The Spicy Spatula

I don’t know about you but I’m not big on making New Year’s resolutions. I did it for years and found that, like most people, my success was short-lived. These days I just make goals when I think of something I need to improve and the success rate is so much better. Just a little tip from one vegan to another.

BUT if you are a resolution maker and you’re looking for ways to stick to’em well past January or February, may I offer a bit of help.

How?

Most people think of salads as boring & bland & tasteless, and that could not be further from the truth…at least not if you do it right. Sure lettuce and cucumber and tomatoes are part of the mix but they shouldn’t be the only parts. Oh no, you need to get creative and re-think what you think a salad should be. Therein lies the secret to your success.

Today’s vegan salad recipe isn’t a recipe but more like vegan salad recipe tips. So take notes or come back time and again for success in 2024 whether your goal is to lose weight or simply eat better.

What You Need:

A salad spinner is crucial in my opinion because who likes wet lettuce? This kitchen tool allows you to clean out all the dirt and grime found in a head of lettuce and then spin your salad dry. Don’t sleep on this tool because I promise it makes all the difference.

Obviously a good knife and a sturdy cutting board are also necessary and a big ol’ bowl to hold your salad.

Salad Greens

Take your pick of any variety of lettuce (Romaine, Bibb, Butter, Iceberg) or get creative and add kale or spinach, even cabbage will transform your salad.

Veggies

Here is where you can really go all out and do what you love. This is where your cucumbers and tomatoes will make friends with other veggies like carrots, scallions, sprouts, corn, beans, radishes and bell peppers. Any or all of these are great in a salad.

Grains

Yep, I said grains. Rice is great for a vegan burrito bowl. Couscous or bulgur are the perfect addition for just about any type of salad. And if you want to take your salad to the next level, try quinoa or lentils. Even Asian noodles are perfect for a noodle salad.

Other Salad Fixings

This is where you can add a spin on a salad you already love. Add mint or basil to jazz up things. Or better yet, nuts or seeds, fried onions or croutons.

And this is where you can add vegan proteins like vegan chicken or mince, TVP or whatever protein you prefer.

Dressing

I always make my own dressing because I like a lot of it and I don’t like all the sugar found in salad dressings, even vegan salad dressings. You can have a creamy, vegan yogurt based dressing and fancy it up by adding pesto or Romesco to the yogurt and turning it into a dip.

Mustard is your friend and one of my favorite vegan salad dressings is mustard, sweet chili sauce and lemon vinegar. It goes great on noodle salads especially but pretty much all vegan salads.

And here’s another tip; DO NOT be afraid of citrus. Lemons, limes, oranges and even grapefruit are a great base for a vegan salad dressing.

So there you have it, tips to help you learn to enjoy salads more in 2024!

If there’s anything I left out, feel free to tell me in the comments!

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