How do I make a really good salad?!


Question: How do I make a really good salad!?
I've been left in charge of making the salad for tonight and it's not something I've ever done before (don't laugh) my wife has started teaching me how to cook recently and I'm having lots of fun picking up recipes and trying new things!. I'd be too embarrassed to ask her how to do this, hence my asking on here!. I've got all the ingredients you would need such as, Tomatoes, Lettuce, Onions, Salad Vinegar etc etc!. Can I use things such as mint as well!?

Tell me all I need to know!.!.!. ^_^!.
Cheers, Jason :)Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
I would leave out the mint!. I would keep it pretty simple - using lettuce (again cut to bite-size) - if you have different kinds of lettuce - use a little of each - some spinach if you have it too!. Then do a little carrot - diced works if you want, radishes - diced if you have them, and the tomatoes - chopped if big and left whole if tiny!. Don't put the tomatoes on until just before serving!. NOW!.!.!.!.

Here are some great things to add to that salad!. I put about a handful of cranraisins in mine and a handful of pecan halves (raw - not salted - the kind you cook with)!. You could toast the pecan halves but don't need to - it would add another dimension to the flavor of things if you did - you just put a skillet of water on the burner, when it comes to a boil, pour out the water and add the pecans to the dry skillet (the heat dries it and it will be the perfect temperature for the nuts)and heat them - watch carefully - don't want to burn them or they take on a bitter taste!.

If you use the cranraisins and pecans, use grape tomatoes instead of large ones cut - if no grape tomatoes, leave tomatoes out!. That salad is wonderful with Raspberry Vinaigrette over it!. I paid $12 for a lunch salad very similar to that!. The only difference is theirs also had shredded chicken and chopped apple in it with the Raspberry Vinaigrette!. I've been making their recipe ever since I had it and everyone who has had it, has loved it!.

Here's another salad my grandmother used to always make for me - it was wonderful!. She would take head lettuce (not leaf lettuce) and shred it into a large bowl!. Then she would add finely diced yellow onion, finely chopped green onion, diced radishes and diced carrot!. She would mix all that up and then make a dressing using mayonnaise, black pepper, a dash of sugar and milk to thin it!. She would then add the dressing by the spoonful, mixing until there is a very light coating on everything - not a heavy coating and none in the bottom of the bowl!. Then she would add the small cooked cocktail shrimp and gently stir!. She would serve it in a leaf of head lettuce, adding a light grind of black pepper over the salad!. Very good!.

Enjoy!Www@FoodAQ@Com

well for simple Greek salad but nice all the same:

1) dice large tomatoes into 1cm cubes, and place into a bowl!.

2) then cut both ends of cucumber off and cut the whole cucumber in half, and then into quarters, remove the seeds (the inner part of the cucumber and throw away), then chop into cubes and add to diced tomatoes!.

4) use whole but no seed black olives!.

5) and chop some feta (or goats cheese if necessary) into small cubes and add to rest of ingredients

6) Then cut off the end of a cucumber and cut into thin slices (as many as prefered) and add to salad mix!.

7) rough chop some red onion into small pieces and then mix salad altogether!.

8) the coursley chop some parsley add to the salad!.

9) the sprinkle around 1 teaspoon of oregano!.

10) then lightly dress with some olive oil and mix once again!.
And there is your greek salad!.

NOTE: dont mix too hard or tomatoes etc will fall apart!.

Enjoy :o)Www@FoodAQ@Com

Shred or chop the lettuce (or break into leaves it it's a gem or kos lettuce) and mix with chopped tomatoes (or whole if they're cherry toms), finely slice the onions, mix and drizzle a touch of dressing on top!. Leave most of the lettuce at the bottom, so you can see the other ingredients or they will hide!. Finely slice some peppers if you have some - they look nice scattered on top!. I wouldn't add mint personally - unless it's a potato or couscous salad!.
voila!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Well I would add some cheeses to the salad and some cucumbers!. I first wash the lettuce and break it apart and put in a bowl!. Then I cut up all my tomatoes, onions, cheeses, cucumbers, olives(if you like them)!. Then add all ingredients and then put your salad dressing over it (unless you are leaving it dry)!. I like to put some Italian dressing over mine and YUMMY!! For cheese I always use some cheddar & mozzeralla!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Easy! get some good lettuce and add anhything that sounds good to you!. The thing with salad is, you can't mess it up!Examples!.!.!.
cheeses - blue cheese, feta, american, cheddar
deli meats
boiled egg
olives
pepperoncinis
nuts
seafood
real bacon bits
croutons
veggies, broccoli, artichoke hearts, carrots, cauliflower, cucumber, mushrooms, onion, tomatoes
baby corn
pickled beets
pickles
I'm sure there are plenty more things, but I can't think of anymore!.!.!.!.good luck!Www@FoodAQ@Com

