Beyond The Greens

So today we are looking at "Salads" where greens are not the star. There are a lot of salads like these, some that don't include greens at all. This makes them a little less healthy but they still make a great side dish and are usually very simple, cheap, and easy to make. Most of these "salads" you can add greens to if you wish or just eat them as a different type of salad. I will make sure to add what you can throw into these salads to add a little more "green" if you wanted.

1. Potato Salad

There are 101 ways to make Potato Salad. Some go simply with Mayo, salt and Pepper as dressing, some go with half Mayo and half Sour Cream, and some do Mayo and Mustard but these are the basics of a "traditional" Potato Salad. Now when you think of "traditional" Potato Salad you think of Potatoes with vegetables and usually creamy because of the Mayo. My personal favourite is the Peppery Potato Salad I make (using Pepper Bacon, and Green Onions). It is very simple and delicious. But I also enjoy what I call a Pickle-y Potato Salad, where I add in diced Dill Pickles, some chopped Dill, and some green onion.

However, Potato Salads can also be Warm Potato Salads. I have seen this done a few ways. I have seen it done the traditional way except they do not wait for the potatoes to cool. I have also seen a delicious Warm Potato Salad that uses grilled vegetables like corn, peppers, onions, added to a Bbq seasoned potato. I believe the only "dressing" on that is lemon juice.

2. Macaroni Salad

Macaroni Salad like Potato Salad comes in 101 different varieties. Again the basics are Macaroni, Vegetables, and Mayo. I have never really seen many variations on the "Dressing", it is usually mayo some may add sour cream also or mustard but I haven't seen that very often. I think the "traditional" Macaroni Salad has Radishes, Onion, Celery, Carrots, Peppers (and possibly a hard-boiled egg). Personally, all I add to mine is multi-coloured peppers and green onions. I feel that those are the vegetables most people enjoy and it is best for a big party. When I make it at home, I add carrots also and radishes if I have them on hand. But one of my favourite non-traditional salads is the Crabby Mac Salad I make. It is very simple I add a can of corn, a can of peas, Green Onions, and a package of imitation crab. And it is so good, it balances everything really well and it is all about dumping things in, nothing fancy.

3. Pasta Salads

There is a difference between Pasta Salads and Macaroni Salads. Macaroni Salads are mostly a Mayo dressing, where Pasta Salads are usually more vinaigrette type dressings. My two favourite Pasta Salads like this are the Greek Pasta Salad, and Linguine Salad. I make Greek Pasta Salad two different ways but the basics are the same just the dressing changes. I halve Tomatoes, Black Olives, and dice a cucumber (you can also add some red onion). And I either add President's Choice Garlic and Herb Marinade, or Renee's Creamy Greek Dressing. Linguine Salad just uses a package of "Linguine Spices" and Italian Dressing. Personally, I add diced Tomatoes, and Cucumbers to mine but again it is whatever you like.

4. Grain and Legume Salads

Grains and Legumes are not "traditional" Salads but they are just as healthy and delicious as anything else. I put these together because there are just so few salads (that I know of), so I put them together. In this case, I also consider my Orzo Salad as "grains" even though it is technically pasta. But anything like Farrow, Quinoa, things like that in a salad is what we are going for. One of my favourite Legume salads has to be the Lentil Salad I make. This one has so many vegetables in it, and you can really throw anything into them (you can see I have Mushrooms, Brussels Sprouts, Carrots, I also have grated celery, onion and garlic in there). And of course, everything is better with bacon!

5. Other Salads

You may notice that this salad is a bed of greens. That is just my personal preference but typically this salad is eaten without lettuce. I don't even know what it is called but it is delicious. IT is diced tomatoes, black olives, some diced capers, some fresh mozzarella, and some toasted brioche croutons. All with a Balsamic Vinegar drizzle on top. (I pair it with spinach.)