Beyond Iceberg: 13 Unique Salads

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Photo by Aglaia Kremezi


Tahini takes the place of olive oil in this salad, traditionally served on Good Friday when olive oil is banned. If you're not a tahini fan, however, this versatile recipe can still work by replacing the tahini with any fruity olive oil, and omitting the wine or water. View recipe here .



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Photo by Ellen Silverman

Using only olive oil, vinegar, and/or basil leaves, this is one of the simplest salad recipes. The secret? A bit of salt on each tomato will make the flavor of the fruit even more outstanding. Learn more here .


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Photo by stevelyon/FlickrCC


This salad is great for less-than-perfect, end-of-summer corn or even leftover grilled or boiled corn on the cob. To turn this into a vegan dish, simply leave out the crème fraiche. Lime and chili alone are enough to bring out the flavor of the corn. View recipe here .



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Photo by clayirving/Flickr CC

This refreshing salad is an opportunity to be creative. Adjust the ratio of fennel to iceberg to cabbage to bring out the flavors you like best. Then experiment by adding almonds or walnuts, trying different vinegars and olive oils, and serving with feta or goat cheese. Learn more here .


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Photo by Jarrett Wrisley


This dish tastes exotic, but cooking it is not. The ingredients are easy to find, the salad is easy to make, but the flavor is complex--citrusy, spicy, nutty, oniony, garlicky, and minty all at once. View recipe here .



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Photo by Alagu M/Flickr CCi


As the name indicates, gazpachi salad is essentially the soup, gazpacho, in salad form. The biggest difference between soup and salad is the addition of hardtack, a biscuit made from flour, water, and salt that was made to last for months on board ships. Learn more here .



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Photo by thebittenword.com/Flickr CC


This spicy coleslaw, made with mustard and champagne vinegar, is so good you won't even miss the usual mayonnaise. Learn more here .



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Photo by Maria Robledo


Beets, which taste both sweet and fruity and slightly of earth, are the perfect foil for Greek skordalia , a garlic sauce with a mashed potato base. Learn more here .



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Photo by Aglaia Kremezi

This twist on an Armenian dish can either be a meal, spread on toasted whole wheat or multigrain bread rubbed with a cut clove of garlic, or a side dish, accompanying poached or grilled fish or chicken. View recipe here .


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Photo by Maria Robledo


Caesar salad is certainly not a revolutionary salad, but this version is the classic dish at its most basic and delicious. Bonus: the Caesar dressing can also be used over pasta. View recipe here .



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Photo by Sean Fraga


Fall is the perfect time to make a confit from the last of the tomatoes. Simply bake tomatoes in olive oil, garlic, and herbs, and serve them on sandwiches, over pasta, or on their own. View recipe here .



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Photo by catsper/Flickr CC

"You get to know your salad when you eat with your hands," Alice Waters said. "When you use your hands, you've really engaged. You are using your senses." Tonight, take a hint from Alice, leave your fork aside, and dig into salad with your hands. You just might be surprised. Learn more here .


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Photo by ellievanhoutte/Flickr CC

Once you've tried all of these unique salads, it's time to branch out just a little more--and grow your own salad greens. Plant seeds next spring and they'll be ready to eat in only 28 days. Learn more here .


Making healthy flavorful again.