Interesting salad ideas please that don't include lettuce

[Ratatouille76]

Or any form of leaves as I can't stand them!! Thank you.

I always make salad without leaves. It usually have a basic mix of chopped carrots, peppers, cucumber and then add fruit, nuts and seeds with a simple dressing. Dried fruit is nice as well.

I had a bit of an empty fridge the other day and did carrot, orange pepper, satsuma and mixed seeds with just a dash of olive oil and it was very simple but very tasty.

I was watching a Rick Stein programme yesterday where he goes to Vienna. They eat what sounds to me to be the food of the gods: herring salad. The only greenery comes from a garnish of dill.
www.ichkoche.at/viennese-herring-salad-rezept-6537.
I'd go there simply to eat this.

A simple mix of diced cucumber and celery, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped onion with vinegarette dressing.

How about spinach?

Roasted carrots eaten cold with honey and mustard vinigarette.

Loads of tomatoes, pesto drizzle, burrata or mozz

Tomatoes, red onion, black olives, feta, croutons or ripped up pita if you need filling up

Brown lentils, goats cheese, beetroot or roasted butternut squash (or both) I like with olive oil and balsamic dressing

Roast Mediterranean vegetables with garlic and plenty of olive oil in oven, stir through orzo pasta and coat, add fresh cherry tomatoes. Just as good cold salad style of this is for lunch boxes etc.

Grated carrot, thin sliced cabbage, spring onion, then toss in Asian dressing of choice, sprinkle peanuts

Cous cous or merchant gourmet mixed grains
Baby plum tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, avocado
Feta
Balsamic
Crispy bacon

SO good

I like pulses in a salad - especially chickpeas or puy lentils. With some crunchy veg (such as peppers, onions and/or celery) and a vinaigrette.

Good formula is:

Hard/crunchy veg (e.g. roast veg, raw pepper, grated carrot)
Soft veg (e.g tomato, avocado)
Pulse (e.g. bean/chickpeas/lentils) or carb (rice, orzo, pasta, crouton, flatbread)
Canned/pickled/preserved veg (sweetcorn, olive, jalapenos, beetroot)
Dairy or egg protein (cheese, boiled egg or a yoghurt dressing)
Meat protein (chicken, bacon, tuna)
Dressing

I buy the tins of tesco mixed bean salad, and mix it with finely chopped onion, chopped toms and cucumber and sliced avocado.

What about using pasta, cups cous, bulgar wheat, quinoa, etc as a base and add all the good stuff (peppers, herbs, tomatoes, broccoli, sweetcorn, onion, nuts...).

These ideas are all great thank you. Yes I do like spinach but only cooked.

Very finely cut carrot. I have a peeler which does julienne strips. Then dry pan toast off some pine nuts. Marinade carrots and Sultans in a little oil and several spritzers of white balsamic vinegar. Little sea salt. Add pine nuts when they are cold

Roast chopped aubergine, courgette and tomatoes. Cook up some pearl barley or use one of those ready made sachets of barley/rice/quinoa/whatever you like. Stir together while still warm and coat with a spoon of olive oil. Top with pine seeds and feta. It's amazing warm in winter, cold in summer and very filling.

Diced avocados, diced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, chopped red onion. Add some chopped parsley or chives or even fresh coriander. Then a dash of flavourless oil, lime or lemon juice, some salt and pepper et voila! Delish!

Grilled halloumi, balsamic glaze, peaches and diced cucumber.

cucumber, apple, walnut and blue cheese is also a combination of the gods. Add some red onion if you're into it.