Sounds like you're off to a good start!. Lettuce, Tomatoes, Cucumber, you can shred a carrot into the salad!. Onions are good, but some people don't eat them, so you can slice some, and put them on the side!. Black olives are good, too!. Buy 2 jars of salad dressing!.!.!.one Italian and one Thousand Island or Russian!. Basic and delicious!.

No Mint!Www@FoodAQ@Com

use as many veggies as you like the more the better!.DO NOT use ice burg!.very boring go out and get a fancy mix!.you can even get some fresh spinach!.get some crumbled blue cheese some feta!.sun dried tomatoes,roasted red peppers!.
a salad should be colorful that is what makes it appetizing!.remember COLOR!.sesame sticks on the side roasted almonds,sun flower seeds,alfalfa sprouts,carrots ,yellow bell pepper,collie flower,broccoli,color color color!.!.!.!.!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

yes you can add mint or some other herbs if you have them growing basil goes well with tomatoes!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.don't try to do anything to fancy this time !.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.just add thing's as you become happier in the kitchen and what is to hand!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.think of salads you've had in the past recreate the good and omit the bad !.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.don't make it too early as the liquid naturally occuring will escape and make it mushyWww@FoodAQ@Com

Use what you have!.!.!. no mint unless you plan to add fruit!. You can jazz it up though add diced hard boiled eggs crumbled bacon and add baby spinach or another green leafy veg not just plain lettuce!. Only other tip is make sure pieces are bite size and don't "over dress" salad have extra on the side availableWww@FoodAQ@Com

Jason,

You can surprise her really well!. Mint is great!.

also adding fresh apple as you are ready to serve and grapes, buts!. ther is no end!. Cheese!. Diffrenet lettuces!. she will be surprised and happy!. have fun!. Nice of you to cook also!. I like Olive oil and redd wine vinegar for dressing!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

No mint, its too overpowering, unless you have some sort of yogurt dressing!.
i like greek salads, and you can tweak any salad to your liking!.!. My favorite ingredients are!.
baby spinach
Romaine
red inions
cucumber
sliced green peppers
black olives
anchovies
crumbled feta cheese
tomato
oil and vinegarWww@FoodAQ@Com

okay, so wash and cut up the lettuce!. then add tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, peppers and oinions (if you want) and then some crutons!. cover it in caesar dressing and let it sit!! it will taste just like those at olive garden!! serve it with the option of adding other dressing too!!Good Luck!!

ps-no mint!!!!Www@FoodAQ@Com

1) Have all your ingredients!.
2) Have all of your ingredients fresh!.
3) Use lettucs or spinach!.
4) Make sure you have your dressing, tomatoes, meat, carrots, broccoli, some use bolied eggs, and whatever you like!. EnjoyWww@FoodAQ@Com

here are some of my mom's tips:

* try to make it fresh, i mean have it cut immediately before serving!.
* if you need to cut the vegetables earlier do not mix them together until the moment of serving!.
* add olive oil , lemon juice and salt at the last stage of mixing!.

good luckWww@FoodAQ@Com

I bet a cirtus mint salad would be delicious, or you could use the mint as a dressing!. Their are hundreds if not thousands of varieties of salads!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

a good salad is: good lettuce, ranch or Italian dressing, shredded cheese, tomatoes, bacon bits, and croutons!.

that's the way to go right there!Www@FoodAQ@Com

hey its really not dat hard just clean the lettuce off with water thn put it in a bowl cut tomato and cucumber put it in i suggest croutons and then to make it even better put ceaser dressing and toss it up in the bowlWww@FoodAQ@Com

yeah!.!.!. i would leave the mint out
just chop up some lettuce put in some veggies and you can make a dressing w/ just olive oil, lemon juice and zest, and salt and pepper!. salad is prob!. the easiest thing youll ever makeWww@FoodAQ@Com

