While I find a simple bowl of leafy greens doused in a zesty vinaigrette to be gratifying, lately I've been opening up to the deliciousness of salad add-ins that can transform a fresh side dish into a full-blown meal. Below are some of my favorite additions.
Toasted Nuts
It's amazing what toasted nuts can add to a salad. A handful of almonds quickly toasted in a pan adds a layer of warmth and crunch to an otherwise one-note dish. I recommend almonds, pine nuts, walnuts, and peanuts.
Flavorful Plant-Based Ingredients
For a kick, incorporate flavorful ingredients like capers or sun-dried tomatoes. Go easy on these though, because a little goes a long way and too much can completely overpower your salad. Olives and pepperoncini also add a lot of flavor and complement salads beautifully.
Quinoa
Cook a batch of quinoa early in the week and use it in your salads for days to come. Quinoa adds heft and texture to salads, not to mention the fact that it makes them more nutritionally substantial.
Find more ideas when you keep reading.
