# Help me build the ultimate salad! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 15, 2010, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-the-ultimate-salad/557207 "2010-10-15T02:24:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-the-ultimate-salad/557207/21 "2010-10-17T06:00:21Z")
My daughter served a tasty salad the other night. romaine small orange slices thinly sliced red onion thinly sliced fennel toasted almond slivers Small cubes of ricotta salata cheese browned in olive oil and tossed in warm The dressing was a vinaigrette and tasted as if she’d used some citrus juice in it. Very light and refreshing. A dash of poppy seeds is good in green salad. Especially if you’re using some fruit in it. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-the-ultimate-salad/557207/22 "2010-10-17T07:18:43Z")
Make your dressing and tart up your salad in one easy step. Grab some Italian style antipasto in oil - mushrooms, beans, tuna, char grilled peppers, stuffed olives, marinated feta. Poor off some oil if necessary. Add a little acidity - citrus juice, vinegar (rice vinegar is gentle) or preferably verjuice (the God of acid agents), shake up and dump over the salad. Great if all you have is a pile of leaves. ---
**Author:** ![Waterman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Waterman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waterman)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-the-ultimate-salad/557207/23 "2010-10-17T07:27:48Z")
For the dressing we usually have a good EVOO or EVOO and balsamic vinegar. We also enjoy some sharp , aged cheese (take your pick) along with almonds (toasted or otherwise). For a “raw” salad my ingredients are usually: green lettuce red lettuce broccoli rabe or broccoli zucchini cremini mushrooms tomatoes dried apricots olives (take your pick - don’t forget the pits) avocado cheese (see above) red peppers salt and pepper to taste For a “grilled” salad: zucchini squash (be careful and don’t over grill as they become really mushy) portabello mushrooms red peppers onions (preferably Walla Walla sweet) with (not grilled) the olives, cheese, salt, pepper, and dressing. Enjoy - BTW, we usually have salads 4-6 days each week! ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-the-ultimate-salad/557207/24 "2010-10-17T07:42:56Z")
In no particular order: shredded fresh (raw) beets radish seed pods – tastes like radishes sorrel fresh basil arugula crumbled goat cheese walnuts or almonds, candied or not thin pear slices berries: strawberries, blueberries, blackberries If your ingredients are flavorful enough, all you really need in terms of dressing is a couple splashes of lemon or lime juice. Or try Trader Joe’s Champagne Pear Vinaigrette. Low-fat/low-cal by using pear puree in place of the oil, instead of high-fructose corn syrup. It’s an utterly brilliant idea, and very very yummy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-the-ultimate-salad/557207.md?page=1)