Looking At Salad Recipes

You might be surprised at the number of salad recipes available. You can fix a bowl of fresh greens into a masterpiece.

You'll find a great variety of dishes around the world based on salads. Just about every country seems to feel the need for the freshness of greens.

Dressings bring out the natural flavors and salad recipes can be used as a starter course, a main course or side dish. I think it's hard to beat a salad accompanied by a big chunk of fresh crusty bread hot from the oven.

Green salads usually contain some sort of leaf crop, such as lettuce, spinach or rocket (arugula). Other ingredients are very often a combination of cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, carrots or radishes. Onions are sometimes added, in the form of green (spring) onion or red onion.

You'll find some Italian salad recipes using pasta and other Mediterranean dishes using rice, cheese or olives. Beans or croutons can add more texture. You'll also commonly find meat or fish added - with ham, chicken, bacon, shrimp or tuna leading the way. Crabmeat is another option.

There are so many types of dressings, and they're easily made at home or can be store bought. It seems that there's a new flavor added every time I go to the store. The most popular dressings include Thousand Island, Blue Cheese, Russian, Italian, French, Catalina, Ranch and good old-fashioned Mayonnaise.

Many chefs have invented their own signature salad recipes. The original recipes are sometimes subject to modern adaptations. One such invention, which has stood the test of time, is the Caesar Salad.

It was created by an Italian chef working at Hotel Caesars in Mexico in the 1920's. The dish contains lettuce, lemon juice, olive oil, croutons, Parmesan cheese, hard-boiled egg yolks, black pepper and Worcestershire Sauce.

Another famous salad was first introduced at the Hollywood restaurant favored by celebrities, the Brown Derby. This uses lettuce, tomatoes, chicken breast, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, Roquefort cheese, chives and vinaigrette.

Those who travel to Greece will discover a wealth of fine salads on the menu. Common salad recipes contain tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumber, red onion, oregano and seasoning. Sometimes feta cheese, olives or capers are added and dressings usually involve olive oil, vinegar or lemon juice.

Lebanon gives us Tabouli Salad, which is a mixture of bulgur (wheat grain), mint, parsley, scallion, lemon juice, black pepper and cinnamon. It's also a popular dip in America.

Russian Salad has many versions that have changed over the years. They are based on chopped vegetables in mayonnaise but meat, fish or game is often added. The cold climate probably calls for a richer recipe. Ham, sausage, tongue, lobster and truffles are common additions.

If you're bored with a plain Jane salad why not look around and try other salad recipes. There is so much variety out there, there's no reason to have a boring salad.