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For a person to be able to make the perfect salad it is important that they know as much as possible about the kinds of ingredients that can be used in them. Often a salad will combine a number of different foods all of which provide a certain taste or texture to the recipe but which also complement each other. In this article we take a look at some of the kinds of salad ingredients that you may want to consider using and which are used the world over. 1. Lettuce & Green Leaved Plants - Often the most common variety of lettuce that people use to make a salad quickly is the iceberg variety. But there are plenty of others you may want to try which will add a completely different taste and texture to your salad. For instance why not try a butterhead lettuce which is very tender tasting one or the cos lettuce whose leaves are much coarser in texture. For those of you who are fed up or bored with lettuce in your salad there are plenty of other alternatives to choose from. You could try a plant that was originally grown in Italy known as Arugula and which will offer a much more tangy, mild peppery taste to the flavor of your salad. Otherwise another alternative to replace lettuce in your salad is a plant from Asia which has a slightly bitter taste but is often used in cooking by the Chinese called Bok Choy. 2. Fruit & Vegetables - Do not restrict yourself to using the more conventional types of fruits and vegetables that people often include in their salads. Rather than going for tomatoes why not try something a little more unusual say add in sliced up apple or oranges. Also for those who want to try a recipe that incorporates Bok Choy which we mentioned previously then slice some of it up place in a bowl and add to it some bean sprouts, sliced cucumber and green onions. Then to finally finish this salad off drizzle over a salad vinaigrette dressing made using soy sauce and sesame seed oil. Along with using tomatoes, cucumber or green onions in your salad why not replace them with brocolli, carrots or beans. Further more in order to enhance the flavors of the ingredients in your salad add some herbs or spices which will complement them perfectly. Ideal ones to use are garlic, rosemary, cilantro and basil. 3. Meat and Fish - A salad does not need to be purely made up of fruit and vegetables but can also be used in combination with other ingredients as well. One famous that is world renowned and uses meat (chicken) as a main ingredient in it is Caesar's salad. But if you are looking to use such ingredients in your salad then ensure that you do not use too much and where meat is concerned you use the leanest pieces possible. But if you are someone who does not like to eat meat or fish but is not a vegan then you can replace this with cheese instead in order to provide you with the protein your body needs. Plus a great way of adding additional texture to a salad where you are just using salad ingredients or cheese is to add some croutons or nuts to it. Both will add an additional crunchy texture to the meal and provide essential nutrients, minerals and vitamins that your body needs. The best types of nuts to use in a salad are walnuts, peanuts and almonds. But when it comes to you finding the right kinds of salad ingredients for your salad recipes it is important that you use the freshest ones possible. When shopping for your ingredients avoid those which are marked or bruised or those where the leaves have begun to wilt. Also before you begin preparing the salad make sure that each ingredient has been thoroughly washed to remove any unwanted toxins or chemicals from them. Even salad ingredients which have been packaged and are ready to use should be washed.
Article Source: http://www.rightarticle.com
At SaladFacts.com provides information regarding salads and their nutritional value. If you would like to learn more about making a great dressing for your salad ingredients click here.
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