Salad

The earliest recipes for salads can be found in Ancient Rome, where cooks combined various greens and herbs with a dressing of vinegar and oil. These early salads were more like herb-and-spice-laden side dishes than the salads we know today, but they laid the foundation for the salad as we know it.

As the Roman Empire spread, so did the popularity of salads. By the Middle Ages, salads were a common sight on European tables, often served as a starter or between courses. These salads were typically quite simple, made with just a few ingredients like lettuce, onions, and herbs.

The modern salad as we know it began to take shape in the 18th and 19th centuries. Cooks began to experiment with new ingredients and flavorings, and the first cookbooks devoted to salads were published. These early salads were often quite elaborate, with dozens of ingredients and multiple steps.

Advice

When making a salad, be sure to include a variety of ingredients to give the salad a variety of flavors and textures. Use fresh vegetables, fruits, and other ingredients such as nuts, seeds, and cheese. Be sure to also choose either a creamy dressing or a vinaigrette to bring all of the ingredients together. If you're feeling creative, try adding some unique ingredients such as garbanzo beans, olives, or even croutons. Finally, don't forget to add protein such as chicken, seafood, or tofu to make the salad a complete and balanced meal.

Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights

Recipes

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Charlie Bird’s Farro Salad

  • maldon
  • apple cider
  • farro
  • mint
  • parsley
  • radish
  • arugula
  • lemon juice
  • salt
  • bay leaf
  • grape tomato
  • pistachio nut
  • parmesan cheese
  • olive oil
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French Potato and Green Bean Salad

  • salt
  • french bean
  • anchovy
  • caper
  • chive
  • bay leaf
  • thyme
  • olive oil
  • yellow finn
  • basil
  • parsley
  • dijon mustard
  • garlic
  • white wine vinegar
  • egg
  • anchovy
  • arugula
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Cold Noodle Salad With Spicy Peanut Sauce

  • SALAD
  • cilantro
  • salt
  • sesame oil
  • bell pepper
  • lime
  • zucchini
  • soba noodle
  • peanut
  • green onion
  • radish
  • SPICY PEANUT SAUCE
  • sesame oil
  • garlic
  • peanut butter
  • soy sauce
  • lime juice
  • maple syrup
  • chili oil
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Two-Tone Potato Salad

  • lemons juice
  • smoked paprika
  • blue potato
  • chive
  • onion
  • sweet relish
  • mayonnaise
  • dill
  • salt
  • celery
  • pickled cocktail onion
  • pepper
  • yukon gold potato
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Classic Caesar Salad

  • DRESSING
  • salt
  • black pepper
  • garlic
  • vegetable oil
  • lemon juice
  • olive oil
  • egg yolk
  • parmesan cheese
  • dijon mustard
  • anchovy
  • ASSEMBLY
  • parmesan cheese
  • romaine heart
  • CROUTONS
  • white bread
  • olive oil
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Best Chicken Salad

  • chicken breast
  • salt
  • lemon
  • onion
  • walnut
  • dijon mustard
  • sour cream
  • black peppercorn
  • green onion
  • mayonnaise
  • pale green celery rib
  • tarragon
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Spicy Thai Pork Tenderloin Salad

  • MARINADE AND DRESSING
  • ginger
  • limes zest
  • pork tenderloin
  • salt
  • thai bird
  • fish sauce
  • cilantro
  • shallot
  • light brown sugar
  • grapeseed oil
  • soy sauce
  • garlic
  • SALAD
  • basil
  • bell pepper
  • cilantro
  • mint
  • cashew
  • coconut chip
  • persian cucumber
  • green onion
  • napa
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Grilled Eggplant Salad

  • black pepper
  • caper
  • pita bread
  • eggplant
  • plum tomato
  • red wine vinegar
  • oregano
  • salt
  • garlic
  • parsley
  • olive oil
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Vegan Caesar Salad With Crisp Chickpeas

