Sometimes I get ‘stuck’ when I go to the store to pick out salad toppings. I can’t decide what to get. I need inspiration. So I decided to start my own list, my salad inspirations as it were, so I could get a bit more organized! If you think of something that belongs on my list, please use the contact form at the bottom of this page.
Greens
Endive – Slightly bitter and crunchy. Served raw or grilled. Rinse first and drain well. Chop or tear into bite-sized pieces for serving.
Green Leaf – Mild, slightly sweet, mildly bitter and earthy. Served raw or grilled. Rinse first and drain well. Chop or tear into bite-sized pieces for serving.
Green Cabbage – Mild, slightly sweet and lightly peppery. Serve raw or grilled. Chop, tear or pulse in food processor for serving.
Red Cabbage – Slightly peppery and crisp. Serve raw or grilled. Chop, tear or pulse in food processor for serving.
Iceberg – Crispy and mildly sweet. Served raw or grilled. Rinse first and drain well. Chop or tear into bite-sized pieces for serving.
Kale – Slightly bitter, strong, earthy and spicy. Served raw or grilled. Rinse first and drain well. Chop or tear into bite-sized pieces for serving.
Radicchio – Spicy, lightly bitter and tangy. Served raw or grilled. Rinse first and drain well. Chop or tear into bite-sized pieces for serving.
Red Leaf – Slightly sweet and mildly bitter. Served raw or grilled. Rinse first and drain well. Chop or tear into bite-sized pieces for serving.
Romaine – Sweet, slightly bitter and mild. Served raw or grilled. Rinse first and drain well. Chop or tear into bite-sized pieces for serving.
Fruits and Veggies
Apple – Crisp, sweet and slightly tart. Served raw. Sliced or chop. Toss in lemon juice to preserve color.
Artichoke Hearts – Tangy and slightly bitter. Jarred or canned. Drain, serve quartered or halved.
Asparagus (fresh) – Crispy and tangy. Serve raw, grilled, steamed or blanched.
Asparagus (pickled) – Salty, tangy, stronger than fresh. Drain, chop or slice thin.
Avocado – Buttery, nutty and creamy. Raw or grilled. Serve chopped or sliced.
Bamboo Shoots (canned or jarred) – Slightly sweet and mildly earthy. Serve sliced.
Bean Sprouts (fresh or canned) – Crispy crunchy and mild. Serve at room temperature or cold.
Beets (fresh) – Earthy and slightly sweet. Serve roasted or grilled. Cube or chop.
Beets (pickled) – Earthy and slightly sweet. Drain and chop and serve. Pickled baby beets can be served whole.
Bell Pepper (fresh) – Mildly sweet and slightly fruity. Roasting or grilling adds a deep flavor. Serve raw or grilled, cubed or cut into strips.
Bell Pepper (jarred) – Mildly sweet and slightly fruity. Drain well.
Black Beans (fresh) – Meaty, earthy and slightly sweet. Steam or boil, then serve at room temperature or cold.
Black Beans (canned) – Meaty, earthy and slightly sweet. Rinse well and drain. Serve at room temperature or cold.
Black Olives (canned or jarred) – Slightly bitter, rich and salty. Serve whole or sliced.
Blackberries (fresh) – Sweet, tangy and tart. Just rinse, dry well, and serve whole.
Black-eyed Peas (fresh) – Earthy, nutty and creamy. Steam or boil, then serve at room temperature or cold.
Black-eyed Peas (canned) – Earthy, nutty and creamy. Rinse and drain well. Serve at room temperature or cold.
Black-eyed Peas (pickled) – Earthy, nutty and creamy and tangy. Serve at room temperature or cold.
Blueberries (fresh) – Sweet and tart. Just rinse, dry well, and serve whole.
Broccoli (fresh) – Lightly sweet, slightly and bitter with a touch of earthiness. Serve raw, grilled, blanched or steam. Chop before serving.
Broccolini (fresh) – Lightly sweet, slightly and bitter with a touch of earthiness. Serve raw, grilled, blanched or steam. Chop before serving or just cut off the florets.
Cannellini Beans (canned) – Mild, slightly earthy and nutty. Rinse and drain well. Serve at room temperature or cold.
Cantaloupe – Sweet and juicy. Serve sliced or cubed, cold or at room temperature.
Carrots (fresh) – Sweet, earthy and crunchy. Serve raw, grilled, blanched or steam. Chop or slice.
Carrots (canned) – Sweet and earthy. Drain well. Serve at room temperature or cold.
Carrots (pickled) – Tangy, earthy and crunchy. Serve at room temperature or cold.
Cauliflower (fresh) – Mildly sweet and nutty. Serve raw or lightly grilled.
