I have accomplished a few things which bring me pride.  I completed an MBA degree.  I gave birth three times.  I passed the security license exams.  I achieved a 3.5 USTA tennis ranking.  And, I created this goofy blog.  None of these were easy – some came close to killing me!  Despite these achievements, many of my friends and family think my best skill is making a great salad.  Really???

Please do not think I am snobby or ungrateful.  But being known for great salad making is like being known for great bunco or bingo playing.  NO SKILL REQUIRED.  Salad making is the same – no skill and all confidence and finesse.  When I bring a salad to a party and someone asks me for the recipe, it blows my mind!  Salad is not chocolate soufflé or apple strudel that takes a fine-tuned recipe and years of experience to perfect.  Salad is a “throw whatever you have in the fridge” kind of thing.

A memorable salad, like the one in the picture above, follows the general rules for making an interesting and tasty salad.  Remember these steps and you will never need a recipe, and you will be a great salad maker, too.

1. Start with a good base of greens.  I admit I am a lettuce snob and never buy bagged lettuce.  But that is because I am cheap.  Fresh lettuce lasts longer in the fridge and tastes better.  I love romaine, red and green leaf, boston, and bibb lettuce.  I tend to mix the lettuce with baby spinach or arugula.  Rinse salad greens in cold water, shake well to dry as much as you can, and cut with a knife.  So easy!
2. Pick one or two (or many) vegetables.  Peppers, cucumbers, avocado, celery, onion,  tomato, carrots, beets, mushrooms and olives are usually my top choices.
3. Pick a fruit.  Yes!  Half of my salads contain a fruit.  Berries, grapes, apples, pears, nectarines and peaches are great fresh choices when in season.  Cherries, cranberries, dates, and raisins are good dried choices.  I love the touch of sweetness in my salad.
4. Pick a nut.  Who does not like nuts?  Walnuts, almonds, pecans, pine, cashews, and pistachios regularly make an appearance in my salads.  Nuts add richness.
5. Pick a cheese.  All my salads are sprinkled with grated cheese.  Feta, blue, Swiss, cheddar, parmesan, goat…..  They are all great!
6. A little salt and ground pepper.

The salad in the photo above is one of my favorites.  Peaches, avocado, walnut, corn, and feta cheese.   As you make more salads, you will gain the confidence to just browse the fridge and throw it in.  Add chicken, steak, shrimp, tuna, egg, or salmon and you have a light meal.  Have you ever really had a terrible salad?  Probably not.  You just had a boring one.

Finally – the dressing.  Easy as the salad.  There are some awesome bottled salad dressings.  I buy them when they are on sale.  But I always can make a great dressing with these four ingredients.  1/2 cup olive oil.  1/4 cup red wine vinegar,  tablespoon of Dijon mustard, a tablespoon of honey.  Whisk.  Voila!

Here are my favorite salad topping combinations to help you get started.

• Classic American:  cucumber, pepper, tomato, bacon, cheddar cheese, walnuts.
• Winter:  apples, pears, dried cranberries, Swiss, and cashews
• Greek:  cucumber, peppers, red onion, tomato, black olives, feta cheese, and garlic
• Asian:  mandarin orange, red pepper, carrot, purple cabbage, green onion, almonds
• Tex Mex:  black beans, corn, avocado, red pepper, cilantro, tomatoes, feta
• My favorite: beets, red onion, dried cherries, blue cheese, walnuts

The combinations of great salad toppings are endless.  A recipe is not really needed.  You can browse the internet for ideas.  Do not ditch a salad just because you are missing one ingredient.  I promise, no one will notice.  In fact, my husband has been asking me for a “simple” salad lately.  What is that?  Lettuce, tomato, and feta.  Or lettuce, blueberries, blue cheese and pecans.  Two or three topping is sometimes all you need!

How do you elevate a salad?  Add a few of the following – seeds, chopped herbs, homemade croutons, tiny pasta, capers, or meats like salami and prosciutto.  Also, try flavored olive oils and vinaigrettes.  Fun!  Fun!  Fun!

I really do love salads. They are the pearl earrings to any meal, if not the meal itself!  I would love to hear your favorite salad combination!

Photo: Matthew Benson and Salad: Cara Mangini