Salads are great anytime of the year for me! I literally could eat a salad of some sort every day! Most of the time, when a salad comes to mind though, we think mostly of lettuce in a bowl, but there are so many different kinds of salad that you can make that can mix it up for you that you’ll never find them boring!
Yes, most salads “start’ with lettuce of some sort, but let me show you three salads that might start with lettuce, but they will romaine on your favorite salad list and leaf you wanting more!
Mexican Salad
This salad originated in my kitchen one day when I was craving something different for lunch. It’s simple and easy to throw together and serves a big crowd! It became a hit with my family.
Ingredients:
- 1 small head of lettuce, chopped or shredded
- 2 cans of black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1-2 cups of broccoli and carrots, chopped
- 1 cup of low-fat shredded cheddar cheese (can use full fat if desired)
- 1/2 of a bottle of Light Catalina dressing (can use full fat if desired)
- Wonton strips or tortilla strips for salads
Instructions:
- Simply toss all of the ingredients together, except for 1/2 of the cheese and the tortilla or wonton strips.
- Top with the remaining cheese and tortilla strips or wonton strips and serve.
Serving Suggestions:
For an elegant look, layer the salad in a trifle bowl starting with 1/2 the lettuce, followed by 1/2 the beans, 1/2 the vegetables, 1/2 the dressing, and 1/2 the cheese, reserving the tortilla or wonton strips.
Add the other half of the ingredients in the same order, ending with the top layer of tortilla or wonton strips.
Tangy Broccoli Salad
This is so good! If you prefer to use mayonnaise in this recipe, it won’t taste as sweet. This recipe serves 8.
Ingredients:
- 1 Cup of Miracle Whip
- 2 Tbsp Sugar
- 2 Tbsp White Vinegar
- 6 Cups of Broccoli Flowerettes
- 4 Cups of Spinach Leaves (Optional)
- 8-oz of Bacon, Crisply Cooked and Crumbled
- (You Can Use Bacon Bits for Ease)
- 1/2 Cup of Chopped Red Onions
- 1/4 Cup of Raisins
- 1/2 Cup of Roasted Sunflower Seeds
Instructions:
- Mix the Miracle Whip with the sugar and vinegar in a bowl.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
- Chill for 2 hours and serve.
Creamy Cauliflower Salad
My mother made this salad often and it was always a huge hit! Again, as with the broccoli salad above, you can use mayonnaise instead of Miracle Whip, it will just be less sweet. This salad serves 8.
Ingredients:
- 3/4 Cup of Miracle Whip
- 1/2 Cup of Ranch Dressing
- 1/4 Cup of Fresh Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1/4 Cup Sugar
- 1/4 Cup of Red Onion, Chopped
- 8-0z of Crisply Cooked and Crumbled Bacon (You Can Use Bacon Bits For Ease)
- 1 Head of Cauliflower, Cut Into Pieces
- 6 Cups of Torn Romaine Lettuce
Instructions:
- Mix the Miracle Whip and Ranch Dressing in a bowl.
- Add the parmesan cheese and sugar and mix well.
- Add all the remaining ingredients and mix again.
- Refrigerate for a few hours then serve.
Salads can be traced back as far as the Roman Empire. They often ate a mixture of raw and leafy vegetables that they covered in salty and oily dressings. The word “salad” comes from the Latin word for salt, “sal”. Even then, they were considered to be a healthy, simple dish. They would add many herbs like parsley and cilantro, and sometimes ground spices.
Later, during the 14th century, more ingredients were added to make the salad “more complex”. They began to boil or roast the vegetables and add cooked poultry, fruits and nuts, cheese and hard-boiled eggs, and things to sweeten the dressings with sugar and honey.
Thankfully, those salads were shared from our ancestors down the line so today we can still enjoy those wonderful salads! We hope you enjoy these great salads!
If you’d like to make these salads while staying with Premium Beach Condos, please check out all of our properties to find your perfect view of the ocean from your private balcony. We hope you enjoy it so much that you say “this view is unbe-leaf-able, lettuce stay forever!” And, be sure to check out our Dining With a View blog series for some delicious recipes to enjoy with your salad!
