With this Build Your Own Salad Recipe, you will never get bored of salads!
Salads are one of the easiest, most nutritious meals around. When salads are loaded with non-starchy vegetables they contain minimal calories yet provide maximum nutrition. Although I eat salads multiple times a week, I never get bored. This is because my salads are never the same.
With this huge ingredients list, your salads don’t have to be the same every day either. To build your own salad, pick and choose from the ingredients below.
You will notice that some of the ingredients on the list lead you to recipes. For example, chickpea salad is one salad topping option. You can click on the link to find a delicious chickpea salad recipe.
Healthy Dressings for your Build Your Own Salad
I have provided a variety of healthy dressing options. Some options are simple pre-packaged dressings and some are easy healthy homemade dressings. Links to the homemade dressings are provided.
Ingredients:
Basic Ingredients (Use one or more of these in every recipe):
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Kale
- Spring mix
- Arugula
Add a Protein (Pick 1 or more):
- Nuts: Almonds, Walnuts, Cashews, Mixed Nuts, Pistachios
- Seeds: Sunflower, Pumpkin
- Chickpeas
- Boiled Eggs
- Black Beans
- Chicken Salad
- Salmon or Tuna Salad
- Hummus (Store-bought or homemade)
- Tuna Yogurt Salad
- Turkey Slices, chopped (look for no nitrite/no nitrate added turkey slices)
- Black-eyed pea dip
- Canned beans (black beans, kidney beans)
- Edamame
- Buffalo Ranch Chicken Dip
- Black Bean Hummus
- Pre-packaged black bean burger (Warm per package directions)
- Chickpea Salad
Add Vegetables (pick one or more)
- Blanched Asparagus (Place Asparagus in a colander in the sink. Meanwhile boil water on the stove. Then carefully pour the hot water over the vegetables in the colander.)
- Blanched Brussel Sprouts, Halves or shredded (Blanch the same way you would blanch Asparagus.)
- Blanched or raw zucchini (I prefer them blanched)
- Blanched or raw squash (I prefer them blanched)
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Tomato slices
- Cherry tomatoes
- Carrots
- Cucumber
- Corn
- Onion, chopped
- Peppers, chopped
- Roasted Red Peppers
- Olives
- Red Cabbage
- Avocado Slices
Optional Dips:
- Salsa
- Avocado Ranch Dip
- Guacamole
- Pico De Gallo
If You Want Something Sweet Add a Little Fruit
- Blueberries
- Grapes
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
Dressing (Pick One):
- Store-bought no sugar added Vinaigrettes
- Store-bought no sugar added Asian Dressing
- Dressing that is made with no sugar added and made with healthy oils like extra virgin olive oil. (Brands will note this on the label. Examples of brands that make no sugar added dressings are Primal Kitchen, G. Hughes, Walden Farms)
- Lime Tahini Dressing (See recipe)
- Avocado Green Goddess Dressing (See Recipe)
- Tahini Balsamic Dressing (See Recipe)
- Dairy Free Ranch (See Recipe)
Instructions:
- Add one or a combination of leafy greens onto a plate.
- Add 1 or more ingredients from the protein list.
- Add 1 or more ingredients from the vegetable list
- If you would like, add a dip.
- Drizzle with a healthy dressing.
- A serving should equal about 2 cups.
