Every summer celebration needs a great saladhere’s how to build a better one.
In my humble opinion, though, the most overlooked contender in this backyard feast is the summer salad.
And no, I’m not talking about a mayo-drenched coleslaw or a bland pile of greens.
Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
Have you ever seen salad greens fly out of a too-small bowl?
The easiest solution is to size up the container you’re using!
Consider the event logistics: can you keep the dressing in the fridge and dress the salad last minute?
Simply Recipes / Lizzy Briskin
Or, will the salad be pre-dressed and sitting out all day as it would at a picnic?
And don’t forget the herbs!
you’re free to also add summer fruit to balance out other flavors.
Kalisa Marie Martin
Peaches, plums, and berries offer sweet-and-sour notes.
Most melons add sweetness and a refreshing texture.
Bring in Texture
Some of my favorite salads have a key textural component that makes them shine.
Alison Bickel
And sturdier ingredients, like cabbage, hold up better over time.
There are many options for bringing in textures.
A great tip is to dip your lettuce into the dressing to make any changes before dressing the salad.
Alison Bickel
Is the dressing too oily?
You may need to add more acid.
Try adding a bit more salt.
Alison Bickel
Salt cabbage and cucumbers well ahead of time to retain flavor and crispness.
Salad greens, however, should be salted just before serving.
