By Amy Barton
If I've heard one "What ARE you, a rabbit?!" quip, I've heard 'em all. Hey, I wouldn't mind being a rabbit. They're fluffy, cute, tasty... I'm somewhat fluffy, so I'm 1/3 of the way there.
Salad gets a bad rap. Say it with me: Veggies are your friend. Look, when I say "salad," I'm not talking about those pitiful, lifeless, limp little plates of iceberg lettuce and shredded carrots you get as a "side" when you go out for dinner. Those are not salads. Those are little plates of crap.
A great salad is a beautiful thing. It's robust. It's bountiful. It's fun. It's a delicious addition to an otherwise paltry, unbalanced meal. It is not a chore. At least, it shouldn't be.
Salad gets a bad rap. Say it with me: Veggies are your friend. Look, when I say "salad," I'm not talking about those pitiful, lifeless, limp little plates of iceberg lettuce and shredded carrots you get as a "side" when you go out for dinner. Those are not salads. Those are little plates of crap.
A great salad is a beautiful thing. It's robust. It's bountiful. It's fun. It's a delicious addition to an otherwise paltry, unbalanced meal. It is not a chore. At least, it shouldn't be.
 Eat this! |  Not this! |
You have to have a base, of course. For me, a solid salad base consists of a few key veggies.
Without these, you don't have a salad. I don't know what you do have, but it isn't a salad.
Great, so you've got a start. But what else can you add to it to make it awesome? Not shredded cheese - nay! Not shredded carrots (who shreds carrots anyway? Cut those babies up and dip 'em in some ranch!). You could dice up some bell pepper(s). You could cube up your favorite cheese (in salads, I love colby-jack, fresh mozzarella, or muenster). Chop up a couple hard boiled eggs, whydontcha? Toss in some olives! Gahhh, I love olives.
In addition to the above mentioned common salad jazzer uppers, read on to see seven more easy ingredients that may not always cross your mind.
- lettuces - multiple varieties (choose your favorites!)
- tomatoes
- cucumber
Without these, you don't have a salad. I don't know what you do have, but it isn't a salad.
Great, so you've got a start. But what else can you add to it to make it awesome? Not shredded cheese - nay! Not shredded carrots (who shreds carrots anyway? Cut those babies up and dip 'em in some ranch!). You could dice up some bell pepper(s). You could cube up your favorite cheese (in salads, I love colby-jack, fresh mozzarella, or muenster). Chop up a couple hard boiled eggs, whydontcha? Toss in some olives! Gahhh, I love olives.
In addition to the above mentioned common salad jazzer uppers, read on to see seven more easy ingredients that may not always cross your mind.
1. Artichoke Hearts
Canned Avocado Heart Quarters Skip over the fresh artichokes for this. Go directly to the canned vegetable aisle and pick up canned plain artichoke hearts - or jarred marinated hearts. I love 'em both, but prefer plain for my salads so that the marinade-y flavor doesn't compete with the dressing I make. They're slightly salty and earthy and offer an awesome texture contrast.
2. Baby Corn
Canned Baby Corn I don't think I need to say much more than "Baby Corn," do I? I mean, they're cute, they're fun, the flavor isn't overwhelming... And you don't find them in salads very often. They bring a moderate veggie'd up crunch to the party and a flavor that you can't quite put your finger on, in the best way possible.
3. Capers
Capers (you can use any brand) Capers (or Caper Berries, depending on which variation your store carries) are a HUGE punch of flavor in a teeny little pea-sized package. They're briny and salty (a great way to replace table salt) and ever so slightly just pop in your mouth when you bite into them. Bonus: They're inexpensive and readily available. Impress your friends' taste buds with these. How Mediterranean of you!
4. Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower Seeds This is something you obviously want to stay away from if you have an allergy. But if you don't? "Seedy" may not be a positive when we're talking about the south end of the Las Vegas strip - but when we're talking salad? Wining! A bit of nutty crunch comes to the party with this ingredient - along with healthy fats, amino acids, and a decent amount of fiber. Be sure to buy unsalted seeds if you want to control the salt!
5. Sprouts - choose your favorite!
Broccoli Sprouts "Sprouts." What does that make you think? The ultimate "blah" health food of yesteryear? Time to reboot the ol' brain! Sprouts are fun, add tons of texture contrast (which is actually a little surprising, since they're not crunchy), and bulk up your bowl without tons of calories. Use alfalfa or broccoli sprouts for delicate bulk, or mung bean sprouts for a lighter, water-chestnut-like crunch of freshness.
6. Fresh Lemon Juice
Juice From Fresh Lemons Huge fan of fresh citrus, that's me. I don't put it on everything, but damn near. Fresh lemon juice gives a fresh, bright pop to anything - and it goes especially well with fresh produce. It's not sweet (duh), so don't worry about fruiting up your salad. You could omit this if you're planning for a creaming dressing (ranch, caesar, etc.), but I think it pairs well with all of them.
7. Avocado
Avocado Look. There isn't much of anything that doesn't approve when you add avocado with it. Yes, even sweets. Avocado chocolate pudding, anyone? AVOCADO SMOOTHIE, ANYONE?! (I think I just decided on dessert). In salad, it adds a creamy richness and loads of healthy fats. When you use ingredient #6 with it, it won't turn brown after you cut it.
Honorable Mentions: Muenster Cheese & Black Olives
 Jumbo Black Olives |  Muenster cheese, cubed small. |
One of my favorite things about salad is that you can add or take out anything you want. So, mix and match! Me, I use all 7 of these ingredients in my salad - and more. Use things from the pantry, cut up some leftover meat, put together your own salad dressing... You'll be a lettuce-head in no time.
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