Salad mix-ins

Let's say you're making a simple salad: greens, maybe onions or tomatoes, vinegarette dressing. But you want to jazz it up.

What one (or at most 2) items would you add?

I am just now into raisins. 

Or 

marinated Mediterranean olives.

 or

Chinese noodles could be good.

or

Sometimes I just do a few cheese chunks.

Or turkey bacon

Other ideas?

Home made garlic parmesan croutons and some mandarin oranges.

My first choice would be lots of chopped celery leaves mixed in with the greens.

I would opt for  thawed green peas   and  shredded parmesan cheese .

A few nuts. Different ones at different times for variation. Pistachio's are good.

I noticed you say chinese noodles.  Do you mean fried like for chow mein or raw as in crumbled ramen.
Ive seen several recipes where people cruble dry uncooked ramen into salad and slw.  it sounds awful bland and hard ro chew.

'Raw'  Ramen isn't really raw. Those noodles have been deep fried before they were packaged. Great backpacking staple cuz' in a pinch you can eat 'em out of the cellophane as you walk or sit in the tent.

Rice noodles and... Bay Corn! :~)

Oh, and green olives!
Joe

PapaJoe8


Rice noodles and... Bay Corn! :~)

Oh, and green olives!
Joe

OMG, I guess I took the Bay Corn for granted!      :>

sunflower kernels
 
gorgonzola crumbles
 
cheddar - shredded or chunks
 
chopped hard-boiled egg
 
crumbled bacon (the real stuff)
 
you'll have to pick two as i can't decide (i usually put all of the above on a salad!)

avocado slices

unsalted sunflower kernels

chickpeas

thawed green peas

cottage cheese

Sunflower seeds
Edamame (shelled soy beans)

I often add dried cranberries and some cheese.
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

1. sliced strawberries
2. pumpkin seeds

Feta cheese
hard boiled eggs
Anchovies
Marinated Artichocke hearts
Peas
Bean/ Alfafa sprouts
 
 
 

I make my "salad" completely out of mix-ins:

Lots of raw mushrooms
Sunflower seeds
Olives
Cheese
Croutons
Crispy noodles
Meat chunks
Bacon bits
Anything else that looks good at that moment

But never any lettuce, spinach, or other greens.  Years ago a coworker dubbed it "the freak salad".

Brad

Some type of tart apple diced.

Left over corn cut off the cob.

Left over asparagus chopped.

Any type of left over grilled meat, steak, chicken, etc.

sliced radishes
red or green bell pepper strips
minature corn 
hearts of palm
chopped green onions

Open a can of mandarin oranges and add to salad greens.    
(the oranges, not the can)

I love a mixture of sliced pears, green onions, blue cheese, slivered almonds, and balsamic vinegrette.Top with home made croutons.Served over a bed of crispy romaine.

Brad_Olson


I make my "salad" completely out of mix-ins:

Lots of raw mushrooms
Sunflower seeds
Olives
Cheese
Croutons
Crispy noodles
Meat chunks
Bacon bits
Anything else that looks good at that moment

But never any lettuce, spinach, or other greens.  Years ago a coworker dubbed it "the freak salad".

Brad

That doesn't sound too freaky to me. Lettuce (especially iceberg) doesn't have much nutritional value. Your freak salad delivers all the taste and none of the mostly-water empty lettuce.
 
As for me, I like to mix in olives (green or black), pickles, raw mushrooms, pepper strips, jalapenos, and sometimes pineapple chunks. Occasionally I'll add a dollop of salsa to my salads.

Where's John A at on this? His salads always look awesome!

annpeeples


I love a mixture of sliced pears, green onions, blue cheese, slivered almonds, and balsamic vinegrette.Top with home made croutons.Served over a bed of crispy romaine.

Mmmmm sound delicious!

We have a deli nearby that has one of those make-yr-own salad (greens + 5 ingredients). They used to have some Tandoori chicken pieces available, to which I would add blue cheese, mandarin oranges, pistachios and red peppers. The best, because the oranges would often up and distribute the Tandoori spices, which were the set off by the blue cheese plus the crunch of the nuts! SALAD HEAVEN!

 
To my "basic" salad of Romaine and Radicchio, I randomly add:
 
Sliced onion (preferably Vidalia!)
 
Sliced radishes
 
Dried organic cranberries
 
Thin-sliced red pepper
 
Marinated artichoke hearts
 
Cooked, chilled cauliflower or broccoli
 
Feta cheese OR sardines (never both!!)
 
Pear slices (when my own pears are in season)

I like to add grapes to my salad.  They are always a good choice

sliced mushrooms
green olives
tiny salad shrimp
artichoke hearts
parm cheese
garlic

# 1 for me would have to be cucumber which I almost always have on hand; # 2 would be brined artichoke hearts which I don't always have on hand.

Others would be hard-boiled egg, hearts of palm, cheese (feta or similar would be first choice), grapes, left-over grilled vegs, chicken, fish or shrimp (yeah like that last one ever happens).

Occasionally if I'm planning on cutting back on meat and have stocked up on rabbit food I'll buy surimi just to use as an add in but I almost never buy it otherwise.

I've gotten into putting a bit of fruit into vegetable/greens salad (a few strawberries, or a few blueberries, or maybe a chopped up apple or peach). Or even, a few raisinsIt seems to go great with everything, esp with a few nuts and/or cheese. Good for winter, too.

ScreamingChicken


I make my "salad" completely out of mix-ins:

Lots of raw mushrooms
Sunflower seeds
Olives
Cheese
Croutons
Crispy noodles
Meat chunks
Bacon bits
Anything else that looks good at that moment

But never any lettuce, spinach, or other greens.  Years ago a coworker dubbed it "the freak salad".

Brad

 
This...is awesome. Both the nickname & the salad.

My new "thing" is adding pomegranate seeds, along with blue cheese( or a good feta) walnuts, green onion, some orange slices served with balsamic vinagerette over mixed greens.Its really pretty, too!