One thing's for sure, I love a reset button, and a new year is a good one. These fun salad recipes are meant to make the healthy choice a little easier. In true Foodie Globetrotter fashion, most of them borrow flavors from around the world so you don't get bored.
Salad ingredients to keep on hand
A good salad starts with what's already in your kitchen. These are the basics worth keeping around:
- Leafy Greens: Spinach, kale, arugula, and lettuce are the foundation of any great salad.
- Vegetables: Cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, and bell peppers add color and crunch.
- Fruits: Apples, berries, and citrus fruits bring a little sweetness.
- Proteins: Grilled chicken, salmon, tofu, and chickpeas provide the necessary protein to keep you full.
- Nuts and Seeds: Almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and chia seeds add texture and healthy fats.
- Cheese: Feta cheese, goat cheese, and parmesan cheese offer a creamy and tangy element.
- Herbs: Fresh basil, parsley, and cilantro make a plain salad taste fresh.
- Salad Dressing: Olive oil, lemon juice, and Greek yogurt are good bases for most dressings.
Adding global flavors
Sometimes your favorite salad doesn't need much help. But if you're stuck in a rut or want to jazz things up a bit, try these flavor additions:
- Thai flavors: add Thai flavors to your salad with ingredients like shredded carrots, bean sprouts, cilantro, and peanuts. Dress the salad with a homemade peanut dressing.
- Mexican flavors: to give your salads a Mexican twist, add ingredients like black beans, corn, avocado, and cherry tomatoes. Dress the salad with homemade chipotle vinaigrette made with lime juice and chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
- Italian flavors: incorporate Italian flavors into your salad recipes by adding olives, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and salami. Dress the salad with homemade Italian dressing made with red wine vinegar, garlic, and oregano.
- Moroccan flavors: add Moroccan flavors to your salads with chickpeas, raisins/currants, and chopped pistachios. Dress the salad with a spicy homemade vinaigrette made with harissa paste or a mild dressing made with za'atar.
- Indian flavors: give your salad recipes an Indian twist with chickpeas, diced cucumber, and raita. Dress the salad with a homemade vinaigrette made with yogurt and spices like cumin and coriander.
How Do You Make a Global-Inspired Salad Dressing?
Thai Peanut Salad Dressing
Add some Thai flair to your salad with this dressing
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon grated ginger
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic until well combined.
- Add the water to the dressing and whisk until smooth.
- Taste the dressing and adjust the seasoning as needed. You may want to add more honey for sweetness, or more soy sauce for saltiness.
- Use the dressing to dress your salad, or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use. The dressing will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- To use the dressing, simply toss it with your choice of salad greens and any additional vegetables or toppings you desire. Some good options include shredded carrots, bean sprouts, cilantro, and peanuts. Enjoy!
Spicy Harissa Salad Dressing
Add Moroccan flair to your salad with this spicy harissa salad dressing
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon orange juice
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ½ teaspoon harissa paste
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, orange juice, honey, harissa paste, and cumin until well combined.
- Season the dressing with salt and pepper to taste.
- Use the dressing to dress your salad, or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use. The dressing will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- To use the dressing, simply toss it with your choice of salad greens and any additional vegetables or toppings you desire. Some good options include chickpeas, raisins, and chopped pistachios. Enjoy!
Sweet and Smoky Chipotle Vinaigrette
Our go-to salad dressing recipe for Santa Fe or Mexican-style salads
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¾ cup olive oil extra virgin
- 3 tablespoon honey
- ½ teaspoon oregano dry
- 1½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper ground
- ½ can chipotles in adobo blended
- 2 cloves garlic minced
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Adjust seasoning. Can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.
Classic salads
A couple of easy classics:
- Spinach Salad: Baby spinach leaves, cherry tomatoes, and a light vinaigrette.
- Caprese Salad: Sliced tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil, dressed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Superfood salads
These lean on nutrient-dense ingredients:
- Quinoa and Avocado Salad: Cooked quinoa, diced avocado, cherry tomatoes, and a citrus vinaigrette. The quinoa adds enough protein to make it a meal.
- Kale and Berry Salad: Curly kale, mixed berries, crumbled feta cheese, and a balsamic vinaigrette.
- Grilled Chicken and Quinoa Salad: Grilled chicken, cooked quinoa, roasted vegetables, and a tangy dressing.
- Edamame and Mango Salad: Cooked edamame, diced mango, red onions, and a spicy dressing, so you get sweet and savory in the same bite.
Salads from around the world
There are so many interesting salads out there once you look beyond lettuce and dressing. Use this list next time you're at your favorite global restaurant, or when you want something new at home:
- Indonesian gado gado salad – salad with boiled vegetables and spicy peanut sauce.
- Caesar salad – a salad of romaine lettuce and croutons dressed with parmesan cheese, lemon juice, egg, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies, garlic, and black pepper.
- Greek salad – a salad made with tomatoes, onions, feta cheese, olives, and cucumbers, dressed with olive oil and vinegar.
- Nicoise salad – a salad made with tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, anchovies, and olives, typically served on a bed of lettuce.
- Thai papaya salad – a spicy salad made with shredded green papaya, chilies, garlic, and fish sauce.
- Israeli salad – a simple salad made with diced tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions, dressed with lemon juice and olive oil.
- Korean seaweed salad – a salad made with boiled seaweed, sesame seeds, and a variety of seasonings.
- Italian panzanella – a bread and tomato salad made with stale bread, tomatoes, onions, and basil, dressed with olive oil and vinegar.
- Vietnamese chicken salad – a salad made with shredded chicken, herbs, and a variety of vegetables, dressed with a spicy and tangy dressing.
- Moroccan carrot salad – a salad made with grated carrots, raisins, and a variety of spices, dressed with lemon juice and olive oil.
A meal-prep tip
Make a big enough batch of dressing to last the week. It makes meal prepping a breeze.
Check out another great blog, Love & Lemons, for some more salad recipes inspiration.
Hungry for more? Check out our other global recipes here.
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