Cauliflower (pickled) – Tangy and nutty. Serve cold. Chop if desired.
Celery – Grassy, bitter and herbaceous. Serve cold, sliced or chopped. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the outside layer for a more tender bite.
Cherry tomatoes – Sweet and juicy. Just rinse and slice and serve.
Chives – Mild onion flavor and slightly herbaceous. Rinse, pat dry. Chop or slice and serve.
Corn (fresh) – Lightly sweet. Serve raw, grilled, steamed or blanched.
Corn (canned) – Lightly sweet. Drain. Serve at room temperature or cold.
Cranberries (dried) – Tart, tangy and sweet. Sprinkle all over your salad.
Cucumber (fresh) – Crispy and refreshing. Rinse, pat dry. Chop or slice and serve. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the outside layer for a more tender bite.
Edamame (raw) – Buttery, sweet and nutty. Serve steamed, boiled, raw or blanched.
Grapes (raw) – Sweet and slightly sour. Serve whole or sliced at room temperature or chilled.
Grape tomatoes – Sweet and juicy. Just rinse and slice and serve.
Green Beans (fresh) – Mildly sweet and earthy. Serve raw, grilled, blanched or steamed. Chop or slice.
Green Beans (canned) – Mildly sweet and earthy. Drain well. Serve at room temperature or cold.
Green Beans (pickled) – Tangy, earthy and crunchy. Serve at room temperature or cold.
Green Olives – Briny, salty and bitter. Canned or jarred. Serve whole or sliced.
Green Onion – Mild onion flavor and slightly peppery. Rinse and slice or chop.
Hearts of Palm – Has a mild, nutty flavor. Jarred or canned, just drain and slice and serve.
Honey Dew Melon – Mild and sweet, lightly honey flavored. Serve chopped or sliced, cold or at room temperature.
Jalapenos (fresh) – Like bell peppers but with moderate heat. Serve fresh, roasted, toasted or grilled. Stem and seed them, then chop or slice.
Jalapenos (pickled) – Spicy, salty and vinegary. Serve sliced.
Kidney Beans (canned) – Mild earthiness, slightly sweet and starchy. Rinse and drain well. Serve at room temperature or cold.
Kiwi (fresh) – Sweet and tangy. Serve sliced or chopped at room temperature or chilled.
Lima Beans (canned) – Mild and creamy buttery. Rinse and drain well. Serve at room temperature or cold.
Mandarin Orange – Sweet, tangy and acidic. Peel (if fresh) and slice. Drain (if canned).
Mushrooms (fresh) – Earthy. Wipe clean. Serve whole or sliced.
Navy Beans (canned) – Mild earthiness, slightly sweet and starchy. Rinse and drain well. Serve at room temperature or cold.
Okra (fresh) – Mildly sweet and grassy. Steam, boil, grill or roast. Slice and serve.
Okra (pickled) – Salty and vinegary. Serve sliced.
Pears (fresh) – Sweet and slightly bitter. Serve sliced or chopped.
Pears (canned) – Sweet and slightly bitter. Drain and serve sliced or chopped.
Peas (fresh) – Mildly sweet and grassy. Serve raw, blanched or steamed.
Peas (canned or frozen) – Mildly sweet and grassy. Drain well. Serve at room temperature or cold.
Peppadews (jarred) – Sweet and tangy with mild heat. Serve drained, cold or at room temperature. Chop or slice.
Pepperoncini (jarred) – Sweet and sour. Serve drained, cold or at room temperature. Chop or slice.
Pimentos (jarred) – Mildly sweet and peppery. Serve drained, cold or at room temperature. Chop or dice.
Pineapple (fresh) – Sweet and tangy. Serve chopped or sliced at room temperature or cold.
Pineapple (jarred or canned) – Sweet and tangy. Drain and serve chopped or sliced at room temperature or cold.
Pinto Beans (canned) – Mild earthiness and slightly nutty. Rinse and drain well. Serve at room temperature or cold.
Radishes – Crispy, spicy and peppery. Serve sliced or chopped, at room temperature or chilled.
Raisins – Sweet and tart. Sprinkle all over your salad.
Raspberries (fresh) – Sweet, tarty and fruity. Just rinse, dry well, and serve whole.
Red Onion (fresh) – Sharp, pungent and slightly sweet. Soak in cold water for 15 minutes to reduce harshness. Serve chopped or sliced.
Red Onion (pickled) – Sharp, pungent and tart. Serve sliced.
Snap Peas (fresh) – Sweet and crisp. A cross between peas and snow peas. Can be served raw, blanched or steamed.
Snow Peas (fresh) – Mild, slightly sweet and grassy. Can be served raw, blanched or steamed.
