What types of salad ingredients can i use?

When it comes to salads, there are endless possibilities when it comes to ingredients – making them a perfect dish for any time of day. From proteins and hearty beans, to fresh fruits and colorful veggies, salads can be endlessly tweaked to meet any dietary preference or restrictions. Here are some of the most popular ingredients used in salads:

1. Greens: Greens are the canvas upon which all other salad ingredients build. Common options here include spinach, kale, arugula, romaine lettuce, and butter lettuce.

2. Veggies: Whether raw or cooked, adding veggies is a great way to add crunchy texture and depth of flavor to a salad. Common options include cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers, carrots, celery and radishes. Don't be afraid to get creative with your veggies! Roasted broccoli or cauliflower florets and diced zucchini or asparagus are all great vegan-friendly additions.

3. Proteins: To make a balanced meal out of your salad add some protein – this could mean adding cooked chicken or steak, grilled fish,, canned tuna or salmon, boiled eggs (for non-vegans!) nuts like almonds or walnuts and seeds like hemp hearts and pumpkin seeds,. For vegans/vegetarians opt for full-fat dairy like feta cheese,, plant-based proteins like chickpeas,, lentils and tofu,.

4. Grains: Adding grains to a salad is an easy way to bulk up your dish with a little added fiber boost! Pre-cooked quinoa,, couscous,, barley or wild rice all make great additions here - just measure out one cup worth per person before adding them into the mix. You can also opt for grain-like options such as cracked wheat berries,, buckwheat groats or farro for an extra texture component by simply simmering them in boiling water until they're tender (most types will take between 15-30 minutes).

5. Fruits: Adding fruit is a great way to brighten up any salad with natural sweetness - some of the most popular options being apples,, pears,, oranges Mandarine wedges,, grapes raisins cranberries strawberries blueberries blackberries raspberries Dried cranberries Pineapple Mango Apricots Prunes Peaches Plums Bananas Currants Dates Olives Cherries Figs Goji Berries Kiwi Fig Jam Pomegranate Seeds Grapeseed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil Walnut Oil Almond Oil Vegetable Oils Avocado Oil Olive oil Hemp Hearts Flaxseeds Chia Seeds Tahini Sauce Cider Vinegar Balsamic Vinegar Honey Mustard Dijon Mustard Salad Dressing Chopped Onions Chopped Garlic Sesame Seeds Tamari Nutritional Yeast Parsley Dill Basil Arugula Mint Green Onion Cayenne Red Pepper Flakes Sea Salt Ground Black Pepper Turmeric Paprika Onion Powder Garlic Powder Celery Salt Coriander Allspice Cinnamon Cloves Lemon juice Lime Juice Orange Juice Apple Cider Vinegar Tajin Spice Balsamic Glaze Pesto Jalapeno Tahini Sriracha BBQ Sauce Hummus Almond Butter Scallions Fennel Radicchio Endive Beets Pickles Artichoke Hearts Sundried Tomatoes Olives Roasted Red Peppers ( marinated) Carrots Cooked Potatoes Cooked Squash Cooked Mushrooms Cooked Kale Cooked Brocolli Roasted Corn Avocado Avocado Mash Sprouts Pecans Cashew Nuts Fermented Vegetables (Sauerkraut etc.) Tempeh Tofu Seitan Bacon Croutons Edamame Coconut flakes Yams Pickled Onions Pickled Jalapenos Sauerkraut Kimchi