How do you make Homemade Salads taste good?

Question

I love salads when I get them from restaurants or when other people make them for me, but when I try to make them myself I don't like them. I want to start eating more vegetables because they are good for you, but my mom doesn't really buy any or cook with them. What can I put on salads to make them healthy and taste good? What's your favorite dressing?

Answer 1

How do you make Homemade Salads taste good?
Hmmm... What ya got in the fridge & freezer?

Always start with a good fresh lettuce, then add whatever is on hand that your tongue is waiting for. Experiment a little. The nice thing about a self-made salad is that you can tailor it to your taste buds. Sometimes I'll even make a whole meal out of a salad, using a large serving bowl.

Yes, I have used all these in salads. Choose from the following list, as you desire, sliced, diced, chopped, or grated:
carrots, mushrooms, celery, onions (Vidalias are in season right now), green, yellow, red peppers, avocado, fresh spinach, fresh or frozen peas, sprouts, water chestnuts, seeds or nuts, hard-boiled eggs, pepperoni, hot dogs, bologna, sausage chunks, fried bacon, fried liver, chicken, taco filling, left over steak, croutons, soup (oyster) crackers, mini Ritz crackers, cheese - Parmesan, mozzerella, ricotta, cheddar, colby, jack, Swiss, blue, cheese curds. Top off with your favorite dressing, or even just a little of the drippings from frying the bacon. Some combinations are so good you won't want to add any dressing.

Make a lettuce salad topped with fresh fruit such as, apple, pineapple, cherries, pears, peaches, kiwi, star fruit.

These suggestions are only to get you started. As you get going I'm sure you will come up with more treats with which to make a delicious salad.

Enjoy!

Answer 2

I love salads too. I like to cut up my veggies very small and add some chicken to it. (rotissorie chicken pre cooked is really good). I think the key to making a good salad is adding a little Feta cheese and making your own salad dressing. Try going to the salad dressing isle and getting a packet of Good Seasonings, Zesty Italian dry mix. You put water, vinegar and olive oil in it. I always put less oil in the mix. Good luck!

Answer 3

It's all in the dressing. Stay away from the bottled stuff. It's all terrible. Most people just get used to one of them and it becomes a routine condiment -- like ketchup. Still, if you make your own dressing, you can make even plain lettuce leaves taste good.

Try making a basic dressing. Olive oil, a vinegar (I like balsamic because it's sweet), salt, pepper, and bit of lemon zest and juice is my favourite, but there are tonnes of recipes kicking around the internet. You're bound to find something.

Answer 4

"How do you make Homemade Salads taste good?"

I know the feeling. After you've messed w/ all the ingredients, you're sick of it. The best way I know is to use homemade salad dressings. They are a cinch to make and are healthier than the bottled stuff filled w/ preservatives. A few of my fave recipes....
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Brown Derby Special French Dressing

1/4 C. Water
1/4 C. red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
3/4 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 clove garlic, minced
1/4 C. olive oil
3/4 C. vegetable oil

Combine all ingredients. Chill. Shake well before serving.
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Greek Dressing

1 cup EVOO
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
2 cloves minced garlic
1 Tbsp. dry oregano
Salt and fresh black pepper to taste

Mix all well.
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Zesty Lime Vinaigrette

1 cup EVOO
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1/3 cup lime juice
1 tsp. lime zest
1½ tsp. honey
Dash cayenne pepper
Salt to taste

Mix all ingredients well. Serve at room temp.
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LEMON VINAIGRETTE

1 1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
1/4 cup good olive oil
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Whisk together the mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper to make a vinaigrette.

**Variation** To make a classic vinaigrette, use a good vinegar instead of lemon jc.
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Whole Foods Blue Cheese Dressing

6 oz. Point Reyes Blue Cheese
1 cup sour cream
¼ cup buttermilk
2 Tbsp. finely minced chives or green onion tops
Dash of worcestershire sauce
Dash Tabasco
Kosher salt & pepper to taste

Mash cheese with a fork in a bowl, leaving some larger chunks. Stir in sour cream and buttermilk until creamy, but with bits of cheese remaining. Add remaining seasonings, mix well. Refrigerate. Makes 2 cups.
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Thousand Island Dressing

3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup ketchup
1 teaspoon minced capers
1 teaspoon minced gherkins
1 tablespoon sweet pickles
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Pinch kosher salt
Pinch freshly ground black pepper

Place all ingredients in a bowl, and stir until blended.

