7 Ingredients That Will Turn Your Salad from a Bore to a Score

Sure, you know that salads are good for you. And when made right, they’re really delicious too! But making sure that you’re eating a salad a day can become pretty boring if you aren’t mixing things up every time you make yourself a leafy green meal.

Salad dressing is an awesome way to spruce your salads up. You can go with low fat vinaigrette dressings that offers a zesty flair, or creamy cashew dressings that remind you of that ranch dressing you used to love when you were a kid. Dressings made from rich foods like avocado and coconut meat will also help to make your salads melt in your mouth.

In addition to dressing your salad with spicy, zesty, or creamy concoctions, you’ll find that the more veggies you add the better the texture of each bite is. You can also spruce up your salad creations with the help of these delicious and easy to find ingredients:

Dulse

If you enjoy the flavor of seafood, you’ll love what dulse can do for your salad. This seaweed is high in iodine, minerals like magnesium, and makes a delightful topping to salads. You can buy it in flakes at the store and find it wherever nori and kelp are sold. You can add it directly to the greens or blend it with sunflower seeds, lemon juice, and a little soy sauce to create some “tuna salad” as a topping.

Currants

Currants are about half the size of raisins which makes them easy to disperse in salads. They are a little sweeter than raisins too, so a little goes a long way. Currants taste great tossed in salads, but they also make a great ingredient for salad dressings. You can warm them in the oven or in a dehydrator to soften them up a little before adding them to your greens for a more intense flavor.

Fresh Dill

Dill is an easy herb to grow and it’s light, feathery leaves afford a delicate texture to salads. Fresh dill is so flavorful that all you need to dress your salad is a little bit of lemon juice. Don’t be afraid to throw fresh dill in your salad by the handful!

Cauliflower

Adding chopped cauliflower to your salad will add lots of bulk, and if you cut it fine enough it will turn your salad into a filling tabbouleh. Mixing cauliflower and flax seeds in your food processor with a few spices will create some hardy “meatballs” to top your salad with.

Artichokes Hearts

Whether fresh or soaked in oil, artichoke hearts add a unique texture to greens. Their pungent flavor will make your salad come to life with the reminiscence of the Mediterranean. Kick things up a notch by sautéing your artichoke hearts with a little minced garlic before adding it them your greens.

Roasted Chickpeas

Chickpeas have a crunchy texture on the outside and stay nice and tender inside when they get roasted. They also absorb other flavors wonderfully, so make sure to roast them with your favorite herbs, spices, and oils. Roasted chickpeas are a lot like croutons, so you’ll probably want to add a handful of them to all of your salads. Luckily, they hold up well in the fridge so make a huge batch while you’re in the kitchen.

Marinated Mushrooms

When marinated, mushrooms feature a “meaty” texture that will easily bulk up your salads. Try creating taco salads, “steak” salads, or fajita salads with the help of mushrooms marinated in lemon juice and cumin. You’ll find that mushrooms make great “meatballs” too, just blend them up with a handful of walnuts and a little garlic to make tasty bite-sized balls.

Mixing and matching these ingredients when making your weekday salads will keep things interesting and satisfying enough to ensure that you don’t choose unhealthier options when meal time comes around.

Image Source: Veggie Tabbouleh with Barley