Written by: Nicole Majewski
Edited by: Aditya Batra
Designed by: Suhana Shaik
Published by: Eleanor Jeavons

When most people hear the word “salad,” they picture a bland bowl of iceberg lettuce topped with ranch dressing. But salads are so much more than just greens in a bowl! This vitamin-packed dish can be visually and tastefully elevated in almost infinite ways. Apart from the obvious garden and caesar varieties, there’s thousands more, and definitely at least one perfect for everyone! Alongside vegetables, legumes, or fruits, salads can be built on pasta, meat, grains, seafood, or cookies (you heard that right)—and a lot of recipes do! So, just to scratch the surface of the spectrum of salads, let’s go through 17 spectacular sorts!

1. Afghan salad

There probably isn’t a more colourful way to start off our list than with this traditional Middle Eastern salad, which is also known as Salata! It features a vibrant array of diced tomatoes, sharp onions, and shredded carrots, but it often also includes cucumbers, bell peppers, feta cheese, and many herbs for that extra pop of flavour. All of these ingredients ensure this salad tastes as much like pure sunshine as it looks!

2. Bean salad

Who says healthy food can’t be unique? This hearty salad is a protein-packed option that suspends kidney beans, chickpeas, and green beans in a tangy dressing. If you find yourself missing the traditional leafy greens, you can easily incorporate the standard lettuce base, as well as add some sweetness with bell peppers!

3. Ceviche

Perfect for seafood lovers, this refreshing salad features citrus-marinated raw fish—often sea bass or snapper—over creamy avocado and fresh cilantro.

4. Cookie salad

It’s debatable whether this American treat can even be classified as a salad, but it wouldn’t be fair not to mention this iconic Midwestern treat! It’s especially popular among children given its vanilla pudding base topped with fudge-striped cookie crumbs, all accented with some extra sweetness from fruits like mandarins and pineapple.

5. Laab

As the national dish of Lao, this meat-based salad stars various options of ground meat, like chicken, pork, beef, or lamb seasoned with chili flakes, fish sauce, lime juice, and garlic. It’s also a bit more resemblant of a traditional salad, containing many vegetables like lettuce, cucumbers, radishes, and onions.

6. Olivier salad

A Russian classic and one of the most historical dishes on our list, this potato salad dates back to the 1860s, where it initially began as an elegant dish for those of higher socioeconomic status. Over the years, it has evolved into a more humble makeup of boiled potatoes, diced chicken, pickles, eggs, and peas all served in creamy mayonnaise.

7. Ramen salad

Most ramen lovers will be ecstatic to hear that this salad is as quick to whip up as the noodles themselves, only requiring uncooked instant ramen noodles, shredded cabbage, cherry tomatoes, and bell peppers. Perfect for adding some extra zest to your late-night snacks!

8. Shopska salad

This Bulgarian beauty is as culturally symbolic as it is tasty. Its bright crimson array of juicy tomatoes and sweet bell peppers create a bold red base, which is topped with white brined cheese and fresh cucumbers. Together, these colours mimic the appearance of the national flag!

9. Szałot

Despite its cake-like appearance, this savoury dish is closer in definition to a salad than many of the other items on this list! It features layers of diced potatoes, sausage, ham, fish, boiled eggs, and carrots, all molded into a loaf-like shape bound together with mayonnaise and encircled by leaves of red cabbage or lettuce.

10. Yam khai dao

This Thai fried egg salad features golden-fried eggs chopped into chunks and mixed with sweet corn and herbs, all brought together by a combination of spicy dressing and fish sauce—perfect for those who want a more subtle seafood taste.

11. Dessert salad

A genre in itself, “dessert salads” are typically fruit-based, and all of them are sweet. Whether it’s a creamy ambrosia with marshmallows and coconut or a fluff made with jello and whipped topping, dessert salads serve as light closings to a meal, rather than appetisers or entrees like traditional salads.

12. Orzo salad

Don’t be fooled—that’s not rice! Orzo salad is actually made from a small, rice-shaped pasta called orzo, and then mixed with fresh vegetables and cheeses. This is definitely one of the most intriguing items on our list—pairing rice with salad seems like such a no-brainer, but most people have never tried combining them quite like this!

13. Sesame soba noodle salad

Another unique pasta dish, this Japanese-inspired salad features soba noodles and fresh vegetables. You can then take your pick from a variety of complementary dressings—savory sesame dressing, umami soy sauce, sweet honey, or extra-Canadian maple syrup.

14. Mexican corn salad

Also known as Esquites, this traditional Mexican salad stars creamy corn more than lettuce, which is then mixed with Cotija cheese, chopped cilantro, fresh herbs, and Jalapeño peppers. Though it may be a little spicy for some, it’s often perfect for summer gatherings!

15. Salade niçoise

Most of the salads we’ve explored so far are similar in that they’re all bonded together into their respective dishes—however, this famous French salad is a composed salad, meaning its ingredients are often arranged separately, rather than having them all combined into a small area. It features parsley and lettuce, as well as tuna, eggs, and—as with most French options—a fancy vinaigrette!

16. Fattoush

Right off the bat, the pita chips decorating this salad probably catch your eye. This Middle Eastern salad is known for its crunchy texture and unique flavours created by its dressing, which combines olive oil, lemon juice, and sumac.

17. Som tum

Sweet, spicy, salty, and sour, all in one. Also known as Thai Green Papaya Salad, this refreshing appetiser combines shredded papaya with fish sauce, lime juice, chilies, garlic, and tomatoes. You can also add dried shrimp for some extra crunch!

…Do you still think salad is boring?

Hopefully by now your expectations of what salad can be have become much more imaginative! From noodle-laced bowls to creamy desserts, salads are versatile and infinitely open to interpretation. So, go ahead and try a few of these yourself—or better yet, start experimenting from scratch! Who knows; maybe you’ll invent a new variant of your own, or reinvent the salad entirely!

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_salads

https://www.themediterraneandish.com/mediterranean-three-bean-salad-recipe/

https://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/slideshow/salads-for-people-hate-salads?srsltid=AfmBOor8-PxRPtNQTTasmZufHcQZpkAe5HYSiRpU3STmlbhxndFByXxk

https://www.loveandlemons.com/salad-recipes/

https://www.food.com/recipe/ceviche-salad-175793

https://iambaker.net/cookie-salad/

https://honestcooking.com/russian-olivier-salad-recipe/

https://globalfoodbook.com/recipes/szalot-salad

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sza%C5%82ot

https://dictionary.langeek.co/en/word/217703?entry=afghan%20salad

Image References