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Original poster

What can I add to my boring salads to make them more enticing?

118 replies

SaladRoger · 15/08/2025 16:58

I'm trying to get fitter and healthier and have started eating salads for lunch.

I generally stick to things like salad leaves, iceberg lettuce, cucumber, peppers, cooked chicken breast, hard boiled eggs, tomatoes, cheddar cheese and a tiny sprinkle of salad dressing.

What can I add to make it more interesting and tasty?

I'm going to try pomegranate and some sort of seeds.

Any other suggestions, preferably ones that don't cost too much.
Thanks

OP posts:
cheezncrackers · 15/08/2025 17:00

Pickled beetroot
Chargrilled artichokes
Pumpkin seeds
Cherry tomatoes (tastier than big ones)
Sweetcorn

Overtheatlantic · 15/08/2025 17:00

Lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce

Sunshineonthewater · 15/08/2025 17:01

Look up Ottolenghi salads for some amazing ideas.

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Then you might like threads about this subject:

General food
pizzaHeart · 15/08/2025 17:04

Olives, grated carrot, a bit of hummus, avocado, feta or Parmesan cheese, different salad leaves, roasted vegs/chickpeas, roasted pepper from a jar, harissa, olive tapenade.

Aspidistree · 15/08/2025 17:05

It sounds like it needs some acid and/or onion to balance jt. Unless you don't like these of course.

Spring onions, red onions. If red onions are too strong you can soak them in water or diluted vinegar for a few minutes. Pickled cabbage for the vinegar hit or olives. Capers, but they are a bit pricier.

A can of beans, eg chickpeas or black beans, if you like them. Mix them with the salad dressing before adding other stuff ideally so they pick up more flavour.

More acidic cheese such as feta.

Also as a very cheap idea, a little finely shredded cabbage (white, red or sweetheart) would give it more body and a little more "bite". Cabbages are super cheap and keep really well in the fridge.

Seymour5 · 15/08/2025 17:07

Grapes, thin slices of apple.

Original poster
SaladRoger · 15/08/2025 17:09

cheezncrackers · 15/08/2025 17:00

Pickled beetroot
Chargrilled artichokes
Pumpkin seeds
Cherry tomatoes (tastier than big ones)
Sweetcorn

Yes to all except beetroot, not find of the taste.
Will try the artichokes but probably a bit pricey, as with the cherry tomatoes which I do have occasionally.

OP posts:
coxesorangepippin · 15/08/2025 17:09

Chips

Original poster
SaladRoger · 15/08/2025 17:11

Overtheatlantic · 15/08/2025 17:00

Lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce

Really good suggestion, wouldn't have thought of trying Worcestershire sauce but do really like it

OP posts:
Original poster
SaladRoger · 15/08/2025 17:13

pizzaHeart · 15/08/2025 17:04

Olives, grated carrot, a bit of hummus, avocado, feta or Parmesan cheese, different salad leaves, roasted vegs/chickpeas, roasted pepper from a jar, harissa, olive tapenade.

Not a big fan of olives and avocado a bit pricey. Others worth a try. Thanks

OP posts:
FatherFrosty · 15/08/2025 17:14

SaladRoger · 15/08/2025 17:09

Yes to all except beetroot, not find of the taste.
Will try the artichokes but probably a bit pricey, as with the cherry tomatoes which I do have occasionally.

Show quote history

aldi and Lidl have jarred artichoke sometimes with the roasted peppers and sundried tomatoes.

i roast broccoli and cauliflower to have in salads. Occasionally butternut squash or sweet potato if it needs using up.
instead of salad dressing I just use a balsamic glaze

SardinesOnGingerbread · 15/08/2025 17:14

Big chunks of crusty bread lightly toasted and dipped in olive oil.

SardinesOnGingerbread · 15/08/2025 17:14

Big chunks of crusty bread lightly toasted and dipped in olive oil.

SardinesOnGingerbread · 15/08/2025 17:14

Big chunks of crusty bread lightly toasted and dipped in olive oil.

Vodkamartini3olives · 15/08/2025 17:15

coxesorangepippin · 15/08/2025 17:09

Chips

Ohhh I love chips & salad.. I'm home alone so I'm going to have ceaser salad and waffle fries for dinner.

Longnightmoon · 15/08/2025 17:15

Olives, garlic, balsamic vinegar, basil, coriander, other herbs? cut up orange segments, grapes,

MCF86 · 15/08/2025 17:15

pickled red onion is lovely, I often add jalapenos too.
I only started really enjoying salads when I tried different seasonings for the chickens to make it less samey, and realising a bit more dressing was completely worth the calories as I was more able to stick to it!

InfoSecInTheCity · 15/08/2025 17:15

My go to is baby leaves, pickled beetroot, jalepenos, sweetcorn, peppers and cherry tomatoes. Mainly because I always have those things in my fridge, cupboard and freezer so can just chuck it all together without planning anything.

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 15/08/2025 17:16

Cous cous. More exciting chicken breast… I love the chilli mango one from Sainsbury’s.

TheSaltedCaramelPath · 15/08/2025 17:16

Croutons for a nice bit of crunch (small bags in most supermarkets near the salads).
Pine nuts.
Raspberry vinegar

Original poster
SaladRoger · 15/08/2025 17:17

Aspidistree · 15/08/2025 17:05

It sounds like it needs some acid and/or onion to balance jt. Unless you don't like these of course.

Spring onions, red onions. If red onions are too strong you can soak them in water or diluted vinegar for a few minutes. Pickled cabbage for the vinegar hit or olives. Capers, but they are a bit pricier.

A can of beans, eg chickpeas or black beans, if you like them. Mix them with the salad dressing before adding other stuff ideally so they pick up more flavour.

More acidic cheese such as feta.

Also as a very cheap idea, a little finely shredded cabbage (white, red or sweetheart) would give it more body and a little more "bite". Cabbages are super cheap and keep really well in the fridge.

I like red onions but the strong taste does overpower everything else. I will try soaking.
Black beans and feta are really good ideas as I like both.
I'll try the grated cabbage but sceptical 😀

OP posts:
Beamur · 15/08/2025 17:17

Sriracha mayo drizzle
Salt and pepper
Tiny sprinkle of crispy onions

FloraBotticelli · 15/08/2025 17:17

Celery, radish, roasted sweet potato chunks or cauliflower (you can add them cold)

seeds? Like pumpkin, sunflower, pine nuts. Or raisins even - nice with grated carrot

I’m sure there was a salad ideas thread a little while ago which had a good list, I’ll see if I can find it.

Sauvignonblanket · 15/08/2025 17:17

'Theme' them rather than having something similar each time - Italian with basil, tomatoes, mozzarella, Greek with feta and olives, Ottolenghi style, Japanese with salmon, ginger, seaweed, Nicoise with tuna, egg, olives, cold green beans - etc