Salads and Dressings Try It!

Introduction

Salads have undergone a remarkable resurgence in recent years. Once a byword for limp lettuce and soggy tomatoes, they have cast off their reputation as rabbit food, and are now recognised as delicious dishes in their own right.

The sheer variety of recipes in Try It! Salads and Dressings proves how versatile and exciting the humble salad can be. Offering up more than 100 dishes, from Middle Eastern tabboulehs to traditional French classics, this eBook offers salad inspiration for every occasion. Light summer lunches stand alongside rustic winter warmers; traditional flavour pairings are complemented by foods and spices you may never have tried before.

All this doesnt mean that the recipes in this eBook are complex or time-consuming. On the contrary, Try It! Salads and Dressings comes complete with tips on creating instant salad meals using no-cook ingredients, as well as advice on turning almost any salad into an on-the-go packed lunch.

Since no salad is complete without a dressing, the last chapter in this eBook provides a handful of dedicated dressing recipes to inspire you, and also shows you how to mix up your own flavour pairings.

Instant or leisurely, simple or decadent, classic or contemporary: a salad can suit any occasion.

Instant salads

When time is short, salads can be the perfect mealtime choice. Stock up on a selection of raw and pre-cooked foods, and youll be able to throw together a nutritious meal in minutes.

Using raw foods

Quick to prepare and serve, raw salad ingredients are far more nutritious than their cooked counterparts. This is because cooking can significantly reduce vitamin and antioxidant levels in many foods, including vegetables and nuts. You do not need to adopt a fully raw diet and forego cooking entirely; incorporating just a few raw items into your meals can provide a great health boost.

Using pre-cooked foods

Throw together a salad in no time with a selection of pre-cooked foods from the fridge and store cupboard. Smoked fish, cured meats, and rich cheeses provide a particularly special depth of flavour to any meal, while a can of pulses or grains instantly adds bulk and fibre.

On-the-go salads

Adapting a salad recipe into a portable meal, ready to take with you to work or school, couldnt be easier. Follow these steps to create a lunchbox-ready salad that remains as fresh and crisp as the moment you assembled it.

Layering components

Building an on-the-go salad requires separating ingredients into , then adding them into your on-the-go container in a certain order. Keep liquids and heavy components at the bottom, topped by lighter items that you wish to remain crisp.

Choose your container

Both standard lunchboxes and modern salad jars can be used to contain your on-the-go salad. Whatever you use, ensure it has a watertight, non-corrosive seal and is thoroughly sterilized before use.

Keep it cool

Always keep on-the-go salads chilled, or preferably refrigerated especially if it contains meat or fish. If your office or school does not provide access to a fridge, do not add meat or fish to your salad.

Layering an on-the-go salad

To keep an on-the-go salad fresh and crisp, it is a good idea to layer the components individually in the container, mixing them up only when you are ready to eat. Follow the steps below to adapt your favourite salad recipes into portable meals.