There are many things you can put in salads!
Onions
Carrots
Tomatoes
Cucumber
Crutons
Deli Meats
Boiled Eggs
Olives
Seafood such as crab meat
Some fruits such as grapes

Make one up!
Good luck and nooo mint!!Www@FoodAQ@Com

tomatoes,lettuce,onion,cucumber (peeled),crispy bacon and avocado(peeled and stoned)!.chop everything up and toss together in large bowl!.drizzle with dressing of choice!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

For cold salad, try using plain low fat yogurt (you might want to add some fruits if you are using yogurt as your sauce)
Something salty, maybe you can try Honey Mustard!?
Enjoy!Www@FoodAQ@Com

mint would be great!! you can also try blue cheese or lime

and easy on the mint, but some would be good!. dont use ranch for the dressingWww@FoodAQ@Com

well put everything u ,like to eat or go to this site they have lots of things to do www!.bbcfood!.com and www!.bbcgoodfood!.comWww@FoodAQ@Com

forget the mint, but a little fruit is good, apple, even raisons to give it a little sweet!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Your stuff needs to be fresh, and put the dressing on the side so ppl can add as much or as little as they want!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

www!.foodnetwork!.comWww@FoodAQ@Com

Unless it includes pasta or meat!.!.!.there is no such thing :)Www@FoodAQ@Com

just have all your veggies to be freshWww@FoodAQ@Com

put stuff in it you like to eat! thats what works for meWww@FoodAQ@Com

You could do a basic easy salad like this:
Buy a bag of Iceberg Garden, or Italian Blend salad mix
Then chop whatever additional veggies you want, onions, tomatoes, peppers!.
You can also crumble boiled egg, or cheese on the top
Salad dressing!.

OR you could blow them away with an easy gormet salad, heres two of my favorites:

Strawberry Fields Salad:
Salad-
? c!. Raisens
? c!. Shredded carrots
? c!. Sliced red onions
1 c!. Sliced fresh strawberries
4 c!. Mixed Greens
Caramelized Walnuts

Dressing-
1 c!. Strawberry Puree
? c!. Balsamic Vinegar
2 T!. White Sugar
1 T!. Dijon Mustard
1 t!. Kosher Salt
? c!. Canola Oil
Black Pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients except for the oil in a blender!. Slowly add the oil and mix well!.

And here's another one I do sometimes, that people really seem to like:

Salad-
Mixed Greens
Diced Granny Smith Apples
Mandarian orange Segments
Raisens
Dried Apricots
Crumbled Mozzerella Cheese
Water Chesnuts, diced
Sliced Almonds

Dressing (olive garden recipe)-
1/2 cup white or red wine vinegar
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil or olive oil
1/4 cup light corn syrup
2 1/2 tablespoons grated Romano cheese
2 tablespoons dry pectin (used to thicken jelly)
2 tablespoons beaten egg or egg substitute
1 1/4 tsp!. salt
1 tsp!. lemon juice
1/2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic or 1 tsp!. garlic powder
1/4 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
pinch of oregano
pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste

Combine all of the ingredients with a mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds -Or- in a blender on low speed for 30 seconds -Or- use a wand mixer on low speed for 30 seconds!. Chill at least 1 hour!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

First when making the salad start with breaking the lettuce into bite size pieces with your hand (don't cut the lettuce with a knife this leaves rust marks!.) Wash the lettuce thoroughly with cold water making sure to drain off excess water!. If you don't own a salad spinner try blotting excess water off with a clean paper towel so the salad isn't soggy!.
Next I prefer to cut the tomatoes into little wedges unless I have cherry tomatoes!. I slice the onions in half and thin slice into thin pieces to put in the salad!. If you put green peppers or cucumbers in your salads the trick is to make each piece bite size!. Croutons, shredded cheese and bacon bites are all options as well!. Try to find different colored veggies that taste good raw to add color!. I prefer not to add the dressing since it is a matter of taste on how much people want!. If you really want to impress them by adding a few Nasturium buds they taste like: sweet, mildly pungent, peppery flavor and Pansy buds for color both are edible and will add a shock to everyone who expects an average salad!. Good luck and it's our secret you asked here first!.Www@FoodAQ@Com





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