Salad snacking is my new way to get that daily dose of greens ~ and it all starts with a fabulous homemade dressing.
I have a complicated history with salads. I love them, sure. I host a 200+ collection of gorgeous salads (with homemade salad dressings) here on my site ranging from simple leafy greens to chunky multi-colored show-stoppers. But a fabulous salad takes time and energy, something I don’t always have.
How to Dip Your Way to a Salad a Day
My fun solution: Salad Snacking!
I whip up a fabulous homemade dressing in a mason jar ~ it will last me the week. (I use my Cuisinart Mini Prep to do the blending.)
When hunger strikes, I grab a few triple washed greens from the fridge and dip away. Before I know it, I’ve had a salad.
Best greens for salad snacking
Go for sturdy leaves that are firm enough to dip ~ bonus points if they’re already triple-washed so you can grab them straight from the fridge:
- baby romaine
- Little Gem lettuce
- Belgian endive
- butter lettuce (Bibb/Boston)
- radicchio
Here are my favorite homemade salad dressings for dip-and-snack salads. Start with one you love, then try something new!
Poppy seed salad dressings
Poppy seeds add visual interest and a crunch to every bite.
- Lemon Poppy Seed Salad Dressing
- Buttermilk Poppy Seed Dressing
- Raspberry Poppy Seed Dressing
- Cider Poppy Seed Dressing
Vinaigrettes
I love to make classic vinaigrettes with seasonal ingredients like black raspberries or cranberries!
- Black Raspberry Vinaigrette
- Samin Nosrat’s Best Vinaigrette
- Cranberry Vinaigrette
- Fennel Vinaigrette
Cheesy salad dressings
These are firmly in the luxe salad dressing category!
Classic salad dressings
Classic salad dressings have stood the test of time for generations.
Creamy salad dressings
These creamy dressings will cling to every nook and cranny of your greens!
Other homemade salad dressings
When you’re ready to think outside the box…
Now for some show stopping salads
Asparagus Salad Recipe
I love everything about this asparagus salad from the rainbow of colors (thanks peppers and cherry tomatoes!) to those glossy olives, the creamy chickpeas, and the gleaming punch of feta cheese. It’s become a favorite around here.
Fried Chicken Cobb Salad
My fried chicken cobb salad is a fun riff on the OG Cobb, famous for 4x the protein from chicken, bacon, egg, and blue cheese!
Mediterranean Artichoke Salad
A delicious artichoke salad from the healthy Mediterranean diet is a pantry friendly side dish that goes with everything!
Shrimp Taco Salad
Shrimp Taco Salad is a stunning main course salad with jumbo Mexican spiced grilled shrimp, homemade tortilla strips, house pickled red onions, and all the fixings on a bed of zesty red cabbage slaw. You’re not going to want dinner to end.
Charcuterie Salad
A charcuterie salad will make a salad lover out of anybody, I guarantee it! This gutsy main course salad has everything your favorite charcuterie board has, plus a bright fresh crunch.
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