Squash (fresh) – Mild, slightly sweet and nutty. Serve sliced or chopped, at room temperature or cold.
Strawberries – Sweet and slightly tart. Serve whole, halved or chopped.
Sweet Onion (fresh) – Sharp, pungent and slightly sweet. Soak in cold water for 15 minutes to reduce harshness. Serve chopped or sliced.
Tomatoes – Sweet and acidic. Serve sliced or chopped.
Water Chestnuts (canned) – Mild and nutty. Serve sliced.
Watermelon – Sweet and juicy. Serve sliced or chopped.
Zucchini – Mild and slightly sweet. Serve sliced.
Nuts and Seeds
Chia seeds – Mild and nutty. Serve toasted or roasted.
Peanuts – Earthy, sweet and nutty. Serve toasted or roasted.
Pecans – Buttery, sweet and rich. Serve toasted or roasted.
Sesame Seeds – Mild nutty and sweet with a nice crunch. Serve toasted or roasted.
Sunflower Seeds – Mild, nutty and slightly sweet. Serve toasted or roasted.
Meats and Seafood
Bacon – Salty decadence. Bake or fry until just crunchy.
Canadian Bacon – Slightly milder than ham and more ‘porky’. Serve chopped or cut into strips.
Chicken (fresh) – Smoked, grilled, baked or roasted. Serve sliced or chopped.
Chicken (canned) – Drain. Serve chopped or in chunks.
Crab meat – Sweet, slightly briny. Serve steamed or boiled, warm or cold.
Crab meat (imitation) – Sweet, slightly briny with a dense texture. Serve cold.
Ham – Savory, salty and sweet. Serve warm or cold, chopped or cut into strips.
Lobster – Sweet and briny. Serve steamed or grilled. Cut into chunks.
Lobster (imitation) – Sweet, slightly briny with a dense texture. Serve cold.
Pepperoni – Savory, salty and spicy. Serve sliced or cut into strips.
Salmon (fresh) – Rich, buttery and sweet. Smoked, steamed, grilled or baked. Serve in fillets or chunks.
Salmon (canned) – Like fresh salmon but less rich. Serve at room temperature or cold, cut into chunks.
Sandwich meat – Sliced or chopped, the perfect easy salad addition.
Shrimp – Nice and meaty, shrimp are a great addition to any salad. Steam, boil or grill them. Remove the tails and serve, whole or chopped. Pickled shrimp can also be used.
Steak – Nice ‘n meaty. Grill, broil or pan-sear and slice thin.
Taco Meat (cooked) – Ground beef, chicken or turkey. Crumble warm or cold over a salad.
Tofu – Slightly nutty but rather bland. Serve raw, baked, roasted, fried or grilled, cut into small cubes.
Tuna (raw) – Buttery, savory and meaty. Smoke, bake, grill or poach then serve as fillets or in chunks.
Tuna (canned) – Buttery, savory and meaty. Serve cold or at room temperature, in chunks.
Turkey (fresh) – Smoked, grilled, baked or roasted. Serve sliced or chopped.
Turkey (canned) – Drain. Serve chopped or in chunks.
Cheeses
Blue – Pungent and tangy. Serve crumbled.
Cheddar – Rich and sharp. Serve cubed or shredded.
Feta – Salty and tangy. Serve crumbled.
Gorgonzola – Rich and creamy and slightly funky. Serve crumbled.
Mozzarella -Milky and creamy. Serve cubed or shredded.
Swiss – Mild, sweet and lightly nutty. Serve cubed or shredded.
Other Good Stuff
Bacon bits (imitation) – Salty and crispy.
Cheez Its – Nice and crunchy. And cheesy.
Chicken Nuggets (prepared) – Just warm them up and toss them on your salad. Instant ‘fried’ chicken salad!
Corn Chips – Crunchy and corn. A great combination.
Croutons – Rye bread, Texas toast… Doesn’t matter. Doesn’t every salad deserve croutons?
Eggs – Hard boiled. Serve chopped, sliced or halved.
French Fried Onions – Load ’em up. Tastier than croutons!
Goldfish Crackers – Don’t know ’em till you try them! Great on salads!
Italian Mix Giardiniera – Crunchy and tangy. Serve cold, whole or chopped.
Oyster Crackers – A nice crunch in a small package.
Popcorn Chicken (prepared) – Just warm them up and toss them on your salad. Instant mini-‘fried’ chicken salad!
Popcorn Shrimp (prepared) – Just warm them up and toss them on your salad. Instant shrimp salad!
Sesame Noodles – Nice and crunchy!
Tortilla strips – Nice and crunchy and colorful!