Answer 5

Durkee French Fried Onions in the can. You can also try La Choy Chow Mein Noodles in the can. And I never eat a salad without salt and pepper.

Answer 6

It would probably be cheaper to make it on your own, but if you have to buy it remember that most store-bought potato salads have a lot of mayo in it so freshen up the flavor by add fresh herbs like chopped dill.

Answer 7

My favorite salad consists of:
lettuce, baby spinach, tomatoes, olives, pineapples, banana pepper, mushrooms and raspberry vinagrette dressing. The different ingredients compliment each other well.

Answer 8

Southwestern salad:
bag of sweet baby lettuces
chopped tomato
finely minced onion
1c corn
1c black beans
12oz of louis rich southwestern chicken
1/2c shredded cheese

Dressing:
1/2c salsa
1/4c light sour cream
1/4c light ranch dressing


I have a bunch of more recipes for salads just let me know if you want some more.

Answer 9

start with agood lettuce add chunks of ham tomatos cucks
onion cheese and some blt ranch dressing it rocks

Answer 10

lettuce, sliced cucumber, slices of ham, thin slices green pepper, cherry tomatoes, hard boiled egg sliced and arranged around the salad plate.,perhaps some croutons. I prefer Italian Dressing (kraft) or Catalina* (like french dressing but a better 'kick' to it.....also Cool Ranch with Bacon bits is also another good dressing* (and good for veggie sticks(carrots/celery..for dipping)
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You could also try Ceasar Salad and add sliced cooked chicken ontop

Best Ceasar Salad

1/2 cup or bit more - grated parmesean cheese set aside.

1-2 cloves garlic- sliced
1/2 cup veg. oil
combine in a glass, put seran wrap ontop and set aside for 1-2 hours to enhance the garlic flavour into the oil.
Remove the garlic with spoon set aside on plate to use for garlic bread

Add 1tsp salt, 1/4 tsp. pepper,
1 -Tbsp. worchester sauce,
2- Tbsp vinegar
3 -Tbsp Lemon juice to the garlic/oil in cup, mix thoroughly.(set aside with seran wrap over cup until ready to serve)

Wash and pat dry Romaine Lettuce,wrap in a tea-towel and put in fridge until ready to serve. (keeps lettuce chilled/crispy fresh*
Break up lettuce into bite sized pieces and put some in serving bowl....sprinkling some parmesan cheese inbetween layers of lettuce/parmesean cheese/more lettuce...Drizzle dressing (oil/vinegar..) over ceasar salad, stopping to toss/mix.....not wnating it too wet, but just moist* Add more cheese when needed. Slice up the cooked chicken breast (or leftover chicken from day before...heat in microwave or have cold..sliced and put ontop of ceasar salad plate*~

Take some rolls/ (mix butter or margarine with diced up left over garlic slices from the oil, mix..spread over rolls.....put under broiler till golden brown, u can even add some grated parmeasean cheese to the garlic bread~*
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Another Salad that is Amazing is TEX MeX Salad

3-4 med. tomatoes-chopped
1/2 large green pepper (chopped and cubed)
1/2 large yellow pepper ( """""""""""""""""""""""")
3 tbsp. olive oil
3 tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 clove garlic minced
2 tbsp chopped broadleaf parsley
1 tbsp chilli powder
2 cups rotini pasta cooked and drained
1/2 cup cheddar cheese Cubed.
salt and pepper to taste

Combine tomatoes and peppers in a large bowl. Combine oil, vinegar , garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, and chilli powder in a cup. Mix well. Pour over tomatoe mixture.
Sprinkle cubed cheese and cooked drained rotini pasta into the tomatoe mixture, gently stir/toss. Chill for 1/2hr-1hr to enhance flavours. .Lightly toss again then serve*
I've Never had Any complaints..and there is never any leftovers :)