I'm in a salad mood today. My favorite salad is not too heavy but I do enjoy eating a hearty salad meal. Here is what I would put on a salad if I had everything to choose from.
First, I prefer a dark green lettuce. Romaine lettuce will do if that is all that is available. Restaurants normally serve romaine lettuce in their Caesar salads.
Next I would season with two or three types of cheese. I know that parmesan and cheddar cheeses are popular but I like havarti cheese and other smoky cheeses. And watch out for American cheese process food being used in place of real cheddar.
A boiled egg is a nice protein topping for a salad. It's a better choice than bacon bits. I like ham but even ham is not really the best choice.
Other sources of protein for your salad include peas and kale. Most people won't eat kale but it's not so bad.
I like radishes and tomatoes with my salads, too. Water chestnuts are a great topper for a salad in my book any day.
And don't forget the nuts: walnuts, almonds, and even legumes like peanuts.
Grapes and mangos also go well with the salad. They provide just the right touch of sweetness, but sometimes I am in an apple mood. I love to include at least one fruit in my salads but please keep your raisin-and-carrot mix to yourself.
And I love the black olives. I am guilty of giving myself too generous a helping of black olives far more times than I care to remember.
Finally, if you want a "meat" on your salad then I think grilled chicken goes better than anything else. I have tried fish and beef on salads and they just don't work for me.
My favorite dressing is ranch. My friends prefer vinaigrettes but they are tool acidic for my taste. Ranch dressing may not be the healthiest dressing for a salad but if you are watching your fat you can try a low-fat dressing.
