Every day is a good day for salad, but with all the seasonal fruits and vegetables, summer is an especially great time for a hearty salad.
If you’re like me, you might have some vegetables growing in your own garden. Or you might have pre-ordered a CSA box of fresh vegetables where you have a mystery box delivered to you every week. Or both. And if it’s neither that’s ok too. (Not everyone has the space and energy to keep up a garden and we just recently joined a local CSA.) :)
Regardless of whether you have a garden or are part of a CSA, you can still take advantage of the fruits and vegetable opportunities in the grocery store. Just pick up a new to you vegetable you may not have tried before and lets play.
If you haven’t already joined us for Paleo Porn Month, that’s exactly the point! :)
All The Many Salad Combinations
Salads are a great way to try out new vegetables because all you have to do is throw a bunch of veggies (and sometimes fruits) together and you’re done.
You can play around with the different flavors, textures, and even colors to create your ideal salad. Let your imagination run wild and don’t forget that salads don’t always have to be raw.
The Dressing Conundrum
Dressing is another place where you can experiment.
Although it may sound like a lot of work to make your own dressing, it’s really much easier than you may think.
Making Homemade Salad Dressing
When you’re creating your own salad dressing, first you need to decide whether you want a vinaigrette or a creamy dressing. This will decide your base ingredients.
- Vinaigrettes are a combination of oil, vinegar, herbs and seasonings.
- Creamy dressings are a combination of your choice of milk or mayo with vinegar or citrus and herbs or seasonings.
You can always keep it simple with some olive oil and lemon juice.
Salad Dressing With An Asian Flair
I made this salad at my sister’s house in Missoula, Montana while Jeff & I were visiting her on our road trip. I was inspired by the sesame oil and rice vinegar in her cabinets.
What Is A Salad Turnip?
You’ll notice salad turnips in the list of ingredients. My sister Amanda was talking about them while we were there and when we stopped at the Farmer’s Market we picked up a big bunch of them for us all to try. With them being handy, I chopped up a few and added them to our salad.
Salad turnips are not like regular turnips. They are more sweet than bitter so if you don’t have them and happen to pick up some regular turnips in their place, please don’t chop them up and replace them in this recipe! It WILL NOT taste the same.
Salad turnips are delicious raw but can be sautéed or roasted as well. Be on the look out for them at your local farmer’s market or grocery store.