  • SALAD
  • salt
  • chickpea
  • lacinato kale
  • romaine lettuce
  • loaf bread
  • olive oil
  • DRESSING
  • cashew
  • dijon mustard
  • white miso paste
  • snack nori
  • black pepper
  • lemon juice
  • nutritional yeast
  • capers brine
  • garlic
  • salt
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Rainbow Quinoa Salad

  • DRESSING
  • salt
  • pomegranate molasses
  • garlic
  • olive oil
  • lemon juice
  • cinnamon
  • SALAD
  • salt
  • red quinoa
  • parsley
  • cilantro
  • mint
  • walnut
  • almond
  • pistachio
  • lemon zest
  • fruit
  • water
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Roasted Carrot and Red Quinoa Salad

  • black pepper
  • red quinoa
  • dijon mustard
  • cinnamon
  • coriander
  • cumin
  • ginger
  • turmeric
  • onion
  • cranberry
  • walnut
  • cayenne pepper
  • lemon zest
  • cardamom
  • water
  • parsley
  • lemon juice
  • sweet paprika
  • carrot
  • salad green
  • olive oil
  • salt
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Xie Xie's Tofu Salad with Pickled Vegetables

  • Marinated-Tofu Salad
  • salt
  • vegetable oil
  • sugar
  • lemon juice
  • orange juice
  • mayonnaise
  • tofu
  • rice vinegar
  • soy sauce
  • mesclun salad green
  • Carrot Kimchi
  • carrot
  • sriracha chile sauce
  • sugar
  • fish sauce
  • rice vinegar
  • Pickled Red Cabbage
  • red cabbage
  • salt
  • rice vinegar
  • sugar
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Santa Fe Quinoa Salad

  • pepper
  • salt
  • cumin seed
  • bell pepper
  • water
  • cilantro
  • black bean
  • lime juice
  • cocktail onion
  • quinoa
  • vegetable oil
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Spicy Chickpea Salad

  • chickpea
  • vegetable oil
  • mango powder
  • cumin
  • ño
  • tomato
  • cucumber
  • onion
  • cayenne pepper
  • olive oil
  • lemon juice
  • salt
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American Macaroni Salad

  • black pepper
  • parsley
  • apple cider vinegar
  • sugar
  • ripened tomato
  • mayonnaise
  • salt
  • celery
  • onion
  • elbow macaroni
  • sour cream
  • mustard
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Vietnamese Lemongrass Beef and Noodle Salad

  • STIR-FRY
  • cilantro
  • bean sprout
  • beef skirt steak
  • demerara
  • length daikon radish
  • little gem
  • carrot
  • cucumber
  • rice vermicelli noodle
  • fish sauce
  • vegetable oil
  • lemon grass
  • garlic
  • peanut
  • fried shallot
  • green onion
  • DIPPING SAUCE
  • length ginger
  • hot red
  • hot red chile
  • garlic
  • rice vinegar
  • fish sauce
  • demerara
  • lime juice
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Canlis Salad

  • salt
  • italian bread
  • oregano
  • egg
  • cherry tomato
  • olive oil
  • green onion
  • lemon juice
  • romaine
  • romano cheese
  • mint
  • bacon
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Thai Ground Pork Salad

  • lime juice
  • salt
  • peanut
  • vegetable oil
  • light brown sugar
  • sriracha
  • boston
  • jalapeño
  • basil
  • cilantro
  • mint
  • ground pork
  • fish sauce
  • garlic
  • shallot
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Tuna and Bean Salad

  • salt
  • nonfat yogurt
  • red wine vinegar
  • cannellini bean
  • water tuna
  • onion
  • garlic
  • dijon mustard
  • japanese cucumber
  • parsley
  • olive oil
  • sage
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Freds’ Chicken Salad With Balsamic Dressing

  • SALAD
  • cherry tomato
  • pear
  • string bean
  • lemon juice
  • onion
  • avocado
  • green
  • DRESSING
  • olive oil
  • salt
  • black pepper
  • balsamic vinegar
  • dijon mustard
  • soy sauce
  • sugar
  • CHICKEN
  • olive oil
  • black pepper
  • chicken
  • lemon
  • salt
  • thyme
  • garlic
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Classic Caesar Salad

