When you mention the word 'salad' the first thing that comes to mind for most people is a green salad made of lettuce. Maybe there are some cucumber slices or tomatoes in there, but it is primarily made of lettuce. Not all lettuce is created equal. Iceberg is one of the most popular lettuces eaten in salads. It gives a nice crunch, but that is about all. Dark green and red lettuces will not only give you a more colorful salad, they also give you more nutrition.
Vegetable salads are also green, but with less lettuce and more varieties of fresh produce. Bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, onions, and many other fresh veggies can easily make their own. Dressing is usually added to green kinds to pull the dish together and add more flavor. Cole slaw is also in the green salad category; it is made of shredded cabbage and dressing. Sometimes other vegetables are added.
Bean salad is made of three kinds of cooked beans. Green beans, kidney beans, and garbanzo beans are most frequently used. It keeps well, even without refrigeration. Caprese salad is made of basil leaves, sliced mozzarella cheese and sliced tomatoes. It is dressed with an Italian dressing, olive oil, or balsamic vinegar.
Non-green salads are also popular. Potato, macaroni, and egg are only a few of these summer favorites. The main ingredient is mixed with a few others and dressed with a thick, mayonnaise-based dressing. There are many regional and personal variations of these recipes. Pasta is usually not included with macaroni. It has a lighter dressing and may include ingredients like olives, nuts, seafood and all sorts of delicacies. Somen is a pasta salad from Japan. It is a cold kind made from somen noodles, a sauce that may include chicken broth and a garnish of chopped vegetable or egg on top.
Fruit salad is usually sweet. It may be fruit dressed in whipped cream or fruit suspended in gelatin. Seasonal fruits are often used, like grapes, peaches, strawberries and even bananas. Gelatin salads can be served with the meal or as a dessert.
Meat verities can be served in two ways. Cooked meat may be added to fresh greens and served so the meat is the centerpiece of the dish. This happens with grilled chicken or shrimp salads. Chef salad has meat mixed in as well as cheese and other ingredients.
Chicken salad is small bites of chicken mixed with a dressing. It is made similar to ham and egg salad. These are then served either on a bed of lettuce or as a sandwich spread.
These are just a few types of salads you may want to consider serving to your family. The majority of these are served cold. There are a few that are served warm, however. Wilted lettuce has a warm dressing, as does German potato salad. Use these as wonderful side dishes. Some may be special enough that you want to make them the main dish.
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