Lettuce not forget - twenty-one ways to pimp your salad

Dull salads?  Never! ....  here are some ideas to add a little more va va voom to your salad days...

1.    Dollop on some dips, hummus, mayonnaise; guacamole, salsas.

 

2.    Sprinkle on some seeds or nuts (dry roast nuts in a frying pan first) -walnuts, pinenuts, cashews, sunflower seeds.

 

3.    Slice in some fruit - oranges, satsuma, melon, grapefruit, grapes, pear, peaches (fresh or tinned).

 

4.    Add grains - giant cous cous, fusilli pasta, red camargue rice.

 

5.    Add pulses  -kidney beans, chick peas, cannellini, black eyed beans, lentils.

 

6.    Fry up some croutons - slice up squares of bread and fry in olive oil until crispy as a topping.

 

7.    Always olives any other marinated delights – artichoke, gherkins. 

 

8.    Just tomato?  Plate alone, ideally at room temperature, with some balsamic, olive oil and a pinch of sea salt (nobody loves a cold tomato!).

 

9.    Alchemy up some dressing –olive oil with added herbs, lemon juice, mustards, vinegars, garlic, salt, pepper – have a play around, bung ingredients in an empty jam jar and give it a shake.

 

10.  Sneak in some finely sliced cabbage (savoy is my favourite) or scallions (spring onions) for added crunch.

 

11.  Include some fresh herbs -parsley, coriander, dill, chives, basil, mint.

 

12.  Use leftover cold potato as a base for a salad Nicoise (avoid adding boiled egg to salad, unless it is a Nicoise). 

 

13.  Splash some colour with raw spinach or beetroot – slice, grate or oven roast.

 

14.  Introduce cheese -cubed feta, grated Leicester, slithers of parmesan, grilled halloumi, crumbled stilton, slices of mozzarella.

 

15.  Don’t be afraid of vegetables – peas, sweetcorn, chopped green beans.

 

16.  Marinate raw broccoli in olive oil and lemon juice and eat with chopped cherry tomato and some tuna fish.

 

17.  Make a coleslaw with sliced carrots and cabbages (red and white) add raisins, mayo and lemon juice.

 

18.  Crack open a tin of fish - tuna, sardines, mackerel, salmon, anchovies.

 

19.  Mix in some dried fruit such as chopped apricots, dried prunes, figs, raisins.

 

20.  Add some cold meats and go all mezze.

21. Bash up some breadsticks or crackers in a plastic sandwich bag with a rolling pin and sprinkle over your salad for some crunch.