5 Unique Salads To Wow Your Guests

Most of you remember hearing it as a child, you have to eat your veggies. And while it was a chore then, it became more difficult when growing into an adult. Especially when learning how to cook on your own. Salads are a great way to keep up your veggie content. While making great flavors and textures. These salads are designed to pair well with any meal or shine bright on their own. Here are 5 unique salads to wow your guests.

This recipe is great for adding some natural sweetness back in your life.

1. Berry Salad

This salad offers that sweet texture of soft berries with a lettuce crunch that is unlike any other. In addition, this salad highlights the natural sweetness of berries that make eating veggies easy. If you want your guests to clean their plates at your next get together, this recipe is a must try for you. 

Ingredients

• 6 cups of mixed greens
• 1 cup of strawberries, halved
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup raspberries
• ⅓ cup goat cheese, crumbled ( feta cheese also works great)
• ¼ cup pecans, chopped
• ½ raspberry vinaigrette
• ⅓ red onion chopped, optional

Directions

Assemble your salad, making sure that your mixed greens are thoroughly rinsed or pre-washed. Add your berries, pecans and goat cheese. Mix thoroughly. Lastly, add your raspberry vinaigrette with a light drizzle over your salad. Serve and enjoy.

This recipe is great for adding protein and veggies to your diet.

2. Chicken Salad With Honey Mustard Dressing And Bacon

When you’re looking for a little protein for your next salad, this recipe is perfect for you. In addition, the sweet zing of mustard adds that extra kick, taking this salad to the next level when it comes to sweet meat and healthy veggies.  This unique hybrid of the cob salad adds that extra zing to your veggie cravings.

Ingredients

Dressing

• ⅓ cup of honey
• 3 tbsp whole grain mustard
• 2 tbsp smooth mild Dijon mustard
• 2 light dashes of olive oil
• 1 dash apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp garlic, minced
• 1 pinch salt
• 4 boneless and skinless chicken thighs

Salad

• 4 cups of Romaine lettuce
• ¼ cup bacon, diced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 avocado, pitted and diced
• ¼ cup corn kernels
• ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced

Directions

Begin by combining the ingredients of your dressing. Pour half of it in a small bowl and let your chicken marinate in it for at least two hours. Refrigerate the remainder of the dressing. Next, in a non-stick pan, add your oil over medium high heat. Grill your chicken until golden and crispy. Remove from heat and set to the side. Dump remaining chicken fat out of the pan and proceed to cook your bacon until crispy. Next, slice your chicken into strips and combine your salad ingredients in another bowl. Add your chicken, bacon and dressing. Serve and enjoy. 

This recipe is great for getting extra nutrients out of your broccoli.

3. Broccoli Salad

This family favorite of mine is a great way to introduce broccoli back into your diet. By having a broccoli salad, not only are you getting rich and sweet flavors of the salad itself, but more nutrients out of broccoli that you would otherwise miss in other recipes. Such as grilling it in butter and garlic. When you’re looking to up your veggie game in a sweet new way, try this recipe out. 

Ingredients

• 5 to 6 cups of broccoli florets
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• ½ cup crumbled  bacon, cooked and crispy
• ⅔ cups of cranberries
• ½ cup salted sunflower seeds
• ⅓ cup red onion, thinly sliced

Dressing

• ¾ cup mayonnaise
• 1 ½ tbsp of white wine vinegar
• ¼ cup sour cream
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 pinch pepper

Directions

Combine your broccoli, cheddar cheese, bacon, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds and onion to a large mixing bowl. In a small mixing bowl, combine your dressing ingredients until smooth and creamy. Lightly drizzle over your broccoli and lightly toss to thoroughly combine. Serve and enjoy. 

This recipe allows you to get the taste of the ocean while getting your daily dose of veggies.

4. Tuna Salad

If you’re looking to add the taste of the ocean into your veggies, this recipe is a must try for you. And the best part, you can make this salad over lettuce or over bread. Tuna is a great healthy way to minimize fat and maximize your protein intake to keep yourself healthy and your stomach happy. 

Ingredients

• 1 serving of lettuce of your choice
• 2 cans of tuna, drained
• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• 1 stalk of celery, finely diced
• 2 tbsp red onion, diced
• 1 tbsp parsley ( if you don’t like parsley chives work great for this too)
• ½ tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 pinch pepper
• 1 pinch salt

Directions

Add your tuna, mayo, red onion, celery, herbs, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper to a medium mixing bowl. Combining all your ingredients. Place over a bed of lettuce or bread. Serve and enjoy. 

This recipe is great for when you want a little bit of everything.

5. Chef’s Salad

This recipe is perfect for when you want a little bit of everything. This salad is a great way to get your daily dose of veggies while also allowing you to enjoy the sweet proteins of egg, turkey and ham. The sweet fats of the avocado and cheese make this salad the ultimate snack or quick lunch. In addition, if you’re looking for a quick prep for a family get together, this salad is fast, easy and delicious to prepare for guests of any number. 

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds mixed greens, rinsed and dried
• 1 pinch pepper
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 cup of dressing of your choice( dressings such as shallot, herb, ranch or blue cheese work best)
• 4 ounces of Swiss cheese, cut into strips or shredded
• 4 ounces of baked ham, cut into long strips
• 4 ounces of turkey, cut into slices ( note, you can also use chicken for this as well. If you want to get real fancy with it, try adding duck breast)
• 4 ounces of roast beef, cut into thin slices ( optional)
• 2 hard boiled eggs, shelled and cut into thick wedges
• 1 avocado, peeled and diced
• 16 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 cucumbers, sliced
• 1 cup of toasted croutons

Directions

Tear your lettuce into bite sized pieces and add to a large mixing bowl. Season your lettuce with salt and pepper and your dressing. Divide your salad into bowls and arrange your cheese, meats and veggies into the bowl. Lightly scatter your tomatoes throughout your salad. Serve and enjoy. 

When you’re looking to add some veggies back to your diet, these recipes are a must try. These recipes are packed full or rich texture, flavor and style to fit any meal plan.