5 Salads That Don't Have a Lettuce, Pasta, or Potato Base

Salads are generally a healthy choice in most diets, and when done right they can be packed with both flavor and nutrition. But salads also run the risk of being either boring or loaded with starches and heavy dressings, which can cancel out some of the potential health benefits.

To keep things interesting, here are some unique salads that don't rely on the normal bases of lettuce, pasta, or potatoes. With a touch of creativity, you can whip up salads that are appealing and good for you.

Coleslaw

Typically considered an American dish, there are similar cabbage-based dishes in many cultures. While some versions are made with a heavy mayonnaise-based dressing, it's easy to create a lighter coleslaw that's a lot more enticing. Use a mix of red and green cabbage, add shredded carrots, raisins, and any other extras you like, then top with a dressing made with yogurt and lemon juice or vinegar. Let your cabbage salad sit in the fridge for a few hours for the flavours to really come together.

Kale salad, which has been gaining popularity in recent years, is basically another version of coleslaw with hearty kale as the base. By massaging a dressing into finely shredded kale leaves, you achieve a salad with fantastic flavour and texture. You can then top it with nuts, vegetables, dried fruit, cheese, or avocadoes, depending on your preferences.

Chickpea Salad

This salad is perfect for chickpea-lovers. Add nuts, fresh herbs, vegetables like tomato or cucumber, feta cheese, and the dressing of your choice to a large bowl of chickpeas. A lemon juice dressing is particularly good. The creaminess of the chickpeas and cheese balances with the crunch of fresh vegetables and the brightness of herbs to create a dish that's more than the sum of its parts.

Salsa Salad

Salsa is a dip or side dish popular in many Spanish-speaking cultures, but with a few tweaks, it can be turned into a hearty salad. A mix of black beans and corn makes a good base; you can then mix in anything from hot peppers to diced fruit to cucumbers. Dress your salsa/salad with a zingy lime juice dressing and let it sit for a while to let the flavours develop.

Cucumber Salad

Crunchy, juicy, and refreshing--cucumbers make a great salad. For an Asian flair, you can dress them with sesame oil and sesame seeds. A Mexican cucumber salad might include sliced red onions, hot peppers, and lime juice. For a Mediterranean-style dish, add feta cheese, olives, and fresh oregano.

Grain-Based Salads

If you love cooking with wild rice, couscous, or barley, why not turn your favourite grain into a salad? Wild rice mixes well with dried cranberries, goat cheese, and pecans. Barley can be tossed with cubed butternut squash and pumpkin seeds, and couscous makes a fantastic summer dish when you mix it with cucumbers, red onion, chopped tomato, and your favourite dressing.

These examples are really just the starting point as you explore more creative salads. Most cultures have a variety of salads, so it's worth flipping through your favourite global cookbooks for inspiration. Keep in mind that mayonnaise-based dressings can easily be lightened up by swapping in yogurt, and you can experiment with different toppings to find your favourite combinations. Starchy pasta salad can be transformed by using rice noodles or soba noodles as the base, and even staples like tuna and chicken salad can be made a lot more interesting with vinegar or lemon juice instead of a heavy dressing.

At QualityFood.ae, we offer a selection of the best ingredients to use in your salads, as well as advice on healthy eating. For fresh ingredients including vegetables, fruit, nuts, grains, and more, contact us today.