Salads are often thought of as boring, bland, and unsatisfying. But that doesn't have to be the case. With a little creativity and some unique ingredients, you can elevate your salad game and make delicious and satisfying salads that will leave you wanting more. Here are five unconventional salad recipes that are sure to impress.
Ingredients:
- 2 ripe peaches, sliced
- 8 oz. burrata cheese
- 3 cups arugula
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
2. Brush peach slices with olive oil and grill for 2-3 minutes on each side, until grill marks appear.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together balsamic vinegar, honey, and olive oil to make the dressing.
4. Arrange arugula on a plate and top with grilled peaches and burrata cheese.
5. Drizzle with dressing and sprinkle with chopped walnuts.
6. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups cubed watermelon
- 4 oz. crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped mint leaves
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, combine watermelon, feta cheese, and mint leaves.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
3. Drizzle dressing over salad and toss to combine.
4. Serve chilled.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. cooked and peeled shrimp
- 2 avocados, diced
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, combine cooked shrimp, diced avocados, and chopped cilantro.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
3. Drizzle dressing over salad and toss to combine.
4. Serve chilled.
Ingredients:
- 4 medium beets, roasted and sliced
- 4 oz. crumbled goat cheese
- 3 cups baby spinach
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Wrap beets in foil and roast for 45-60 minutes, until tender.
3. Let cool, then peel and slice.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together balsamic vinegar, honey, and olive oil to make the dressing.
5. Arrange baby spinach on a plate and top with sliced beets and crumbled goat cheese.
6. Drizzle with dressing and sprinkle with chopped pecans.
7. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- 2 cups roasted vegetables (such as sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and carrots)
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, combine cooked quinoa and roasted vegetables.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
3. Drizzle dressing over salad and toss to combine.
4. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.
5. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
In conclusion, salads don't have to be boring. With these five unconventional salad recipes, you can elevate your salad game and enjoy delicious and satisfying meals. Whether you prefer sweet or savory, there is a salad on this list for everyone. So go ahead and give them a try, and see how easy it is to make salads that are anything but boring.
1. Grilled Peach and Burrata Salad
Ingredients:
- 2 ripe peaches, sliced
- 8 oz. burrata cheese
- 3 cups arugula
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
2. Brush peach slices with olive oil and grill for 2-3 minutes on each side, until grill marks appear.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together balsamic vinegar, honey, and olive oil to make the dressing.
4. Arrange arugula on a plate and top with grilled peaches and burrata cheese.
5. Drizzle with dressing and sprinkle with chopped walnuts.
6. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
2. Watermelon and Feta Salad
Ingredients:
- 4 cups cubed watermelon
- 4 oz. crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped mint leaves
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, combine watermelon, feta cheese, and mint leaves.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
3. Drizzle dressing over salad and toss to combine.
4. Serve chilled.
3. Shrimp and Avocado Salad
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. cooked and peeled shrimp
- 2 avocados, diced
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, combine cooked shrimp, diced avocados, and chopped cilantro.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
3. Drizzle dressing over salad and toss to combine.
4. Serve chilled.
4. Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad
Ingredients:
- 4 medium beets, roasted and sliced
- 4 oz. crumbled goat cheese
- 3 cups baby spinach
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Wrap beets in foil and roast for 45-60 minutes, until tender.
3. Let cool, then peel and slice.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together balsamic vinegar, honey, and olive oil to make the dressing.
5. Arrange baby spinach on a plate and top with sliced beets and crumbled goat cheese.
6. Drizzle with dressing and sprinkle with chopped pecans.
7. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Quinoa and Roasted Vegetable Salad
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- 2 cups roasted vegetables (such as sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and carrots)
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. In a large bowl, combine cooked quinoa and roasted vegetables.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
3. Drizzle dressing over salad and toss to combine.
4. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.
5. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
In conclusion, salads don't have to be boring. With these five unconventional salad recipes, you can elevate your salad game and enjoy delicious and satisfying meals. Whether you prefer sweet or savory, there is a salad on this list for everyone. So go ahead and give them a try, and see how easy it is to make salads that are anything but boring.