  • olive oil
  • worcestershire sauce
  • black pepper
  • salt
  • bread
  • garlic
  • romaine lettuce
  • parmesan cheese
  • lemon juice
  • egg
  • anchovy
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Cherry Tomato Caesar Salad

  • black pepper
  • andounces parmesan
  • cherry tomato
  • salt
  • lemon juice
  • garlic
  • olive oil
  • worcestershire sauce
  • anchovy
  • romaine lettuce
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Black Bean Salad

  • lime juice
  • cilantro
  • salt
  • black pepper
  • jalapeño
  • corn
  • green onion
  • pineapple
  • bell pepper
  • onion
  • cumin
  • black bean
  • tomato
  • honey
  • sherry vinegar
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Ludo Lefebvre’s Roasted-Carrot Salad

  • CARROTS
  • salt
  • bay leaf
  • garlic
  • carrot
  • cumin
  • olive oil
  • thyme
  • SALAD
  • fleur de sel
  • chervil
  • chive
  • parsley
  • tarragon
  • roastedalmond
  • onion
  • blood orange
  • CUMIN CRÈME FRAÎCHE
  • crème fraîche
  • lemon juice
  • salt
  • cumin
  • BLOOD-ORANGE VINAIGRETTE
  • sugar
  • white vinegar
  • salt
  • olive oil
  • blood orange
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Chicken Salad

  • black pepper
  • mayonnaise
  • dijon mustard
  • carrot
  • onion
  • celery
  • celery
  • parsley
  • fresh dill
  • parsley
  • salt
  • lemon juice
  • thyme
  • chicken breast
  • poached chicken
  • onion
  • chicken broth

Ingredient Breakdown

 
salt
olive oil
garlic
green onion
parsley
lemon juice
onion
black pepper
cilantro
dijon mustard
mint
red wine vinegar
lime juice
celery
sugar
tomato
mayonnaise
avocado
parmesan cheese
cumin
pepper
soy sauce
basil
shallot
fish sauce
cucumber
feta
caper
lemon
rice vinegar
bell pepper
vegetable oil
cherry tomato
arugula
chickpea
sherry vinegar
anchovy
chive
thyme
carrot
radish
water
ginger
peanut
egg
lime
jalapeño
lemon zest
corn
balsamic vinegar
kale
almond
dill
maple syrup
persian cucumber
sesame oil
walnut
tarragon
light brown sugar
romaine lettuce
bacon
cumin seed
mustard
bay leaf
tahini
cayenne pepper
watermelon
goat cheese
butter
red pepper flake
shrimp
honey
turmeric
yukon gold potato
chicken breast
sour cream
oregano
salad green
salmon
apple cider vinegar
black bean
green
grape tomato
sweet paprika
sunflower oil
sage
chili oil
peanut butter
white bread
waxy white
tofu
quinoa
sriracha
grapeseed oil
white wine vinegar
zucchini
coriander
romaine heart
cashew
buttermilk
elbow macaroni
red quinoa
cinnamon
haricots vert
red pepper
herb
cannellini bean
white vinegar
hot sauce
pine nut
peach
purslane
sesame seed
poached chicken
demerara
hot red chile
blue cheese
japanese cucumber
worcestershire sauce
bread
blood orange
maldon
apple cider
farro
pistachio nut
pita chip
cheddar cheese
pink lady
dark sesame oil
skinned cucumber
greek yogurt
french green lentil
sweet potato
kalamata olife
solid
turkish pepper
mirin
white miso
french bean
yellow finn
soba noodle
grapefruit
pumpkin seed
boston lettuce
aleppo orteaspoon red pepper flake
cauliflower
preserved lemon
raisin
block halloumi
lemons juice
smoked paprika
blue potato
sweet relish
pickled cocktail onion
egg yolk
butterhead lettuce
loaf day
black peppercorn
pale green celery rib
limes zest
pork tenderloin
coconut chip
thai bird
napa
ice
pita bread
eggplant
plum tomato
haas avocado
italian parsley
butter pickle
lemon zest lemon juice
ears corn