to make your salad look attractive. Make sure you put some exciting ingredients near the top. The more colorful, the more enticing the salad.

Good Luck!