3 Components for a Good Salad
Every step in creating a salad, from selecting ingredients to serving it, allow for the preparer’s imagination. Here are the basic components for a good salad:
1. Delicate leafy greens. Delicate greens take best to lighter dressings, like a simple vinaigrette or just oil.
Example: Arugula, mâche, mesclun, watercress, red leaf lettuces, fresh herbs (like chervil, chives, cilantro, marjoram, tarragon, parsley, dill), pea shoots, edible flowers.
2. Hearty leafy greens. Heartier greens can stand up to thicker dressings or a puréed avocado dressing.
Example: Young kale, romaine, radicchio, Belgian endive, baby bok choy, curly endive, dandelion, spinach, escarole, Bibb lettuce, little gem lettuce, butter lettuce, young chard.
3. Sliced vegetables or fruits. Thinly slicing raw vegetables or fruits can make a delicious and substantial salad base.
Example: Celery root, artichoke, beets, turnips, cabbage, fennel, radish, celery, cucumber, carrot, jicama, napa cabbage, mushrooms, zucchini, summer squash, tomato, bell peppers, onion, scallions, shallots, burdock, jicama, apple, pear.
