I love to make healthy salads that leave me full and gratified. Here are some tricks to making delicious salads that won’t leave you rummaging through your kitchen cabinets an hour later looking for a snack.
Make it Colorful
Add different colored fruits and veggies instead of just plain old iceberg lettuce. Try darker greens, red and yellow peppers, apple, fennel, radicchio, berries and avocado.
Heirloom Tomato Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing
Avocado, Brown Rice, and Shrimp Salad
Add Protein
My favorite thing to add to salads for protein is a poached egg. It's quick, easy and delicious.
Kale Salad with Avocado, Eggs, Tomato, and Bacon
I also love to add rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. Some other ideas are salmon, shrimp, or beans, nuts, cheese and seeds for vegetarians.
Cobb Salad with Rotisserie Chicken and Corn
Grains
I love to add bulgur wheat, freekeh, wheat berries, quinoa, or even leftover rice from a previous meal. It tastes great and keeps you feeling full.
Parsley Salad with Bulgur Wheat, Tomatoes, and Cucumbers
Zucchini, Squash, and Tomato Salad with Freekeh and Feta Cheese
Dressing
My go-to salad dressing is simple and light. I add Dijon mustard, lemon, honey, and balsamic vinegar to a bowl and slowly add olive oil to the consistency that I would like. It's fresh, takes just a second to make and works well with everything.
Tomato and Avocado Salad with Buffalo Mozzarella and Basil
Plating
Make sure it doesn’t only taste great, but looks good too. Try separating ingredients so you can see them all. Or putting the protein on top of the salad and add a garnish on top (cherry tomatoes, parsley, or lemon). You eat with your eyes before your stomach!
Nicoise Salad with Seared Ahi Tuna
Frisee Salad with Chicken Milanese
The Chopping Block's Wellness Chef Alia Dalal recently revealed her Go-To Salad Formula she uses for quick and healthy weeknight meals. She's got even more tips for cooking healthy on the go in our new Clean Eating: Eat to Live photo-rich guide, complete with a slew of new recipes for you to try at home. I especially love her beautiful Roasted Rainbow Salad which certainly meets the colorful food criteria I crave.
Want hands-on practice whipping up healthy salads? Join us for Clean Eating Boot Camp in April at Lincoln Square.
