How to make the Best Healthy Salad using simple ingredients?

If you’re tired of plain and boring salads, try my foolproof, delicious and healthy salad recipe. It is full of so many beautiful colors and textures. And you know what is the best part? You already have all the ingredients on hand. And if you don’t, I’ll give you plenty of substitution ideas.

Let’s get started!

What makes a Delicious Salad?

Lately, I’ve been trying to eat healthier and incorporate more fruits and veggies into my diet. I’m not a big fan of cooked veggies, so a fresh and nutritious salad is my preferred method of doing that. Not every salad sounds all that exciting though. And I like to get excited about my food! Why else would I choose to eat it?

So let me share my formula for a healthy and, most importantly, delicious salad.

I like to layer my salad on a big serving plate starting with healthy greens at the bottom and building up with some yummy additions. This way, the presentation is always on point even if I’m using the most basic ingredients. And presentation is everything, in my opinion.

First layer – the Greens

You have to think of some of your favorite greens first. I don’t recommend going with arugula or kale just because you know they’re considered “healthy”. Try to pick greens that YOU actually enjoy. If it’s kale or arugula, great! If not, it’s ok. Greens in any form are good for you.

Here’s a list of my favorite greens:

• baby spinach
• cabbage
• romaine lettuce
• napa cabbage
• iceberg lettuce

Like I said, make sure to pick greens that you like. Wash them first, then dry using a paper towel or a salad spinner. Cut them up as small or as coarse as you like. You could also add more veggies at this stage. Peppers and cucumbers are a great option. Now, let’s move on to the next layer.

Second Layer – Tomatoes

Tomatoes bring so much color and flavor to your salad. There’s so many different types of tomatoes too. As always, pick your favorite kind.

I personally really like sweet cherry or grape tomatoes in my salad. I simply cut them in halves and add as a second layer.

Third Layer – Healthy Protein

If you’re looking to make your salad a full meal, then go ahead and add your favorite healthy protein at this step. Consider these protein options:

• hard-boiled egg
• cooked chicken
• canned fish
• canned chicken
• grilled salmon
• lunch meat
• canned beans

I’m skipping protein this time, since I’m serving this salad as an addition to my dinner, and not as a main dish.

Fourth Layer – Cheese (optional)

Even though I said, cheese is an optional layer, I highly recommend you don’t skip it. Cheese brings so much flavor to any salad! Also, cheese can be a great source of calcium, protein and fat.

What cheese to add? Again, it all depends on your preferences. Good cheese options are:

• goat cheese
• feta
• gouda
• parmesan
• cheddar
• blue cheese
• ricotta
• farmer’s cheese

Final Layer – Fun Additions

Finally, we got to the fun part! Let’s see what other yummy ingredients you have on hand.

I would start by checking your fridge to see if you have any fresh fruit or berries. Those could add a mind blowing contrast of flavors to your healthy salad.

Now, let’s move on to checking your pantry. Got any nuts or seeds? Throw those on top of your salad for a nice crunch and some healthy fats.

Some of my favorite toppings are:

• strawberries
• grapes
• apples/pears
• pomegranate
• roasted pumpkin or sweet potatoes
• nuts
• pumpkin seeds
• raisins
• dried cranberries
• chia seeds
• flaxseed
• pickled beets
• olives
• pickled jalapeños
• canned or sautéed mushrooms
• canned corn or peas

The key here is to experiment and find your favorite flavor combination. From there, I promise you will be craving a good healthy salad almost every day. And that’s the goal!

Healthy Salad Dressing

As you might already know, I’m all about experimenting in the kitchen. I rarely use store bought salad dressings. Instead, I like to make my own. This way, I’m fully in control of everything that goes into the dressing. But if you don’t have the time to make your own dressing, don’t worry about it too much and just use what you have. You’re already doing yourself a big favor by eating a healthy and nutritious meal!

Dressing brings every flavor together, so the ingredients you choose to make it should complement the ingredients you use in the salad.

Try mixing the things you already have on hand to create a fun and flavorful dressing. You could use sour cream, greek yogurt, or olive oil as a base. From there, experiments are endless.

Here’s what I used in the dressing for this particular salad: olive oil, balsamic vinegar, date syrup, salt and pepper.

Some ingredients to consider for your dressing are:

• mayo/sour cream/plain yogurt/olive oil
• honey/date syrup/maple syrup
• salt, pepper
• Italian seasoning/garlic powder/paprika/ginger
• balsamic vinegar/lemon juice/orange juice/lime juice
• mustard

Conclusion

Now that we went through all the steps of creating a Delicious and Healthy Salad, I hope you’re more excited about your veggies than ever before. I’m really hoping I’ve inspired you to create Your Perfect Salad and eat more healthy and fun meals! If so, please don’t forget to rate this recipe and leave a comment below.

More Healthy Recipes to Try

• Pumpkin Pie Latte – Fancy Coffee at Home
• Fluffy Protein Oatmeal – Egg-White Proats
• Vanilla Protein Cottage Cheese Pancakes
• Chocolate Lava Cake Baked Oats – Oven or Air Fryer
• Honey and Peach Bruschetta – Creamy and Delicious